Wärtsilä Picked For Argentine Power Plant

Wärtsilä will supply five 31SG engines for a power plant for a petroleum company in Argentina. The gas-fired plant will have an initial output of 57.4 MW, which can later be increased to 90 MW.

The electricity produced will primarily be used to power the local oil fields, with any excess being sold to the national grid. The order with Wärtsilä includes complete engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project, and was booked in Q4 2018.

The Manantiales Behr basin is one of the most important oil fields in Argentina, and the new Wärtsilä plant will increase the efficiency of the area’s power supply by replacing an existing gas turbine plant. The 31SG engines, with their ability to reach full output from start-up in two minutes, will balance the intermittent supply from an adjacent wind farm, thereby effectively providing a hybrid energy system, the company said.

In addition to its efficiency, the Wärtsilä 31SG engine is capable of operating in challenging climatic conditions. The site conditions in the Manantiales Behr basin include wind speeds of up to 180 km/hour, and temperatures that can range from -10^o C to 40^o C. The plant is expected to become fully operational in October 2020. The 31SG has a bore and stroke of 310 X 430 mm and produces 11790 kW in 50 Hz applications.

“High efficiency, and a proven track record in EPC project deliveries are the reasons behind the award of this contract,” said Alberto Fernandez, regional director, Latin America South, Wärtsilä Energy Business. “During the past couple of years, we have successfully completed seven projects on-time and on budget in Argentina. This experience speaks for itself.”