Our Flexicycle™ power plants combine the advantages of a flexible simple cycle plant with the high efficiency of a combined cycle plant. Fast load-following power is needed to maintain system reliability, as the share of intermittent renewable energy increases in the power system. The Flexicycle™ solution provides the flexibility needed to facilitate the integration of renewable energy.
As the Flexicycle power plant, supported with lifecycle services, is both agile and highly efficient, it enables competitive performance on both the energy and capacity markets. Depending on the power system, Flexicycle power plants can also be the optimal choice for efficient flexible baseload power generation. The solution is based on a gas, multi-fuel, or liquid fuel engine power plant combined with a steam turbine.
The Flexicycle power plant offers a unique combination of flexibility and efficiency. With quick synchronisation and start-up to full engine power in less than five minutes, the Flexicycle plants can be dispatched immediately when an imbalance between supply and demand begins to occur. The solution enables unlimited quick start-up, loading and shut down capabilities without additional costs nor impact on maintenance schedules.
The multi-unit design of engine power plants offers optimised flexibility. High efficiency can be maintained across a wide load range as engine power plant can quickly adjust load by bringing additional engines online or offline to meet changes in demand. In addition this allows optimised plant sizing throughout the lifecycle.
1. ISO conditions sea water cooling
2. Ambient temp 30C
3. Cooling with ACC
4. Gas compression paracitic load
5. Average load 80%
6. Degradation after one year of operation
7. Effects of 100 starts/year
In the Flexicycle concept, the dynamic features of simple cycle combustion engines are maintained as the steam production can be turned on and off individually for each generating set. Additionally, the combined cycle mode, with an optimum efficiency more than 54% (ISO conditions), is ideal for baseload operation and allows for lower carbon emissions per produced kW compared to simple cycle operation.
The Flexicycle power plant solution’s two-in-one characteristic makes it a very competitive solution for handling a grid system’s intermediate load. Thanks to its high combined cycle efficiency, the Flexicycle power plant can also be the optimal choice for flexible baseload generation, depending on the power system’s capacity mix. Features such as fast synchronisation and ramp times, as well as the flexibility of multiple independent units, make these power plants outstandingly well suited to supporting grid systems that require flexibility because of daily load fluctuations, or that have a significant installed base of wind or other non-dispatchable power. It is a perfect solution for both municipal power generation and for the larger utility market.
In Flexicycle solution, each engine is equipped with a waste heat recovery steam generator. The power plant has a common steam turbine with a condenser. The power plant cooling is typically arranged so that the engines are cooled with closed loop radiators, and the steam cycle with radiators, a cooling tower, raw water or an air cooled condenser. Radiator cooling or air cooled condensers for steam cycle ensures low water consumption of the plant. The fuel flexibility of our solutions enables the choice and utilisation of the most feasible fuels, including natural gas and many other gases, as well as most fuel oils. The customer can also choose to run their plant on multiple fuels.
The Flexicycle with radiators solution reduces the acquired footprint of the power plant by placing the entire cooling system on the roof. The water consumption of this solution is very low. A Flexicycle power plant with radiators is particularly well suited for cold and moderate climate conditions especially where water consumption is an issue.
Engines have an exceptional efficiency at part load, which becomes even more valuable in modular plant designs. Also, with Flexicycle plants, the steam production can be turned on and off individually for each generating set to enable flexible operations.
With short start and shut down times, as well as fast ramp-up capability the Flexicycle plants can be dispatched quickly when required, without impacting maintenance schedules or creating additional costs.
Combined cycle operation extends the plant’s electrical efficiency past 54% (ISO conditions). While fuel consumption and carbon emissions are the same as in simple cycle operation, the relative carbon emissions and fuel consumption per produced kW will be lower in combined cycle operation.
Curious to find out which is more flexible, reciprocating internal combustion engine or aeroderivative gas turbine? Learn that and more in our technology comparison article series.
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The technology group Wärtsilä will supply the gas fuelled engines for a new 100 MW Japanese power plant. The fast-starting engines will provide the grid balancing and peaking capabilities needed as Japan increases its share of energy from renewable sources. This is one of the pioneering cases in Japan where a major power producer and supplier has opted for gas engine technology for a utility-scale power plant with the main purpose of hedging market price fluctuations, and the plant will also enable participation in the recently launched cross-regional balancing market. The order was booked in Wärtsilä’s order intake in July 2022.
Japan is committed to addressing climate change through investing in sustainable electrical power generation. The country has set a target to have its share of renewable energy within the power mix increased to 36 - 38 percent by 2030. The new cross-regional balancing market in Japan was launched in 2021 by the governmental authority. The purpose of the balancing market is to bridge the gap between energy demand and supply during times when much variable renewable energy is being introduced into the system.
By being able to reach full output within minutes of start-up, the Wärtsilä engine technology delivers the flexibility needed to compensate for fluctuations in the supply from wind and solar.
“The trend towards sustainable power production is very strong in Japan, and we are very pleased to support this trend with our flexible engine technology. Wärtsilä is a leader in shaping the decarbonisation of the energy industry by optimising power systems, and this latest order represents one more important step along this journey,” said Sushil Purohit, President, Wärtsilä Energy and EVP, Wärtsilä.
The new plant will operate with ten Wärtsilä 34SG gas engines. It will replace a 100 MW combined cycle gas turbine that was formerly located on the project site.
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Wärtsilä engine power plants
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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
Image 1: Wärtsilä 34SG engine. ©Wärtsilä
Image 2: Wärtsilä 34SG engine generating sets in an engine hall. ©Wärtsilä
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 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 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 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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