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    Wärtsilä Energy in Africa

Taking Africa to its Energy Future

Africa is ready to provide enough energy to achieve the most ambitious of goals, and it can do it while maintaining all environmental targets.

We believe careful planning of power systems towards more sustainable and diversified energy supply portfolios can save billions and rapidly reduce CO2 emissions. We create value through our extensive power system knowledge and experience from integrating different generating assets.

On this page, you may find our best materials and proceedings in energising and decarbonising the continent of Africa.

References in Africa

7.6 GW

of engine power plant capacity installed

46

African countries with active customers

600+

Wärtsilä engines installed across the continent

180+

customers across the continent

  • Pathways for Africa's energy future
    Pathways for Africa's energy future - a new report

    Africa has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leapfrog to a renewable and reliable energy future, and increase energy access across the continent.

    Read more

Wärtsilä's industry firsts in Africa

With more than 650 employees and service hubs located in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal, Wärtsilä is proud to have contributed to many industry firsts. These include Africa’s largest gas engine power plant on the Kribi coast of Cameroon with 216MW capacity, as well as Africa’s highest installation, the 175 MW power plant in Sasolburg, South Africa, sitting at 1,700 meters above sea level. 

Another first, the KivuWatt power plant in Rwanda, is the first ever power plant to use the naturally occurring methane from lake Kivu to generate electricity and reduce the environmental risks associated with such high concentrations of gas. Today’s power output is 25 MW but future planned expansions to this project will increase capacity by an additional 75 MW. 

Wärtsilä Energy references in Europe_map

Our references from across the continent

  • Paras Energy, Nigeria

    Since deciding in 2009 that its three new power plants would operate with Wärtsilä gas engines rather than gas turbines, the conventional choice at that time in Nigeria, Paras Energy has continued to benefit from that decision.

    Read more
    Engineer working in Paras Energy power plant.
  • Geita Gold Mine, Tanzania

    Reliable power generation in a remote off-grid location in Tanzania.

    Read more
    Image of Geita gold mine power plant
  • B2Gold Fekola Mine, Mali

    Our GEMS Digital Energy Platform together with energy storage solutions were the key players in helping the Fekola gold mine in Mali to reduce their dependency on expensive fuel, lower their carbon emissions and optimise their mining operations.

    Read more
    Energy Storage in Mali
  • Pointe Monnier, Mauritius

    The Central Electricity Board (CEB) of Mauritius improved the performance as well as reduced the operating costs of their power plant by having a turbocharger retrofit.

    Read more
    Pointe Monnier, Mauritius
  • Essakane Solar SAS, Burkina Faso

    The Essakane gold mine in Burkina Faso receives its needed power from Africa’s largest engine-solar PV hybrid power plant delivered by Wärtsilä. Benefits for the mine include reduced fuel costs and a smaller carbon footprint. The capability to control and optimise the usage of the solar PV power and engines enables the gold mine to reduce its fuel consumption by an estimated 6 million litres per year and its annual CO2 emissions by 18,500 tons.

    Read more
    Essakane Solar SAS - Burkina Faso
  • Kaloum 5, Republic of Guinea

    Power plant overhaul boosts availability and grid stability.

    Read more
    Kaloum 5 - Republic of Guinea
  • Malicounda, Senegal

    With 450 MW of installed capacity in Senegal, Wärtsilä is the country’s leading provider of power generation equipment. The Matelec company placed an order for the delivery of an energy efficient 130 MW Flexicycle™ power plant. This investment will enable Senegal to achieve its goal of reducing consumer electricity pricing.

    Read more
    Malicounda, Senegal
  • Grande Côte, Senegal

    The Grande Côte Mineral Sands Project aims to extract valuable zircon and titanium dioxide from sandy deposits along the Senegalese coast from 2014 for at least the next 20 years.

    Read more
    Grande Cote Power Plant - Senegal
  • Sasolburg, South Africa

    "Our old generating equipment was replaced with more efficient units. New power plant technology is used to meet increased demand for electricity. Gas-engine technology allows us to reduce our carbon footprint by more than 40%."

