Wärtsilä, MAN Diesel Hercules-Beta Project
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. HERCULES-Beta began on 1 September 2008 with a budget of $33.6m 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.
Wärtsilä Joint Diesel Research Project Completed
Multinational team led by Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel completed the major Hercules cooperative research project into the technology necessary for higher-efficiency engines with ultra-low emissions for ships. A team of more than 40 European engine component suppliers, equipment manufacturers, universities, research institutions and shipping companies, led by the major diesel engine groups MAN Diesel SE and Wärtsilä Corporation, has successfully completed the 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).
