A Power Plant In A Pinch

Wärtsilä and AGL Energy Ltd., an Australian integrated energy company, have signed the contract for a new 211 MW power plant, the Barker Inlet Power Station on Torrens Island near Adelaide.

The power plant will incorporate 12 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines and is designed to provide fast starting capabilities required to respond to rapid fluctuations inherent to renewable generation. AGL Energy has a large portfolio for renewable energy sources, including Australia’s largest wind and solar farms. The Wärtsilä engines will run primarily on natural gas, but can be switched to liquid fuel.

The Notice to Proceed (NTP) has been issued and project execution work has begun. Wärtsilä is delivering the plant on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. The construction phase is expected to create approximately 200 jobs.

“We are pleased that the full go-ahead for this project has been given, and that the project execution work is now underway,” said Javier Cavada, President, Wärtsilä Energy Solutions. “The Wärtsilä Smart Power Generation solution, with its high efficiency, fast response and flexible capacity, will enable AGL to provide increased reliability and security of supply to the South Australian power system with increasing renewable penetration while reducing costs and lowering emissions.”

The equipment is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year and the new plant is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2019.