Wärtsilä will supply the engineering and equipment for a 217 MW (gross) power plant in Kentucky, USA. The contract has been placed by East Kentucky Power Co-operative (EKPC), a not-for-profit electric utility that generates power for electric co-operatives in the state. The plant is needed to help meet increasing demand.
The plant, which will be located in Liberty, Kentucky, will operate with 12 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines. The engines will operate primarily on natural gas fuel, but can switch to alternative fuels if necessary.
The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in mid-2027, and the plant is expected to be commissioned in early 2028. It will operate for approximately 5000 hours per year, providing grid balancing power as needed.
“We are delighted to support EKPC’s energy initiative … this project will be one of the largest Wärtsilä dual-fuel plants installed in the United States” commented Risto Paldanius, vice president, Americas at Wärtsilä Energy.
Wärtsilä established its US operations in 1979 through its subsidiary Wärtsilä North America, Inc.
