Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade press release, 5 October 2017 at 2 pm EEST
The opening ceremony of the power plant was attended by the President of Argentina Mauricio Macri. The Central Térmica Pilar plant is the first of two 100 MW power plants built by Wärtsilä for Pampa Energía S.A. coming online this year. The plant is powered by six Wärtsilä 50DF multi-fuel engines running on natural gas, and when necessary, heavy fuel oil.
Argentina is undergoing constant development of its power system and preparing for the entrance of renewable energy sources. Engine based power generation technology is well-suited for balancing the fluctuations caused by intermittent renewable power. Smart Power Generation power plants can optimise entire power systems by providing much needed flexibility.
Wärtsilä was awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project of the Central Térmica Pilar power plant in August 2016. In addition to turnkey solution for the power plant, Wärtsilä won the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contract.
Expected to run primarily on natural gas
Wärtsilä has taken a strong position in enabling the transition towards sustainable energy infrastructure in Argentina, with the Pilar plant being one of the 10 plants built by Wärtsilä in the last few years. The multi-fuel technology allows the plant operator to change from liquid to gas fuel and back at the flick of a switch. Pilar power installation is expected to run on natural gas for most of the year.
"The primary use of natural gas combined with high quality operation and maintenance services and the optimum operational balance brings a highly positive impact from the environmental point of view," says Alberto Fernández, Regional Director, Energy Solutions, Latin America South.
This is the first of two Pampa Energía S.A power plants built by Wärtsilä coming online this year. The second one is the "Bahia Blanca" 100 MW power plant, expected to come online during November 2017. Pampa Energía is one of the most important fully integrated power companies in Argentina, engaged in the power generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in the country.
Link to press release of Pampa Energía S.A.: Commissioning of the New Thermal Power Plant Parque Pilar
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Caption: Pampa Energia S.A.'s Central Térmica Pilar power plant by Wärtsilä was inaugurated in Argentina city of Pilar in August 2017