Mexicali_ParqueIndustrial
​Mexico´s Federal Electricity Commission + Wärtsilä

Reference case

​Enhancing Energy Supply and Reliability in Baja California, Mexico

The 200 MW Altar plant and the 400 MW Mexicali Oriente plant are owned and operated by CFE, the Mexican state-owned utility, and they are part of CFE´s Strategic Plan for Baja California to guarantee the sufficiency of the electricity supply in this region. ​

The handovers took place in June 2023 and are now fully operational. Both projects are also supported by a three-year Wärtsilä Guaranteed Asset Performance (GAP), to secure the two plants’ output reliability and availability. ​

​These plants are important for the northwest region of Mexico. Electricity demand during the summer months in the Baja California Peninsula grows significantly as temperatures can rise to as much as 50 degrees C. ​

The two plants are needed to offset this increase in demand and will supply baseload energy 24/7 during the summer months. The Baja California system remains isolated from the national grid, and the electricity supply was earlier covered by emergency power tenders. The Wärtsilä power plants provide CFE with the system stability needed with high efficiency and at a competitive consumer cost.

WhoMexico´s Federal Electricity Commission
What400 MW Mexicali Oriente power plant​/ 200 MW Altar power plant
WhereMexicali, Baja California / San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora; Mexico
HowWärtsilä 18V50DF / 20V34DF flexible baseload power plant​

 

This is what we achieved

600

MW of electrical output

50+

C degree dispatch with minimal impact on power output​

24/7

baseload energy supply during the summer months

We were able to deliver, build, and commission these two very large power plants in well under two years from receipt of the order, even during a global supply chain crisis. This says a lot about Wärtsilä’s project management capabilities.

Risto Paldanius, VP Wärtsilä Americas​

How we did it

Challenge icon

Challenge

  • Tight deadline
  • Need for efficient baseload
  • Strict emission regulations
Solution icon

Solution

  • NOX-tunes engine configuration
  • Fast-track delivery
  • Wärtsilä long term service agreement since COD
Benefit icon

Benefit

  • Uninterrupted generation
  • Fuel savings, educed emissions
  • Start generation as soon as possible

The main details

Customer ​Mexico´s Federal Electricity Commission​Mexico´s Federal Electricity Commission
TypeWärtsilä 18V50DF flexible baseload power plantWärtsilä 20V34DF flexible baseload power plant
WhereMexicali, Baja California; MexicoSan Luis Río Colorado, Sonora; Mexico
Total output 400 MW200 MW
Fuel LFO Natural gas
ScopeEngineering, procurement, Construction (EPC)Engineering, procurement, Construction (EPC)
Delivery20222022

 

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Related press releases

Wärtsilä starts execution of 600 MW power plants projects to Mexico

Nov 29, 2021, 14:30 by Wärtsilä Corporation

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply Mexico’s state-owned electricity utility, Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), with two large multi-fuel power plants having a combined output of 600 MW. The order was earlier announced in Wärtsilä’s stock exchange release on 10 November 2021. The projects will be delivered by Wärtsilä on a full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis. Jointly these projects represent the largest generating capacity EPC contract ever awarded to Wärtsilä. The order is included in the company’s Q4 order intake.

The projects comprise a 400 MW facility, the Mexicali Oriente power plant located in Mexico’s Baja California state, and the Parque Industrial plant, a 200 MW generating unit located in Sonora, Mexico. The Mexicali Oriente plant will operate with 24 Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, while the Parque Industrial plant will feature 22 Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines. The engines will operate primarily on gas with the capability to use liquid fuel as a back-up if required.

The awarded projects provide a clear indication of the demand that exists for power plants of this size operating with flexible internal combustion engines. During the summer months the plants will operate continuously, meeting the high electricity demand in the region, when temperatures can reach +50 °C. For the remainder of the year they will be used to provide grid balancing service.

“We are honoured to have been awarded these valuable contracts, jointly biggest ever for Wärtsilä Energy. It speaks of the value created by our state-of-the-art flexible power generation solutions, which provide a unique combination of energy efficiency, and fuel and operational flexibility, supported by high reliability,” said Sushil Purohit, President, Wärtsilä Energy and Executive Vice President.

“Wärtsilä’s experience with EPC deliveries, its ability to deliver on a fast-track basis, and the efficiency of the company’s engine technology were key considerations in the contract award,” commented Risto Paldanius, Vice President, Americas, Wärtsilä Energy. “The power plants will serve the local needs today, and they will adapt to future needs.”

The power plants are to be completed in phases during 2022 and 2023. 

To date, Wärtsilä has delivered over 500 MW of power plant capacity in Mexico, of which 380 MW are currently covered by Wärtsilä long-term service agreements.

Read more:
Wärtsilä multi-fuel power plants

 

Media contact for more information on this release:

Mirja-Maija Santala
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 400 793 827

mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com

Images:
Wärtsilä 34DF engine generating sets in an engine hall
Wärtsilä 50DF engine generating sets in an engine hall

© Wärtsilä Corporation

All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonisation by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage and optimisation technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 74 GW of power plant capacity and more than 80 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,500 professionals in 200 locations in more than 70 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2020 Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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