Technology group Wärtsilä will deliver the generating sets for a new 123 MW power plant to be built in Odessa, Texas. This will be the largest Wärtsilä 31 installation in the world. When commissioned, the power plant will be operated and maintained by Wärtsilä under a 10-year operation and maintenance agreement. The plant will supply power to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2026.

The order has been placed by the EPC contractor Saulsbury Industries on behalf of EMPower USA, an Independent Power Producer (IPP). Wärtsilä has worked in close cooperation with EMPower, supporting the company through early-stage development, U.S. market entry, execution structuring, and ultimately long-term operations under a Development Services Agreement. The order represents the culmination of a successful development project.

Through the operation and maintenance agreement, Wärtsilä strengthens its role as a long‑term operational partner, supporting customers beyond technology delivery. In the United States power market, where value is driven by availability, flexibility, and performance during periods of high demand, Wärtsilä’s ability to provide dual expertise optimises plant performance and enhances project bankability for independent power producers. The EMPower project highlights this approach, representing an important milestone in Wärtsilä’s expansion within the American independent power producer market.

“Wärtsilä has proved to be a reliable partner, with highly efficient and flexible energy solutions that can deliver the power capacity needed. Wärtsilä’s market expertise and advanced technology have been essential to the project, which is designed to deliver electricity to some 30,750 homes in the area,” says Daniel Gutierrez, CEO of EMPower.

The plant will operate with ten Wärtsilä 31SG engines. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in early 2027 and the plant is expected to be operational one year later.

“This merchant project builds on the existing partnership we have had with EMPower in other countries. The Wärtsilä 31SG power optimised engine is the most powerful of all Wärtsilä’s medium-bore engines, featuring low fuel consumption and correspondingly low CO2 emissions. The engine’s fast-starting capability allows it to reach full output in 2.5 minutes, making it ideal for systems where renewables are integrated. The operation and maintenance agreement ensures optimal support while maximising the engines’ performance and efficiency,” comments Sanna Silander, Energy Business Director, Region North, Americas at Wärtsilä Energy.