The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a natural gas fuelled 110 MW flexible power plant to Cassano d’Adda in Italy. Wärtsilä’s fast-starting internal combustion engine technology will be used to balance the power system and ensure its stability when the share of renewables is increased. The order was placed by A2A Gencogas, and it will be delivered on a full engineering, procurement, and construction basis in partnership with Italian engineering group Cefla. The order is booked by Wärtsilä in January 2022.

A2A Gencogas, the company managing the power plants for the A2A, participated in the auctions for Italy’s Capacity Market scheduled to commence in 2022. The Capacity Market will ensure system stability as the country’s share of fluctuating solar and wind power increases. Its mechanism is operated by Terna, the national transmission system operator (TSO), and electricity producers undertake to deliver energy upon request.

Fast-starting and stopping capability is essential for providing effective and flexible power system balancing when inherently variable renewable energy is introduced to the system. The Wärtsilä power generation solution based on internal combustion engines will provide this flexibility as Italy undertakes its 2030 national energy, climate, and decarbonisation plan.

“Italy is on its journey toward a more sustainable energy system. Wärtsilä’s technology provides the thermal balancing needed to support this transition, and is best-in-class for power optimisation. We offer a future-proof solution that, along with the high efficiency and reliability of the Wärtsilä engines, supports the customer in decarbonising its operations,” commented Kenneth Engblom, Vice President, Africa and Europe, Wärtsilä Energy.

The new plant will operate with six Wärtsilä 50SG gas engines. Delivery of the equipment is scheduled for autumn 2022, and the plant is expected to become operational in 2023. When completed, this will be the largest power plant in Italy operating on gas fuelled internal combustion engines. Natural gas is the cleanest of all fossil fuels, and is considered an important transitional fuel as the development of zero-carbon future alternatives continues.

Cefla, with its Engineering Business Unit, is one of today’s most important players in the energy sector in Italy, with extensive experience in the engineering and construction of high efficiency power plants with important references for similar projects both in Italy and Germany.

Wärtsilä has a strong presence in Italy. Among its more recent orders, the company was awarded a contract by Metaenergiaproduzione, to supply six flexible power plants with a combined output of 380 MW. All in all, to date Wärtsilä has delivered 1,411 MW of power plant capacity to Italy, of which 709 MW are currently covered by Wärtsilä long-term service agreements. The company has a delivery centre in Trieste, and service offices in Genoa, Naples, and Taranto.