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

 

Mexicali_Mexico_map

Would you like to know more?

Contact us

Contact us

Fill in a contact form and our experts aim to be in contact within 1-2 business days. Contact us »

PDF

Read our brochure

Read our product brochure to get all the details.

Location

Find your local office

Find a Wärtsilä office near you. Access the global address book ».

Related solutions and services

Related materials

Trusted partner to the best companies in the world

Related press releases

Wärtsilä receives notice to proceed for power plant in Mexico

Apr 30, 2015, 09:32 by Wärtsilä Corporation
 Wärtsilä has received full notice to proceed (NTP) from Energía del Caribe, S.A. for the supply of a 139 MW Flexicycle power plant to a site near Monterrey in Northern Mexico. Construction will start immediately. The turnkey contract was signed in September 2014 and the power station is scheduled to be in commercial operation in April 2016. The fast-track delivery includes seven gas-fired Wärtsilä 50SG engines, the largest gas engine in the world. 

“The start of construction is a very important milestone for us. We are eager to start operations,” says Guillermo Barragán Toledo, Country Manager of Energía del Caribe, S.A.

In this unique project, electricity will be exported through Mexico to Guatemala. The company will deliver approximately 950 GWh of electricity per year to the utilities Empresa Eléctrica de Guatemala and Energuate. To reach the target, the baseload power plant will run at full output for 24 hours a day.

“We chose internal combustion engines to ensure reliability. If one of the seven engines is under maintenance, the other six are fully operational. This is how we avoid cut-offs,” Barragán Toledo says.

“Another reason was fuel efficiency. In this size range, engines are the most efficient technology. We also like the fact that engines maintain high efficiency in extreme temperatures.” To maximize efficiency, Wärtsilä Flexicycle power plants include a combined cycle steam turbine.

“Mexico is a very interesting market for us. Flexible engine power plants can help optimise the power system by providing efficient peaking power and fast-reacting back-up for wind and solar energy. This can lead to significant savings,” says Raul Carral, Wärtsilä’s Business Development Manager, after discussing Mexican energy reform plans with government officials in Mexico City recently.

“I’d like to welcome Finnish energy technology to Mexico. We can certainly work together to find the best solutions to optimise the Mexican power system and lower the cost of electricity,” said the Minister of Energy of Mexico, Pedro Joaquin Coldwell.

The Monterrey project will double Wärtsilä’s capacity in Mexico to 280 MW. Wärtsilä’s total installed capacity in North America, Central America and the Caribbean is over 7000 MW.

Wärtsilä’s press release 16 October 2014: Wärtsilä to supply a 139 MW Flexicycle power plant in Mexico

Link to image

For further information please contact:

Raul Carral, Ph.D.
Business Development Manager,
Mexico, Central America and the Spanish-Speaking Caribbean
Wärtsilä Energy Solutions
Tel: +1 832 205 5114
Raul.Carral@wartsila.com

Juka-Pekka Niemi
General Manager, Marketing
Wärtsilä Energy Solutions 
Tel: +358 10 709 0000
jukka-pekka.niemi@wartsila.com

Wärtsilä Power Plants in brief
Wärtsilä Power Plants is a leading global supplier of flexible baseload power plants of up to 600 MW operating on various gaseous and liquid fuels. Our portfolio includes unique solutions for peaking, reserve and load-following power generation, as well as for balancing intermittent power production. Wärtsilä Power Plants also provides LNG terminals and distribution systems. As of 2014, Wärtsilä has 56 GW of installed power plant capacity in 170 countries around the world.
www.smartpowergeneration.com

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total efficiency, Wärtsilä maximizes the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2013, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion with approximately 18,700 employees. The company has operations in more than 200 locations in nearly 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com

Wärtsilä Energy. Let's connect.