    Read more
    Sasolburg operations
  • Lake Kivu, Rwanda

    This power plant utilises naturally occurring methane gas from Lake Kivu to generate electricity via Wärtsilä 34SG engines. Total output will be 25 MW. By reducing gas levels in the lake while, at the same time, providing additional power generating capacity, both environmental and economic targets can be met. This is the first time that Lake Kivu’s methane gas will be used to fuel a power plant of this size.

    Read more
    Lake Kivu

Recent Country White Papers

Opinions

  • Kenya: East Africa’s Power House
    The energy loom: Crafting Africa's green transition with precision

    The call for a green revolution is no longer a distant echo; it's the resounding demand of the present. Much like an artisan weaver poised before a complex loom, the world faces the task of crafting a grand tapestry of sustainability.

    Read the Opinion
  • Stable and transparent policymaking is essential to reach Nigeria’s electrification targets

    Developing a culture of stability in Nigeria’s energy policymaking will be key to unlocking the massive foreign investments needed to achieve its 2060 carbon neutrality goals.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    Power System Operators: A Balancing Act

    Imagine a power system operator in South Africa as the head of a diverse family, trying to maintain a harmonious household of electricity supply.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • Renewable energy will save west africa hundreds of millions of dollars

    Paired with energy storage and flexible engine power plants, renewable energy will reduce emissions by 30% by 2030 and generate savings of $700 million dollars by 2035.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    Gas Power Solution for South Africa

    Wärtsilä also believes that there are at least ten short to medium term <400MW gas power opportunities to be realised across the country, which would bring much needed flexibility across the grid

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • Nigeria’s industry is rising to twin challenges

    In most places in Africa, the development of renewable energy capacity is a very competitive solution that industrials can adopt to lower their environmental impact and energy costs. But things aren’t as clear-cut in Nigeria.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • Africa Image for slides
    Africa’s energy leapfrogging reality

    In-depth studies have demonstrated that with the adequate support of flexible power technologies, ambitious renewable energy objectives in Africa are achievable

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    Thank you Gas for my cup of tea

    Our modelling reveals that gas plays an important role in maintaining a reliable supply under numerous “real world” events.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • Africa Image for slides
    Africa can adopt renewable energy on a massive scale

    Countries across Africa want to make good on their objective of building huge amounts of new generation capacity to anticipate on vast increases in energy demand.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    Optimising energy storage and thermal balancing: the case for South Africa

    With increasing power outages and the ongoing threat of loadshedding, the need for sustainable energy production in the country is becoming more apparent.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    SA ‘faces a decade of load-shedding without gas’

    The country needs to install 9,000 megawatts of gas-fired power at a cost of as much as $8bn to ease the transition from coal to renewable energy

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • Accelerating Nigeria’s 30-30-30 vision

    Our modelling shows that the country requires more aggressive capacity additions than the current situation, referred to as the business-as-usual scenario, in order to achieve the country’s stated 30-30-30 vision.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • South Africa Slide Image
    Wärtsilä Modelling Proves the Flexibility of Gas in SA’s Energy Transition

    Finnish technology group Wärtsilä presented its latest findings and rigorous analysis that was undertaken on the South African power system, amidst the current energy crisis.

    Read the Opinion Piece
  • The cheapest way to meet Mozambique’s new electricity demand

    A recent study carried out by Wärtsilä shows that investing in a combination of renewables and gas would save $2 billion and 25 million tons of CO2 by 2032

    Read the Opinion Piece

Africa related videos

 

Articles

Energy solutions for mining
26 Apr 2022 · Article
5 min read
Renewables, energy storage and flexible gas power plants can drive industry in South Africa on road to decarbonisation
One of the major challenges...
From Texas to Nigeria: engine power plants provide the flexibility to mitigate gas supply issues and support growth in renewables
13 Oct 2021 · Article
5 min read
From Texas to Nigeria: engine power plants provide the flexibility to mitigate gas supply issues and support growth in renewables
In North America...
Ambitious About Africa Insights article banner
11 Aug 2021 · Article
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Ambitious about Africa
There is currently a desperate need for more equal opportunities and better integration between companies and the communities...
Cowley_0674
Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Optimisation

Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation offers unrivalled solutions to the most pressing energy challenges, including the integration of more renewables.

