Wärtsilä to provide critical balancing capability for new Kentucky power plant

HOUSTON, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the engineering and equipment for a new power plant project to be installed in Madisonville, Kentucky, USA. The order has been placed by Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA) and was booked by Wärtsilä in Q3, 2024. When commissioned, the plant will provide the grid balancing capabilities necessary to allow the utility to increase its share of energy from renewable sources. The power plant will also protect KYMEA’s members from price volatility in electricity markets.

The KYMEA Energy Center I is a natural gas electric generating facility. The 75 MW plant will operate with four Wärtsilä 50SG engines running on natural gas. The fast starting and stopping feature of the engines will provide the flexibility and rapid response to fluctuations in the availability of wind and solar power.

“The technology employed by the new KYMEA Energy Center I allows the units to seamlessly integrate with KYMEA’s renewable energy portfolio. The Wärtsilä engines will ensure that we can maintain a consistent and reliable energy supply. We are thrilled that this adaptability will make KYMEA Energy Center I a cornerstone in the transition to a more sustainable energy mix,” says Doug Buresh, President and CEO of KYMEA.

KYMEA serves the current and future electric power and energy requirements of eleven Kentucky municipalities. The Energy Center is expected to be fully operational in spring 2027.

“The flexibility and reliability of the Wärtsilä 50SG engines provide the needed support to the ongoing transition towards a decarbonised power sector,” comments Risto Paldanius, Vice President, Americas at Wärtsilä Energy. “The KYMEA project is a perfect example of this, and we are delighted to provide the technology that can deliver a sustainable energy solution to the utility.”

Wärtsilä has a strong presence in the USA, having established its operations there in 1979. Wärtsilä North America Inc employs more than 900 professionals in 11 regional locations serving the commercial power, maritime and oil & gas markets in the United States.

Media contact for more information on this release:

Elena Hale
Wartsila Energy
elena@piper-communications.com

Katri Pehkonen
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 50 591 6180
katri.pehkonen@wartsila.com

All Wärtsilä releases are available at www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded. Use of the image(s) is allowed only in connection with the contents of this press release. Wärtsilä images are available at www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW are under service agreements, and over 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.
www.wartsila.com/energy

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