Global decentralised power generation provider, Wartsila, has won a contract to supply a 170-MW gas-fired power plant for the Antelope Station, located near Texas, USA.
The power plant is to be located close to significant wind farm generation, and will serve to stabilise the grid when the output from the wind farms change unexpectedly because of weather changes, according to Wartsila.
The new power plant will incorporate 18 Wartsila 20V34SG generating sets, along with mechanical, electrical and control auxiliaries, switchgear and exhaust emission controls.
Additionally, Wartsila will provide installation and commissioning support, as well as factory training.
The power plant, which is expected to achieve commercial operation in early 2011, will generate approximately 170 MW, enough to meet the peak load requirements of 55,000 homes in the USA.
According to Wartsila , a primary reason that the company was chosen for the project was its ‘quick start’ technology, whereby engines are designed to achieve full operation in less than 10 minutes, compared with traditional gas-fired generation that can take from one to four hours to start.