The technology group Wärtsilä has signed a second long-term service agreement renewal for the Delimara Power Plant 3 (D3) in Malta. The plant is a major supplier of electricity to the island and its availability and reliability is essential to the stability of the grid. The five-year Optimised Maintenance Agreement was placed in April with the plant owners, a consortium comprising Shanghai Electric Power and Enemalta, Malta’s leading electricity services provider.The Optimised Maintenance Agreement covers four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines and four Wärtsilä 50SG gas engines. The solution covers maintenance planning and services whenever needed, with fixed prices for inspection, operational and technical support, spare parts, and maintenance work. A dedicated technical Wärtsilä team supports the operations on-site, and Wärtsilä Expertise Centre in Trieste, Italy, monitors the installation online.
The 150 MW D3 plant was commissioned in 2014 and originally operated with eight Wärtsilä 46 engines running on heavy fuel oil (HFO). However, in 2016 Wärtsilä successfully carried out a gas conversion, changing the generating sets to four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines and four Wärtsilä 50SG pure gas engines. The new engines were fitted with Wärtsilä’s durable, all-inclusive automated UNIC engine control system. Following this conversion, the existing service agreement was renewed for the first time to include remote monitoring from the Wärtsilä Expertise Centre located in Trieste, Italy. “We are very satisfied with the support that we have received from Wärtsilä since this power plant was installed. We have found them to be extremely professional, and the efficiency and reliability of D3 is very much thanks to their efforts. The agreement brings reduced operating and maintenance costs, and also reduces emission levels of the plant. This is why we are very pleased to once again renew the service agreement,” said David Griscti, Deputy CEO, D3PG - Delimara 3 Power station.
“This extension is a clear endorsement of customer satisfaction and of the value delivered by our long-term service agreements. The combination of remote monitoring of the equipment and an on-site technical advisor ensures that the plant operates efficiently at all times; reliably and with the lowest possible operating costs,” commented Pekka Tolonen, Energy Business Director, Europe, Wärtsilä Energy.
The 2016 gas conversion project significantly reduced the power plant’s carbon footprint and was a proactive means for complying with the EU’s Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD), which limits emissions from medium-sized generating plants. The previous exemption given to Mediterranean island states is due to end in 2025.
Long-term service agreements are a key element of Wärtsilä’s Lifecycle services, supporting its energy sector customers. The support encompasses the company’s technology, software, service expertise, and thorough understanding of installations on a system level.
Learn more:
Wärtsilä Lifecycle solutions
Malta prepares for an LNG-powered future
Delimara power plant 3 gas conversion
Media contact for more information on this release:
Mirja-Maija Santala
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 400 793 827
mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com
Image: Wärtsilä’s second long-term service agreement renewal for 5 years for Delimara Power Plant 3 (D3), a major supplier of electricity on Malta, helps to secure stability of the grid on the island. © Wärtsilä Corporation
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Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 74 GW of power plant capacity and more than 80 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. https://www.wartsila.com/energy
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2020, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki
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