VIWAPA buys Wärtsilä’s hybrid LPG/LFO plant

The US Virgin Islands (VI) Water and Power Authority (WAPA) project is scheduled to be completed with a fully operational plant by spring 2022.

Viwapa Wartsila Hybrid Lpglfo Plant Power
VIWAPA – Randolph Harley Power Plant Expansion Project with WAPA-2 site. Image Credit: Wärtsilä.

US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) has placed an order to the technology group Wärtsilä for a state-of-the-art power plant and energy storage system. Wärtsilä will deliver and install the plant on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis. Previously also, Wärtsilä has supplied and installed a 21 MW power plant running primarily on propane gas to WAPA.

The thechnical speciality of the project lies in the fact that it will be capable of burning both Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Light Fuel Oil (LFO), while also being fitted with batteries utilising Wärtsilä’s state-of-the-art GEMS energy management platform to provide optimised energy operations.

Wärtsilä booked the order in June 2020. The four Wärtsilä 32LG engines will deliver a total output of 36 MW, while the energy storage system will add further 9 MW for up to two-hours. As far as Wärtsilä is concerned, this project t is highly significant – because not only it is the company’s first engine/hybrid power plant sale but also it will be the first installation of the Wärtsilä LG engines.

Describing the benefits that the region will get from this project, Lawrence Kupfer, CEO, USVI Water and Power Authority, said, “The Wärtsilä plant will provide much needed additional baseload capacity to the Island’s electricity supply. It will improve the system’s reliability, while at the same time giving us additional fuel and operational flexibility that will increase fuel efficiency and lower overall operating costs. It will also reduce the dependence on and environmental impact of diesel oil. The four generators are fueled by a cleaner burning fuel that will lead to reduced air emissions and enhanced overall air quality. There is no adverse impact to land, water or the surrounding areas.”

Commenting on the project, Edmund Phillips, Business Development Manager, Wärtsilä Energy, said, “The ability to most efficiently burn both LPG and LFO was a major factor in selecting the Wärtsilä LG engines for this project. Additionally, the hybrid solution will add even more operational flexibility and will serve to improve the existing grid stability on the island. This project showcases our unique technological capabilities in combining an engine power plant and energy storage, and our commitment to drive the energy transition towards low carbon systems.”

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