Energía del Pacífico had contracted the Finish OEM to supply and install the plant that is driven by 19 Wärtsilä 50SG gas engines and a steam turbine in combined-cycle arrangement. Wärtsliä claims its dry flexicycle technology with a closed-loop cooling system has “zero water consumption.”
Running on regasified LNG, the new 378 MW power plant will provide about one third of El Salvador’s electricity supply and will help reduce the country’s dependence on oil and heavy fuel oil for power generation.
Fast-starting and load following capabilities of 50SG engines will enable the power plant to accommodate increased levels of energy from inherently intermittent renewable sources, such as solar and wind.
“This is a transformational energy investment for El Salvador. The project will deliver significant environmental benefits, and with Wärtsilä’s efficient and reliable gas engine technology, it will provide clean and reliable power to the country,” said Joel Schroeder, Vice President, Thermal Engineering at Energía del Pacífico.
Upon commissioning, Wärtsilä will locally employ, and train some 40 people to operate and maintain the power plant.