Estonian transmission system operator Elering plans to increase reserve capacity in the country by building two new power plants with a combined capacity of 250 MW.
Elering has awarded Finland’s Wärtsilä a contract to supply two compete power plants that will have the operational flexibility to meet sudden and unexpected drops in electricity supply. The order is part of plans by Elering to have new dynamic power stations available for operation by 2018 in order to guarantee security of the nation’s electricity supply.
Under the €129 million order, Wärtsilä will supply two plants equipped with Wärtsilä 20V34DF engines. They will operate primarily on natural gas but will be able to switch to light fuel oil as a back-up.
The capacity of the two plants is equivalent to one-sixth of Estonia’s peak electricity demand. They will be connected to Estonia’s 110 and 330 kV grids and will operate on average for 200 hours per year, says Wärtsilä.
“This is an important project for the Estonian energy sector, and one that will ensure the supply of electricity to consumers should any existing power station unexpectedly lose production,” said Taavi Veskimägi, Elering’s Chairman.
The requirement for these plants is that they have to be able to compensate for lost generating capacity in no more than 15 minutes in the event of a plant shut down. Their 10-minute start-up capability is, therefore, essential, says Wärtsilä.
The first power plant is scheduled to be in operation in the spring 2013, with the second unit due to be operational by the autumn 2014.