Our purpose “enabling sustainable societies with smart technology” explains how we want to make things happen now and in the future.
A question one is often asked is, “Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?” The answer to this can vary depending on one’s purpose in life. For Wärtsilä, our purpose is to enable sustainable societies with smart technology. Our purpose drives us, gives us direction and explains why we exist and how we want to make things happen now and in the future. Our purpose is an important part of our brand DNA – naturally complementing our values and powering all Wärtsiliäns towards our mission.
It is a fact that over the past decade, the world has been changing faster than we can change. The rapid advance of technology coupled with our planet’s shrinking resources has led to a slew of new wants and needs. We have recognised the need to embark on a new direction if we are to keep up with all these changes. That is a task that cannot be achieved by standing on one’s own.
To challenge the status quo to lead the change towards a digitally connected, intelligent ecosystem, we must invest heavily in developing ideas to accelerate digitalisation and intelligent automation of the entire value chain.
We need to leverage data and collaborate with technology partners and startups to come up with trailblazing solutions. In this, I am happy to say, we are already succeeding. We are continuously looking for new partners to collaborate with in order to do this even better in the future.
I can give you a couple of examples of solutions that we have developed by putting our purpose into action. First, Africa’s largest engine-solar PV hybrid power plant in Burkina Faso, which we created for the Essakane gold mine. This hybrid plant will enable the mine to reduce its fuel consumption by approximately six million litres per year, and also reduce its CO2 emissions by 18,500 tonnes.
The second example is on the ship the Viking Princess. In a world first, Wärtsilä installed a hybrid energy system on board the vessel, allowing it to reduce the number of power generators aboard the ship. The solution can result in 30% fuel savings and between 13% and 18% reduction in CO2 emissions per year.
Then on a smaller scale, an excellent example of providing a more sustainable world to everyone is our partnership with the Seabin project. The idea is breathtakingly innovative – a floating rubbish bin that would help keep the world’s oceans clean by drawing in debris and floating garbage. This is truly an example of collaboration and out-of-the-box thinking from a company that is genuinely living up to its purpose. Wärtsilä has already donated Seabins to the Finnish cities of Helsinki, Turku and Vaasa, and just recently to Hanko and Rauma. The first Asian Seabin was installed in Singapore in April this year, and another 40 will soon be installed in other countries where Wärtsilä operates.
Ritva Seppänen
Vice President
Brand, Wärtsilä
