Wärtsilä donates EUR 200,000 to Aalto University to advance world-class engine technology research and expertise

As electricity demand increases in Finland and across the world, the share of affordable wind and solar power is also expected to grow. As renewable energy sources are by nature intermittent, fast-starting engines able to run flexibly on sustainable fuels are key for “balancing” – keeping power systems reliable when the sun doesn’t shine or wind doesn’t blow.

Technology group Wärtsilä donates EUR 200,000 to Aalto University in Finland to support teaching and research of combustion engine technology. The donation will support Aalto University’s House of Energy Transition initiative, which brings together energy research and education to accelerate the energy transition.    

‘The energy transition requires new technologies, deep expertise and collaboration across disciplines. Aalto University wants to contribute to developing technologies of the future. Engine technology is an advanced field that continues to evolve as energy systems transition into renewable and more sustainable power generation. Wärtsilä’s donation strengthens our ability to educate the next generation of experts and develop technologies that can respond to the needs of both society and industry. I would like to extend my warmest thanks to Wärtsilä for this important donation and our longstanding collaboration,’ says Kari Tammi, Dean of the School of Engineering.

Wärtsilä’s engines can already run flexibly on low- and zero-carbon fuels, such as ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, a showcase of decades of dedication to research and education. In 2025, the company invested EUR 329 million, equalling 4.8% of net sales, in R&D to improve the environmental performance of its technologies.  

‘Engine technology is state-of-the-art technology, and industry-first innovations are rooted in world-class expertise, high-quality education and sustained research. Most of the technology needed for decarbonisation already exists. The next step is to deploy it at scale while continuing to develop it. Collaborating with Aalto and other universitiesensures we will have the expertise needed to drive the transition forward,’ says Nora Steiner-Forsberg, Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Legal, Wärtsilä. 

The donation builds on the long-standing collaboration between Wärtsilä and Aalto University. In 2025, the organisations renewed their research and development partnership for five years to advance clean energy technologies. The partnership focuses on research and insight, talent development, recruitment and educational collaboration, and includes joint work in areas such as hydrogen combustion, ammonia and renewable fuels.