Aqualectra is the energy utility company of the Caribbean Island of Curaçao. Aqualectra produces and distributes water and electricity to over 80,000 households and businesses on the island. Curaçao has taken significant steps towards decarbonisation over recent years, such as the ambitious goal to move from 30 percent renewable capacity to 50 percent in 2025 and 70 percent by at least 2027.
Wärtsilä has a 30-year history collaborating with Aqualectra. This successful relationship has evolved across many stages, from flexible power generation to joint decarbonising efforts. Most recently, Aqualectra and Wärtsilä signed an innovative decarbonisation services agreement to help the island maximise the use of their existing power generation assets and future renewable deployments. Through this partnership, Curaçao residents will benefit from a more affordable, sustainable, and reliable electricity supply.
Wärtsilä is implementing a holistic approach regarding the operation of the entire power system on the island. To accelerate Curaçao’s decarbonisation efforts, Wärtsilä will provide grid balancing engines, energy storage and its GEMS Digital Energy Platform to optimise energy use across the island. This approach enables the optimisation of existing power generation mix and future renewable deployments. The partnership will see Wärtsilä install a new 38.4 MW grid balancing engine power plant in addition to the 25 MW / 45 MWh Energy Storage System installed earlier. Wärtsilä is also delivering on-the-ground expertise to support Aqualectra’s skilled team on their ongoing journey towards decarbonisation.
Wärtsilä is dedicated to delivering value-driven solutions for Aqualectra through the outcome-based nature of the agreement, which aligns both parties’ success. The agreement will see Wärtsilä's payments directly tied to achieving key performance indicators, such as maximised renewable energy use, reduced CO2 emissions intensity, lowered costs, and enhanced energy reliability on Curaçao. This way of partnering enables Wärtsilä to maintain an ongoing and proactive role in supporting Aqualectra, showcasing a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
The partnership between Wärtsilä and Aqualectra is a blueprint for other island nations seeking to develop flexible, resilient energy systems, enabling more renewable capacity and self-sufficiency. Wärtsilä’s technology is very well suited for islanded energy grids, meaning it is well-positioned to enable the decarbonisation of other microgrids at pace and scale.
