Wärtsilä, a technologies and lifecycle solutions provider for the marine and energy markets, has signed a 10-year guaranteed asset performance (GAP) agreement with US utility Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). The agreement covers the 150-MW Standing Bear Lake Station located in Omaha, Nebraska, and is set to commence commercial service in 2024. Once activated, the plant will provide dispatchable balancing power as part of the utility’s Power with Purpose project, an initiative designed to add 400 to 600 MW of utility-scale solar generation and 600 MW of balancing natural gas generation.
OPPD aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. By ensuring operational reliability for the plant, the agreement supports these efforts with fast-starting balancing power to rapidly compensate for fluctuations in the supply of renewables. The supply to the grid is therefore assured regardless of the conditions.
The plant operates with nine Wärtsilä 18V50DF dual-fuel engines that can use natural gas and light fuel oil as needed. The engines can be converted to carbon-neutral fuels as they become available to further enhance decarbonization.
During the agreement, Wärtsilä will provide site services and support through its Wärtsilä Expertise Center in Houston to enable remote support, maintenance planning, and predictive maintenance. Wärtsilä currently operates 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems.
