Global supplier of efficient power plant solutions Wärtsilä North American Inc., has been awarded a contract to supply engineering and generating equipment for a new Alaska power plant to be installed. Palmer, Alaska based member-owned co-operative utility, Matanuska Electric Association (MEA) placed the order valued at USD106 million. The new facility will supply electricity to over 100,000 households, adding power to the grid and to MEA’s 4,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines.
The supply includes ten 18-cylinder Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel generating sets to be operated primarily on natural gas and in case of gas supply interruption the advanced dual-fuel technology enables engines to switch to an alternative fuel while operating. Specified auxiliary equipment will also be supplied.
Wärtsilä generating sets meet the Alaskan air quality permits specified to the project, which was an important factor in the awarding of the contract. Another key factor was the equipment’s flexibility to maintain efficiency output during wide daily and seasonal load swings. The plant will provide intermediate load following electricity generation, with the load being reduced and individual units can be shut down during periods of low demand such as at night.
The plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2014, with delivery scheduled in the fall of next year.