Finland-headed international energy and marine technology group Wärtsilä Oyj has announced that it has been contracted to supply the generating sets for two 30 MW power plants to be build in Indonesia.
The order has been placed by KEPCO E&C, a member of the consortium of KEPCO E&C-Adhi Karya, the consortium to build the plants for the Indonesian state-owned utility PLN.
The Sumbawa-2 plant located on Sumbawa Island and the Tobelo plant on North Maluku will each operate with three Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines delivering an output of 30 MW.
Aligned with biodiesel program
Initially, they will be fuelled by a mix of 35 percent biofuel and 65 percent diesel, in line with Indonesia’s biodiesel program. They will switch to operating on natural gas when it becomes locally available.
The plants will therefore be reducing carbon emissions while providing reliable electricity, and by doing so contribute to the decarbonization journey of Indonesia.
Having won the public tender for these projects, we needed a partner with the capability to deliver high-efficiency and reliable power generation. Wärtsilä’s track record in Indonesia is well established, and the fuel flexibility of the Wärtsilä engines was an important consideration in their selection, said Il Bae Kim, ESVP at KEPCO E&C.
World’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine
The Wärtsilä equipment the value of which has not been disclosed is scheduled to be delivered in 2024 and the two plants are expected to become fully operational in spring 2025.
The Wärtsilä 31 engine platform has established a benchmark in operating efficiency. The diesel version was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as being the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine on May 26, 2015.
The dual-fuel version ensures operational energy security through fuel flexibility and seamless switching between fuels.
Its fast-starting capability, reaching full output load in just two minutes, makes the Wärtsilä 31DF ideal for grid balancing in systems integrating energy from intermittent renewable sources, such as wind and solar.
We are honored to have been awarded the contract to supply the equipment for these two new power plants. The Wärtsilä 31DF engine has world-class efficiency, which is unmatched in its class, and is the perfect choice for these projects where flexibility and reliability are essentials, commented Kari Punnonen, Energy Business Director Australasia at Wärtsilä.
