Wärtsilä selected to deliver a 115 MW gas power plant owned by Cogentrix Energy, Inc located near Denver, Colorado

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade press release 19 October 2006 at 15:00 UTC+2

Wärtsilä has been selected to deliver equipment for a 115.6 MW gas-fired power plant to a subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy, Inc. (“Cogentrix”), a major independent power producer in the United States. The plant, Plains End II (“PE II”), will be located in Arvada, Colorado near Denver and is expected to enter commercial operation in 2008.

Cogentrix also owns Plains End (“PE”), a 113 MWe power plant also equipped with Wärtsilä gas engines and located adjacent to the site for the PE II plant.  PE has been in commercial operation since 2002, reliably delivering energy, capacity and ancillary services to Xcel Energy, a major investor owned utility company, through a long term Power Purchase Agreement.

“This clearly confirms the fact that our reciprocating engine technology is competitive with the more traditional technology for projects of this size,” says Mr. Frank Donnelly, Vice President, Power Plants, Wärtsilä in North America.  “Wärtsilä technology has proven to provide superior ancillary service benefits with increased reliability for our customers. PE has been a success for everyone involved and we are committed to repeating that success with the new plant.”

Wärtsilä will deliver 14 Wärtsilä 20V34SG engines on an equipment supply basis for the PE II power plant. These engines will use natural gas as their only fuel source. The simple cycle plant will provide capacity, energy and black start capabilities to the local grid.

Wärtsilä’s Spark Gas Engine Technology

Wärtsilä’s natural gas fuelled technology offers the capability to operate at an extremely low minimum plant output with all of the gensets in operation.  This feature increases the number of megawatts of spinning reserve available to the customer and thereby increases the value of the plant.

Other features of the technology features outstanding heat rates, the ability to go from start to full plant output in less than ten minutes, and rapid response to system frequency variations.  When required, Wärtsilä’s spark gas engine technology can supply grid voltage support through the generation of reactive power and also offers black start capability at a very low capital cost.

Furthermore, because Wärtsilä’s engines do not use process water, there is no impact on area water supplies.  Additionally, minimal impact on the environment is realized not only because the technology does not produce waste water runoff, but also because the air emissions meet today’s increasingly stringent environmental requirements.

Wärtsilä in brief:

Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 13,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä locations in close to 70 countries around the world.

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For further information, please contact:

Maria Nystrand
Public Relations Manager, Power Plants
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1456
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail: maria.nystrand@wartsila.com
Internet: www.wartsila.com  

www.wartsila.com/usa  

Sabrina Garg
Marketing Specialist
Wärtsilä North America
Direct: 281-233-6209
Fax: 281-233-6233
Email: sabrina.garg@wartsila.com