Technology company Wärtsilä signed a ten-year optimized maintenance contract with the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA) to ensure the reliability of its new Energy Center I power plant. This 75 MW plant will be powered by Wärtsilä 50SG engines and will be commissioned in 2027, marking a key point in the state’s energy flexibility strategy.
Energy Center I as a key support for the energy transition
Energy Center I will be KYMEA’s first facility to use reciprocating internal combustion engines, a technology that enables rapid response to fluctuations in renewable energy generation. renewable energy.
The contract includes remote technical support, maintenance planning, ongoing diagnostics and spare parts supply. Wärtsilä will also provide on-site personnel for the first three years to strengthen operations and train local operators.
Technology ready to adapt to demand
Thanks to their quick-start capabilities, Wärtsilä’s Wärtsilä engines engines can come online within minutes when solar or wind sources fail to meet demand. This adjustment capability makes the power plant a key element in balancing the state’s power grid.
In times of higher renewable production, the plant can reduce its operation, and in times of shortage, guarantee a stable supply.
Long-term sustainability and predictability
For KYMEA, the contract represents a practical investment in reliability and cost predictability. Its CEO, Doug Buresh, stressed the importance of experienced technical support and expert maintenance management, especially at a facility critical to its customers’ energy future.
For its part, Wärtsilä is strengthening its commitment to the decarbonization of the US energy sector. The company, which has been operating in the country since 1979 through Wärtsilä North America, has already installed 6 GW of power capacity in the United States.
With this alliance, Kentucky is moving toward a more flexible and resilient grid, integrating more renewable energy without compromising the stability of the electric system.
Source and photo: Wärtsilä