Virgin Islands power generation project takes next step

The 21-megawatt propane-fired Wärtsilä power plant project in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Image courtesy of Wärtsilä.

The U.S. Virgins Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) is investing in a power plant that will include three Wärtsilä 34SG-LPG engines running on propane.

The investment is part of WAPA’s energy infrastructure modernization program.

According to Wärtsilä, which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment, it will provide the engineering, procurement and construction of WAPA’s 21-megawatt Smart Power Generation power plant. The power plant will be located on the island of St. Thomas, and it is expected to be operational in early 2018, Wärtsilä says.

The project represents Wärtsilä’s first power plant in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the third propane-fired power plant the company has delivered. Wärtsilä will provide baseload, peaking and balancing power for the St. Thomas electric system. The plant will be built to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emission regulations applicable in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Wärtsilä adds.

“The Wärtsilä generating units will be critical to the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s ability to maximize the full potential of its recent conversion from fuel oil to LPG as the primary fuel source,” says Julio Rhymer Sr., executive director and CEO of WAPA. “The Wärtsilä power plant will be a cornerstone in providing not only reliable and highly efficient power generation, but in making more affordable electricity available to our customers.”

Look back on some of the earlier project developments in LP Gas‘ archives.