Wärtsilä 31SG Balancer gas power plant

The Wärtsilä 31SG Balancer is a four-stroke, spark-ignited, lean-burn gas engine generating set. It is designed to provide flexible grid capacity even in adverse weather conditions and enable renewables to perform as the lowest-cost, most resilient power source for grids worldwide.

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The Wärtsilä 31SG Balancer offers 8% more power and over 50% efficiency, lowering the cost and risk of the renewable transition through flexible, resilient capacity. The new engine technology is designed to provide power producers with fast-ramping balancing power, which can be scaled up as the share of renewables in power systems increases. The engine can start and ramp up rapidly to support intermittent renewable generation so that the lowest cost cleanest energy technology can become the dominant power source.

Key benefits

Lowers your cost per kW with 8% more power, you need fewer engines to meet demand
Fast starting and loading capabilities: connects to grid in 30 seconds and reaches full load in 2 minutes
Runs on natural gas, biogas, synthetic methanol and is capable of hydrogen blending

Simplified plant construction for cost-efficiency
Integrate a growing number of renewables with scalable and intelligent plug and play modules

Optimised maintenance to ensure safe and reliable operations.
Guaranteed Asset Performance
Optimised performance and reliability supported by Wärtsilä Lifecycle solutions

Cost-efficient and fast plant construction

With our cost-efficient plant construction based on prefabricated, high-quality power plant modules, you can start generating power faster. The design allows you to pick and choose the desired functionality and equipment based on your project need.

The heart of the plant is the power unit that consists of the engine and the essential equipment. This can be installed on location in days instead of weeks to start generating power more quickly for lower costs and faster ROI. The power unit can be complemented with process modules that enable easy integration of auxiliary equipment, process media, and filtration. We also provide electrical modules that enable integration of the low voltage and medium voltage systems.

Wärtsilä 31SG Balancer plant environment

Our proudest numbers

30 sec

Power to grid

47.6%

Electrical efficiency

12.8MW

Electrical power

The details

Technical data

Engine generating set
Cylinder configurations	20V
Cylinder bore	310 mm
Piston stroke	430 mm
Engine speed	750 rpm (50 Hz), 720 rpm (60 Hz)
Performance *
	Wärtsilä 31SG Balancer
Rated electrical power (kW)	12 762 (50Hz) 12 372 (60Hz)
Electrical efficiency (%)	50.2 (50Hz) 50.3 (60Hz)
Loading and unloading
	Connected to grid	Full load
Regular start time (min:sec)	00:30	< 5:00
Fast start time (min:sec)	00:30	< 2:30
Shut-down time (min)	< 2
Ramp rate (hot, load/min)	> 100%
Minimun Load
Unit level	10%
Plant level	1%

* Rated electrical power and electrical efficiencies are given at generator terminals at 100kPa ambient pressure, 25°C suction air temperature and 30% relative humidity, and without engine driven pumps. Power factor 1.0 (site). Electrical efficiency with 5% tolerance. Site conditions, fuel and applicable emission limits may have an impact on performance figures. Please contact Wärtsilä for project-specific performance data. Emission figures for LBF must be evaluated case by case. Catalyst systems are designed based on project specific requirements. Certain fuel components are poisonous for catalyst elements. Maximum amount of these components to be limited in the fuel in applications where catalyst system is installed.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and may not be incorporated, in whole or in part, into any agreement or proposal. No representation of any kind is made in respect of any information contained herein and Wärtsilä expressly disclaims any responsibility for, and does not guarantee, the correctness or the completeness of the information. The calculations and assumptions included in the information do not necessarily take into account all the factors that could be relevant in a particular case. Information herein shall not be construed as a guarantee or warranty of the performance of any Wärtsilä technology, equipment or installation.