Wärtsilä has released a documentary, “The heartbeat of our societies: Transitioning towards a clean energy future” that highlights the significant role of balancing technologies in achieving a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future. The film showcases flexible balancing engine power and energy storage solutions such as those made by Wärtsilä as key factors in integrating renewable energy sources and reaching decarbonisation goals.
Recent energy crises and blackouts have focused minds on the importance of resilient power systems. The documentary explores energy’s fundamental role, from daily life to advanced digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing.
A central theme of the short film is the crucial necessity of balancing technologies within the energy mix. While renewables like solar and wind offer the lowest cost of electricity, their intermittency demands robust support for continuous supply. The film features Wärtsilä’s fast-starting engine power plants and energy storage solutions.
Evidence from Wärtsilä’s global power system modelling demonstrates that an optimal blend of renewables, engine power plants and energy storage can lead to significant cost savings and faster CO2 reductions compared to a renewables-only approach. This holistic strategy is claimed to create a low-cost, low-emission, highly efficient, and highly flexible power system.
Håkan Agnevall, president and CEO of Wärtsilä, stated: “The challenges we are facing now and going forward are probably some of the most important and biggest we’ve ever faced. However, the technologies we need to overcome these are already there.”
The documentary delivers an optimistic message: a 100% renewable, reliable, and affordable energy future is within reach, is intended to serve as a powerful call to action, reminding viewers that the energy transition is an accelerating reality.
