Technology group Wärtsilä announced plans to invest €50 million in expanding its cutting-edge Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaasa, Finland. The expansion, which will add nearly 8,000 square metres to the facility, is expected to be completed and commissioned in 2028.
This strategic investment is aimed at enhancing Wärtsilä’s R&D testing capabilities to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable marine and energy technologies. The expanded infrastructure will support development of fuel-flexible engine solutions capable of operating on low- and zero-carbon fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol—critical steps toward enabling decarbonisation in line with net zero targets across the maritime and energy sectors.
According to Juha Kytölä, director of R&D and Engineering, Power Supply at Wärtsilä, the expansion is both timely and essential:“The widely adopted target of reaching net zero in our industries by 2050 is the lifespan of a single vessel or power plant away. Technology decisions are being made now, and it is crucial that our solutions are fuel flexible and ready for sustainable fuels as they become more widely available. This new investment will significantly enhance our ability to develop such technologies while supporting our customers in reducing emissions, improving efficiency, and lowering operational costs.”
The extension is expected to accelerate Wärtsilä’s product development, reduce testing time and associated costs, and decrease test-related emissions. It may also pave the way for future increases in manufacturing capacity and volumes at the site.
Since its opening in 2022, the Sustainable Technology Hub has become a central pillar in Wärtsilä’s mission to decarbonise marine and energy industries. It combines innovation with collaboration, bringing together Wärtsilä’s global experts, customers, partners, academia, and the local ecosystem. The facility manufactures all Wärtsilä portfolio engines, and also includes a training centre and one of the company’s remote monitoring centres serving customers worldwide.
Currently spanning 90,000 square metres and employing more than 2,000 staff, the hub also receives around 1,000 visitors each month, including key stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers. In June 2024, Wärtsilä revealed further expansion plans to centralise all 3,600 Vaasa-based employees into a single location by 2026 through the construction of an additional office building.
Designed with sustainability at its core, the STH aims to achieve carbon neutrality in Wärtsilä’s operations by 2030. The facility generates its own electricity and heat, returning excess energy to the grid, while heat produced from engine testing and other processes is stored and reused to efficiently warm the building.
For more information visit www.wartsila.com
8 April 2025
