Switzerland-based marine engine technology developer WinGD has announced the opening of a new Global Test Centre in Shanghai, China. The new facility is a collaboration with CSPI (China Shipbuilding Power Engineering Institute) and will focus on the advancement of a decarbonized future through sustainable fuel and combustion research.
The new Global Test Centre will conduct research into future fuel propulsion solutions, holistic energy management systems, and power generation based on new energy converters.
For the development of new technologies and products, the Global Test Centre features two two-stroke test engines and several test rigs for the validation of subsystems such as fuel injection, pumps and gas admission valves. With future demands in mind, testing will focus on new fuel types, including methanol and ammonia, and on the further development of WinGD’s low-pressure dual-fuel technology.
The test center will also be equipped with an electrical grid that represents modern vessels, including a DC grid laboratory and dynamometers instead of water brakes, offering a suitable infrastructure to test and demonstrate hybrid propulsion systems in the future.
“The pace at which we need to act as an industry to reach a carbon-free future requires all players to step up with significant commitment,” said WinGD’s vice president of research and development, Dominik Schneiter. “By considerably expanding our test engine infrastructure, we are confirming our commitment to accelerate the energy transition in shipping. The future is a multifuel landscape where deep knowledge of the combustion properties of all fuels is required. Our collaboration with our CSSC family of companies allows us to bring the full weight of our shared expertise toward this goal.”