Clean Propulsion Technologies project consortium comprises of 15 actors to form a common Co-Innovation initiative. In addition, there are 4 international collaboration partners in the project. One of the main strengths of the consortium is that it has been built of organizations that supplement each other’s expertise and are capable and willing to cooperate to achieve a common goal. Each member has a clear role in the consortium.
The public project part is formed by six national research organizations with complementary expertise in different domains of propulsion technologies: University of Vaasa (the coordinator), Aalto University, VTT, Åbo Akademi University and LUT University. Each of them has their own sub-projects that are integrated to form the public research part of the project.
In Clean Propulsion Technologies, two Finnish industry leaders focused on engine and powertrain production – Wärtsilä and AGCO Power are now for the first time working together on such a scale to solve a common challenge related to propulsion systems development. The consortium is supported by aftertreatment manufacturers (Dinex Finland, Proventia), electric powertrain component manufacturers (Bosch Rexroth, Geyser Batteries, APUGenius), monitoring and optimization service provider (NAPA), and end-system integrator (Meyer Turku). Overall, there are nine Finnish companies involved in the project. Six of them will execute their own company sub-projects strongly connected by the common scope and multilayer interactions with the public part.
The consortium is completed by four international R&D partners that share development ambitions with Clean Propulsion Technologies and actively support the project with their know-how: Lublin University of Technology (Poland), National Technical University of Athens – Laboratory of Marine Engineering (Greece), University of Adger (Norway) and Innas BV (Netherlands).
This project is a first-ever collaboration of this magnitude between Wärtsilä and AGCO Power, two leading powertrain equipment manufacturers in Finland. This unique backbone, strengthened by the expertise of all project partners, tackles the growing global competition in these market segments. Ultimately, Clean Propulsion Technologies is in the core of University of Vaasa’s control-oriented powertrain development trajectory allowing us to grow towards a leading independent R&D in the large-bore engine domain.
Aalto University is developing model-based control for combustion engines, which requires accurate modeling based on computational flow dynamics and the development of virtual sensors. We are also developing control for hybrid energy systems. The new generation of engines for marine and off-road transportation will be an important part of the low-emission and energy-efficient systems of the future, so this research is very relevant to us from the perspective of sustainable development.
Involvement in Clean Propulsion Technologies project is very much in line with VTT’s strategic topic of climate action pursuing clean energy for the future. VTT’s experimental research in the field of efficient engines, emission control and sustainable fuels is closely linked to the company projects developing technologies for energy efficiency and lower emissions. At VTT, we look forward to this CPT cooperation and the first studies of advanced aftertreatment systems and hydrogen engine demonstration in reaching near-zero emissions.
Clean Propulsion Technologies is an exciting project for Åbo Akademi University. It allows us to exploit and develop our century-long legacy in chemical engineering for the purpose of environmental and economic sustainability of ships and working machines. It perfectly contributes to the mission of the university’s strategic profiling area ‘The Sea’, that is, to find science-based solutions to wicked problems in order to enable coexistence between marine and maritime life and the modern society.
Tampere University participates in the Clean Propulsion Technologies project by exploring the electrification of heavy machinery and conducting practical experiments with our own hybrid wheel loader. We research and develop sustainable, low-carbon propulsion solutions and help in turning the most innovative technologies into clean and efficient products for marine transport and heavy machinery
At LUT University, Electrical Engineering of School of Energy Systems has a long history in electrical drives technology research. In Clean Propulsion Technologies, the hybrid technology research by investigating advanced hybrid power systems for hybrid non-road mobile machines is continued. The key research objectives are in control system solutions for special electrical drive applications as well as hybrid powertrain optimization for improved performance and “system cost.”
Wärtsilä continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing technologies that can enable a sustainable future for the marine sector. Decarbonization is the ultimate aim and we fully support all initiatives that can speed up the journey to achieving it. This is why the Clean Propulsion Technologies project is important to us. By working in tandem with qualified project partners, we intend to accelerate the creation and acceptance of carbon-free propulsion solutions.
This consortium project greatly supports the new technology research of AGCO Power, having a focus on a sustainable, low carbon future. This means it also supports the build-up of our company strategy steps. The project will also develop a new kind of research as well as development networking areas, a new business partnership possibilities for our technology sector and also gives guidelines for educational and re-educational needs for the future.
NAPA will apply its unrivaled expertise and data-driven voyage optimization solutions, NAPA Fleet Intelligence and NAPA Performance models, methods to model and optimize to develop total energy consumption on the project. The company will specifically draw on its ‘Optimization of Total Energy Consumption Onboard (OTECO)’ initiative, which takes a holistic approach to energy optimization, to incorporate the novel propulsion energy arrangements developed
in the CPT project.
Modern cruise ships incorporate novel state-of-the-art technology necessary to achieve zero emissions in the maritime sector. In the Clean Propulsion Technology project, research into new technologies and the development of an advanced energy management system that utilize a combination of data and simulation-based models and new optimization methods, the continuous development of which is a priority for delivering our promise of green transition and sustainability in the maritime industry.
Clean Propulsion project is related to catalytic exhaust purification, when moving to next emission level regulations in off-road application (machinery, marine) later in 2020s. NOx and particulate (PM) removal are the most challenging in aftertreatment systems (ATS). This requires the development of improved oxidation and SCR catalysts and systems with particulate filters.
Proventia’s vision is zero emissions, and within this project, we develop methods to cut NOX emissions from off-road machines to ultra-low emissions level. Ultra-low CO2 emissions and ultra-low NOX emissions can be conflicting targets. Our aim is to find ways to reach both targets: improve energy efficiency of the combustion engines, which would reduce the carbon emissions, and reduce NOX emissions to ultra-low level with a 2-phase SCR technology.
Mobile machines provide invaluable assistance by reducing the number of dangerous and laborious tasks. Manufacturers must constantly adapt to ever-changing conditions, such as the significant reduction in permissible emissions. Rexroth shares such challenges with its customers. Taking part in the Clean Propulsion Technologies project aimed at finding new concepts for working and driving functions, we ensure that mobile machines meet these standards while maintaining machine performance as a minimum.
Collaboration projects will play a crucial role in the future to reach the ambitious environmental goals set by the European Union. The Clean Propulsion Technologies project consortium allows us to further develop and refine our sustainable and durable energy storage solutions and work together with this great network of companies and research partners towards the electrification of our common future.
We at Apugenius Oy believe that leadership in clean propulsion technologies is of greater importance than ever before. We are genuinely interested in industry trends and technological advancements that together define the technological environment in which new low-carbon solutions for transportation applications will emerge. Start-up Apugenius Oy is developing a new micro gas turbine technology to help solve the big challenges of improving energy and material efficiencies in electric mobility.
Business Finland fosters the competitiveness of the Finnish companies and bring together key players within the smart energy ecosystem to develop new solutions. The consortium project is a great example of a well-planned improvement to combustion and hybrid technology, which aims to make a leap in environmental improvement in the area of marine and off-road transport. Additionally, it offers a great opportunity to strengthen cooperation with common objectives between Finnish maritime, off-road companies, and research centers.
