Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel gain EU approval for ...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release, 1 April 2009, at 10:00 am (EET)

The HERCULES-Beta research project proposal was recently approved by
the European Commission. HERCULES-Beta represents a major
international cooperative effort to maximise fuel efficiency combined
with ultra-low emissions and to develop future generations of
optimally efficient and clean marine diesel engines. As such,
HERCULES-Beta aims to surpass the current limits set by the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) to radically improve the
environmental performance of waterborne transport.

The HERCULES-Beta project

HERCULES-Beta began on 1 September 2008 with a budget of EUR 25
million and it is planned to run for 36 months. The project
consortium has 32 participants, including engine-component suppliers,
equipment manufacturers, universities, research institutions and
shipping companies from 10 European countries.

HERCULES-Beta is the second phase of the HERCULES programme, which
was conceived in 2002 as a long-term strategic R&D plan. The project
was initiated by Europe's two major engine manufacturers, Wärtsilä
Corporation and MAN Diesel. Diesel propulsion systems currently power
99% of the world fleet.

The project's principal aim is to reduce marine diesel engine fuel
consumption by 10% and to improve the efficiency of marine diesel
propulsion systems to more than 60%, significantly reducing CO2
emissions as a result. A further aim of the project is to target
ultra-low exhaust emissions by eliminating 70% of NOx and 50% of
particulates from marine engines by 2020.

HERCULES-Beta comprises 54 subprojects and is funded by the European
Commission's Framework Program 7 (FP7, Theme Transport).

The original HERCULES project

In 2007, a group of more than 40 European companies, universities and
research institutions, led by MAN Diesel and Wärtsilä Corporation,
successfully completed a major, 43-month, cooperative research
project under the name HERCULES (High Efficiency R&D on Combustion
with Ultra-Low Emissions for Ships) with a budget of EUR 33 million,
partly funded by the European Union (EUR 15 million) and the Swiss
Federal Government (EUR 2.5 million).

The first phase of the HERCULES project concentrated on the
development of tools (e.g., simulation software, measurement
techniques, etc.) and the general investigation of potential avenues
for reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Initially, the project
established and operated prototypes. The results stemming from this
indicate a great potential for significantly reducing fuel
consumption and emissions and reaching the project's ambitious
targets.

HERCULES-Beta will directly build on the findings of the first phase
of the HERCULES project. The tools previously established will be
employed to more closely investigate, understand and ultimately
optimise the engines. Both analytical investigations as well as
prototypes will be refined, based on first-phase results, with the
intention of achieving the ultra-low emission and fuel consumption
targets. Finally, by carrying out field-tests on the prototypes
developed in the first phase, information on the important effect of
real-life boundary conditions will be gathered and analysed.

Please visit the HERCULES website at www.ip-hercules.com
and www.hercules-b.com (to be functional in the end of April).

For more information, please contact:

Mr Nikolaos P. Kyrtatos
HERCULES Project Coordinator
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

Mr Klaus Heim
Vice President, Global R&D
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: [phone]

Mr Niels Kjemtrup
Senior Manager
Process Development
MAN Diesel
Tel: [phone]

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them
with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and
environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the
marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as
services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out
to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is
achieved by the dedication of close to 19,000 professionals manning
160 locations in 70 countries around the world. In 2008, Wärtsilä's
net sales were EUR 4.6 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX
Helsinki in Finland.
www.wartsila.com


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