Wärtsilä to supply major gas engine power plant to Russia
An important step in the use of combustion engine technology for major power plant projects was taken with the award of this order to Wärtsilä. The new power plant will be powered by Wärtsilä’s leading edge technology and will be the first of its kind in Russia. It will provide a reliable and efficient electricity supply for large industrial consumers, while meeting the highly variable load requirements with extreme flexibility and fast response, said in the company's press release.
Wärtsilä, a leading global supplier of efficient and flexible power plant solutions, has been awarded the contract to supply a major power plant for Russia. The 110 MW unit will be by far the largest power plant running on Wärtsilä engines in Russia. It is also the first time that combustion engine technology has been selected to power a plant of this size anywhere in the country.
The order was placed in April 2013 by Transmashenergo, an independent power producer, and the power plant is to be located in Tikhvin in Russia’s Leningrad region. It will run on natural gas using six Wärtsilä 50SG engines. Wärtsilä will supply the engineering – both basic and detailed, the generating sets with auxiliary modules and systems, automation and control equipment, the electrical system, and the engine hall complete with stacks fitted with carbon monoxide control catalysts. Wärtsilä will also provide installation and commissioning assistance, and training.
The plant will be connected to the grid, although the primary purpose of the project is to provide a reliable and efficient electricity supply for local industrial consumers. Since the load requirement for such users has a high degree of variability and is at times extremely demanding, flexibility and fast response were important considerations in the decision making process. The plant is scheduled to be constructed by the end of 2014.
“Wärtsilä was able to demonstrate the technical and economic benefits of its combustion engine technology through its global references. Dealing with a single source supplier having a comprehensive offering also saves us both time and costs,” says Vladimir Zhadan, General Director, Transmashenergo.
“This globally significant order represents further evidence of the need for, and the acceptance of, Wärtsilä’s Smart Power Generation concept. By providing high energy efficiency with flexibility, our gas engine technology can meet the most challenging demands. Furthermore, the Tikhvin plant will enhance efficiency by lowering the cost per kW versus the current grid tariff,” says Vesa Riihimäki, President, Wärtsilä Power Plants.
Smart Power Generation
Smart Power Generation is a new concept which enables an existing power system to operate at its maximum efficiency by most effectively absorbing current and future system load variations, thus providing dramatic savings.
Wärtsilä is the global leader in Smart Power Generation. Wärtsilä’s combustion engine technology and power plant solutions have been developed to provide a unique combination of valuable features that enable new horizons for future sustainable, reliable and affordable national power systems.