Wärtsilä Video

Houston – Wärtsilä Corporation, a leading global provider of power solutions, has been awarded an equipment supply contract by South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC), a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Nursery, Texas. The contract for the 202.5 MWe gas-fired power plant is valued at over $100 million USD. Currently, STEC serves eight distribution cooperatives, which provide services to over 170,000 members in 65 South Texas counties.

“The analysis of the various options proved Wärtsilä a clear winner environmentally, economically, and in the project’s ability to meet rapidly changing market conditions,” Michael Packard, General Manager of STEC, said.

“We are thrilled to be working with both STEC and Burns & McDonnell on Wärtsilä’s first large installation in the state of Texas,” says Frank Donnelly, President of Wärtsilä North America. “This flexible power plant will efficiently provide the generation needed for the region’s growth, as well as the grid stability required for the increasing influx of wind power”.

The power plant, to be called the “Pearsall Power Plant”, will be located about fifty miles Southwest of San Antonio in Pearsall, Texas on an existing brownfield site. It will be equipped with twenty-four Wärtsilä 20V34SG engines, including all related mechanical and electrical auxiliaries, SCR’s, installation and commissioning support and training. Burns & McDonnell, Inc. of Kansas City will assist with engineering, permitting, and construction management activities.

The plant will be connected to the ERCOT grid and supply power and Ancillary Services to STEC’s eight cooperative members, helping to serve their 750 MW peak load. The plant is anticipated to run about 4000 hours per year. The first 75 MW of the Pearsall Power Plant is expected to enter commercial operation in late 2009, with the remaining 128 MW beginning commercial operation by the end of 2010. Wärtsilä´s Flexible Power Plants – A Superior Alternative

Wärtsilä’s flexible power plants features include the ability to reach full plant output in eight minutes, provide 25% power in two minutes, the highest simple cycle efficiency available in the industry, constant performance over varying ambient conditions, low lifecycle costs, small unit sizes and rapid response to varying grid conditions. Wärtsilä’s natural gas fueled technology has the capability to operate efficiently at low loads. The Pearsall Power Plant will be able to run at as little as 8 MW with a competitive heat rate. This feature not only translates into lower electricity costs for STEC member cooperatives, but it also increases the number of megawatts of “spinning reserve” available to the customer, thereby increasing the value of the plant. Additionally, Wärtsilä’s flexible power plants are able to supply all commercially traded ancillary services, including black start capabilities.