A number of recent orders and ongoing projects has consolidated Wärtsilä’s dominance of the Italian market for power generation from liquid biofuels (LBF). Orders received in the first five months of 2007 alone totalled close to 280 MW, of which 172 MW were received in the first 3 months.
Wärtsilä currently has about 620 MW of LBF power plants either in operation, under construction or on order in Italy – the most recent orders being a 52 MW (three Wärtsilä 18V46 generating sets) plant for CEG in April this year and an 8 MW (one Wärtsilä 18V32 generating sets) plant for Ricciarelli in Molfetta in May. Both projects will be commissioned in spring 2008.
Commenting on the burgeoning LBF market, Christoph Vitzthum, Group Vice President, Power Plants, noted: “Power generation from LBF is becoming a significant market for us. We are expecting to receive significant orders during this and next year.”
“We also believe that some other countries in Europe will follow. There are ‘green licences or subsidies’ issued to a number of companies in the Netherlands and Belgium. We are working on several projects and a few of them are at an advanced stage,” he continues.
The first orders for Italy date back to 2004
The most recent orders follow a string of contracts in Italy dating back to 2004 when two Wärtsilä 18V32 generating sets were delivered to ItalGreen Energy’s combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Monopoli, with a third engine going on line in 2005, increasing the baseload power output to 24 MW.
ItalGreen Energy, the energy company of the Casa Olearia Italiana Group, is one very important customer in this segment. In May 2006, following the success of the installation at Monopoli, the company ordered a 100 MW plant that consists of six Wärtsilä 18V46 generating sets. When fully commissioned later this year, ItalGreen II will be the largest LBF power plant in the world. The plant will burn vegetable oil, mainly palm oil imported from Malaysia.
ItalGreen Energy, which has developed considerable experience in renewables and biomass-power systems, has benefitted from the current opportunities for green certificates provided by the Italian authorities and encouraged by EU directives.
Other contracts concluded in 2006 include a 75 MW LBF power plant for an independent power producer, Fri-El Acerra Srl and a 50 MW plant in Conselice for the food processing company Unigrà. Both of these projects are scheduled to come on line this year.
Under Italian law, all power producers and importers are required to supply around 3% of their power to the grid from renewable sources or they must buy green certificates to make up the shortfall.
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 14,000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä locations in close to 70 countries around the world.
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
