Technology group Wärtsilä has joined a consortium to develop an innovative hydrogen-argon power cycle aimed at enhancing engine efficiency and driving Net Zero power generation.
Led by the University of Vaasa and supported by Business Finland, the project seeks to scale up the use of argon—a non-toxic inert gas—as part of a closed-loop combustion system for medium-speed engines.
The Integrated Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle (iHAPC) consortium will focus on replacing conventional air in internal combustion engines with a mixture of argon and oxygen.
Wärtsilä explains that, combined with hydrogen fuel, this approach offers thermodynamic efficiency gains, as argon’s inert properties allow for higher efficiency than traditional air-based systems. The only by-product of the process is water, with argon being continuously recycled in a closed-loop system.
Rasmus Teir, Director of Sustainability & Future Plant Concepts at Wärtsilä Energy, highlighted the potential of the project, stating, “We have the technologies needed to deliver a 100% renewable energy future. And our ambition must be to continuously innovate solutions that further improve affordability and sustainability.”
“The argon power cycle is an innovative technology that has the potential to impact these factors positively.”
The project aligns with Wärtsilä’s broader efforts to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. Balancing engines, which play a critical role in stabilising grids powered by intermittent wind and solar energy, could see a leap in efficiency with the hydrogen-argon power cycle.
Current engines running on natural gas are already prepared to transition to sustainable fuels like hydrogen as they become available at scale.
Forecasts suggest that global sustainable hydrogen production could reach 38 million tonnes by 2030, enabling widespread adoption of such technologies.
Professor Maciej Mikulski of the University of Vaasa, the project leader, called the hydrogen-argon cycle a transformative step for the energy sector.
“The argon power cycle enables full valorisation of green hydrogen with unparalleled power generation efficiency. I see this as a potential breakthrough for the energy sector,” he said. “With our expertise in fuel analytics, modelling and simulation, powertrain testing, and control development, we are well-equipped and excited to lead this project.”
The iHAPC project is part of the broader WISE (Wide and Intelligent Sustainable Energy) programme led by Wärtsilä. Other partners include the University of Oulu, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Finland Oy, Vahterus Oy, Vaisala Oyj, and TotalEnergies.
