Wärtsilä Selected to Supply Equipment for a 190 MW Power Plant in Texas.

Wärtsilä, a Finnish company founded in 1834, has been selected to supply equipment for a new 190 MW power plant in Texas, USA. This latest contract was placed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), a Texas-based organization that provides wholesale power to the state’s power grid. The contract was booked by Wärtsilä in September.

Wärtsilä has a long history of innovation and leadership in the energy sector. Throughout the decades, the company has grown and evolved, adapting to changes in technology and market demands. Today, Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets.

The company has a strong presence in the USA, with over 70 engine power plants installed since 1981 and 15 energy storage facilities with a combined capacity of over 4500 MW. This latest project in Texas further solidifies Wärtsilä’s position as a key player in the American energy market.

Central Texas is undergoing significant growth, which has led to an increase in demand for power. The region’s population has grown by 30% from 2010 to 2020, and major companies are setting up operations in the area. To meet this growing demand, LCRA is building a new peaker power plant that will provide rapidly available, dispatchable power when other energy sources are insufficient.

The power plant will consist of ten Wärtsilä 50SG engines that run on natural gas and are expected to be fully operational by 2025. Importantly, each engine requires very little water, making it an ideal solution for Texas, which is often affected by drought.

Risto Paldanius, Vice President of Americas at Wärtsilä Energy, commented that the energy sector is undergoing rapid change, with flexibility becoming increasingly important. Wärtsilä’s technology provides the necessary flexibility, making it a good fit for LCRA’s plans to provide reliable and cost-effective power to its customers and the Texas power grid.