In the United States (US), Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA), a joint agency municipal utility, has announced the selection of Mainspring Linear Generators to supply 48 MW of new dispatchable local generation capacity.
Facing a sharp rise in electricity demand over the next decade, UMPA moved to avert a potential power capacity deficit by building and operating additional local power, supplementing its existing baseload and peak power resources.
The greenfield project, scheduled to begin operation in central Utah in 2027, will cost-effectively deliver significant new capacity to UMPA’s member cities.
Mainspring Energy’s modular linear generator facility will deliver firm capacity and reliability in a low-cost and low-emissions asset.
Mainspring’s local power solution gives UMPA the dispatchable power we need to control our energy future while staying aligned with our sustainability and cost objectives. We are proud to work with Mainspring to provide a reliable and economical power supply portfolio serving the needs of our members and community, said Travis Ball, VP of Generation, UMPA.
Significant advantages
Like many municipal and cooperative utilities, UMPA is advancing a diversified resource strategy to meet rising demand while maintaining affordability and reliability for its members.
The linear generator’s flexibility ensures future-proof investment with the ability to deploy much-needed power systems today that scale modularly, run multiple fuels, and dispatch power on demand for decades to come.
This project exemplifies Utah’s leadership in energy and the adoption of innovative solutions. UMPA is taking important steps to deploy new generation technologies that strengthen the grid and help deliver affordable, reliable, and clean electricity for thousands of Utahns, commented Senator John R. Curtis.
UMPA selected the proven Mainspring Linear Generator solution over other local power generation options, citing its significant advantages:
- Low emissions: the Linear Generator’s extremely low NOx output (<1.5 ppm) meets the most stringent local, state, and federal air quality standards, without requiring the use of special after-treatment.
- Rapid manufacture and installation of firm power capacity. Linear generators are factory-built and commissioned in a far shorter time period than any other dispatchable power generation options.
- Low capital cost that qualifies for a 30 percent investment tax credit, combined with high efficiency and low maintenance, offers the lowest cost of ownership relative to other dispatchable power generation options.
- Inherent system modularity: Ability to reliably produce power with minimal downtime due to inherent system modularity. Mainspring’s smaller building blocks and nodal design ensure that a high percentage of the 48 MW project is always available, even during maintenance events.
With this project, UMPA and Mainspring are creating an ideal model for municipal utilities and other public power companies with rising demand and goals for independence. UMPA is leading the way in the effective and rapid deployment of utility-scale local power, said Adam Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer, Mainspring Energy.