Recent press releases

Wärtsilä’s report demonstrates extensive benefits of co-optimising Poland’s power and heat sectors

Mar 27, 2024, 09:00 by Wärtsilä Corporation

Technology group Wärtsilä has developed a pragmatic and cost-effective strategy for Poland to transition from coal-dominated power and district heating (DH) systems to an energy system that runs mainly on renewables. In the new report, the modelling shows that the co-optimisation of Poland's power and DH sectors over the next decade could save a cumulative €3.8 billion and reduce annual CO2 emissions in the power and DH sectors by 57% by 2032, despite the expected growth in electricity demand.

The report titled “Powering Poland’s Future: Optimising the Power System and District Heating for the Next Decade”, addresses Poland’s specific challenges related to the decarbonisation of its aged and inefficient coal-powered DH systems.

“Decarbonisation of district heating is technologically more difficult than of the power system. Wärtsilä’s study shows the path to decarbonisation by highlighting the importance of establishing flexible generating assets within DH systems. The deployment of heat pumps and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) gas engines has a pivotal role in balancing intermittent renewable generation,” says Louis Strydom, Director, Growth and Development at Wärtsilä Energy.

In the Polish power sector, the investments so far have mainly focused on large combined cycle gas turbine plants, overlooking the potential of coupling the power and DH sectors. Wärtsilä’s modelling results show that by co-optimising these sectors, Poland can reach several economic and energy milestones over the next decade. These include increase of the renewable energy share from 29% in 2023 to 68% in 2032 and reduction of the coal share in power production from 61% to 26% and in heat production from 80% to 8% by 2032.

“Despite inherent challenges, the future is bright for Poland’s power and DH systems. Our study shows that the knowledge and technology for optimising these sectors exist, offering myriad socio-economic opportunities along the way. The co-optimisation guarantees not only a more sustainable and efficient energy mix but also the most cost-effective transition pathway. Wärtsilä has the capabilities and experience to support Poland in its energy transition,” comments Louis Strydom.

Wärtsilä has modelled and analysed nearly 200 power systems to identify optimal system design to support integration of renewables and reduce operational costs and emissions.

You can read the full version of the study here: Powering Poland’s Future: Optimising the Power System and District Heating for the Next Decade

Media contact for more information on this release:

Katri Pehkonen
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 50 591 6180
katri.pehkonen@wartsila.com

Image caption: The new study outlines the best way to co-optimise Poland's power and heat sectors. Wärtsilä's flexible gas engines have the potential to add significant value to the green transition of Polish district heating. © Wärtsilä

All Wärtsilä releases are available at www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded. Use of the image(s) is allowed only in connection with the contents of this press release. Wärtsilä images are available at www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.


Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our partners to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system modelling expertise. These cover decarbonisation services, future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS Digital Energy Platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity and 125 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world.
www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com 

Wärtsilä Energy. Let's connect.

Africa local offices

    South Africa

    4 Powerful Street, 
    Paarden Eiland
    7405, 
    Cape Town
    Tel. +27 21 5111 230

    Nigeria

    Wärtsilä Marine and Power Services Nigeria
    23 Oba Akinjobi Street
    Ikeja GRA, Lagos
    Nigeria
    Tel. +234 907 808 0936 - Marine enquiry
            +234 8057217049 - New Builds enquiry
            +234 708 624 3992 - After Sales enquiry
    E-mail: Sales/Services equiries WNG@Wartsila.com

    Kenya

    ABC Towers - 7A, ABC Place
    Waiyaki Way
    Nairobi
    Tel. +254 20 7602 400 (Pilot)
    E-mail: info.wea@wartsila.com

    Senegal

    Wärtsilä West Africa
    Immeuble Le Thiargane 7ème étage, Mermoz Place OMVS
    B.P. 21861 Dakar-Ponty, Dakar - Senegal
    Tel + 221 33 865 41 00
    Fax + 221 33 864 42 72
    E-mail: West.africa@wartsila.com

    Madagascar

    Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro)
    QMM Madena, Fort Dauphin, 614
    Madagascar
    Tel. +261 20 224 3267
    Fax: +261 20 224 3253

    Cameroon

    Wärtsilä Central Africa
    Wärtsilä Base, Essengue
    Douala, Cameroon
    Tel +237 33 50 54 00
    Fax +237 33 50 54 99
    wcm@wartsila.com for general information
    wcmsales@wartsila.com for commercial issues