. | Photo Credit: Vinod V Sanker 2602@Thiruvananthapuram

Finnish multinational Wartsila has long been known as a supplier of large diesel- and gas-fired generators — powering ships and serving as standby electricity sources for industry.

But with diesel losing ground on both economic and emission considerations, the company is realigning itself with the evolving energy landscape — as a grid balancer to support renewable energy.

Is Wartsila moving into a niche? R Venkatesh, Managing Director, Wartsila Energy India, prefers a different framing. “We have changed our profile from industry captive energy suppliers to utility grid balancing, flexible solutions,” he told businessline.

The pitch to industry is straightforward: Use Wartsila’s engines to stabilise the grid. Its generators can come online within minutes, stepping in when solar or wind generation dips.

Wartsila has installed 3.5 GW of engine capacity in India, of which 1.2 GW is gas-fired. It sells 120–150 MW generators annually, Venkatesh said, adding that the North-East is emerging as a key market.

On concerns over gas price volatility, he argued that fluctuations are largely short-term, and prices tend to stabilise over longer periods.

Asked whether the company is competing with battery energy storage systems (BESS), Venkatesh said both technologies are needed for grid stability. “It is not either-or,” he said.

Wartsila manufactures BESS too, though not for the Indian market at present.

The company also produces marine engines and sees India as a potential market. At present, its Maharashtra facility manufactures balance-of-plant components for global supply.

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Published on May 11, 2026