Wartsila Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

World’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant launch by Wärtsilä

18Jun

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy

World’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant launch by Wärtsilä

Technology group Wärtsilä has today launched the world’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant, to enable the net-zero power systems of tomorrow. The IEA World Energy Outlook 2023 shows that hydrogen is an essential component of our future power systems. According to the report, the pathway to reach net zero emissions by 2050 requires 17 Mt of hydrogen to be consumed in power generation in 2030, reaching 51 Mt by 2050. The deployment of renewables worldwide is set to double by the end of this decade, creating the right conditions for excess clean electricity to be used for production of hydrogen-based, carbon neutral fuels, and for enabling 100% renewable power systems. Scaling up renewables alone, however, is not enough to reach global net zero targets. Flexible pow...

The Energy Loom: Crafting Africa’s Green Transition with Precision

12Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy

The Energy Loom: Crafting Africa’s Green Transition with Precision

By Louis Strydom, Director of Project and Market Development, Europe and Africa, Wärtsilä The global discourse's broad-brush strokes must make room for the local reality's fine detail. The call for a green revolution is no longer a distant echo; it's the resounding demand of the present. Much like an artisan weaver poised before a complex loom, the world faces the task of crafting a grand tapestry of sustainability. Each thread must be carefully selected and interwoven into this tableau, from the existential reality of climate change to the urgency to transition from carbon-heavy energy dependencies. However, to ensure the tapestry's strength, we must delve beyond broad strokes and platitudes, using strategic designs with precision and foresight. Africa finds itself in a unique position...

Flexible power technologies will make Africa’s energy leapfrogging a reality

23Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy

Flexible power technologies will make Africa’s energy leapfrogging a reality

by Marc Thiriet, Director, Africa, Wärtsilä Energy Africa’s ability to leapfrog traditional power systems and adopt renewables on a massive scale is not a fantasy. In-depth studies from Wärtsilä have demonstrated that with the adequate support of flexible power technologies, ambitious renewable energy objectives in Africa are not only achievable, they also represent the soundest and cheapest strategy for the successful electrification of the continent. A new power generation paradigm perfectly suited for Africa There has been much discussion about Africa’s ability to 'leapfrog' the way power systems have been built in the western world. For over a century, traditional power systems have been based on centralised power generation, with a limited number of large thermal power plants pro...

Renewables are the best option for Mozambique’s power mix, finds Wärtsilä report

8Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Mozambique News

Renewables are the best option for Mozambique’s power mix, finds Wärtsilä report

Wärtsilä is a global technology group that has a lot of experience with African energy markets. In their study, they looked at two separate scenarios for expanding the Mozambican power system. The aim was to assess the financial and environmental impact of one key parameter: how much renewable energy capacity should be built in each year leading up to 2032. Mozambique's energy authorities face a pressing challenge: ensuring that the entire population has affordable and uninterrupted access to electricity over the next decade. To meet the projected 1.3 GW of electricity peak demand increase by 2032, Mozambique must build significant new power capacity. A further 2 GW would be needed to support the planned development of the Beluluane Industrial Park in the Maputo province by 2037. However,...

23Sep

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Gabon News

Wärtsilä signs Concession Agreement to develop, supply, construct, operate and maintain major 120 MW power plant project in Gabon

The technology group Wärtsilä and Gabon Power Company (GPC), the subsidiary of the Sovereign Fund of the Gabonese Republic (FGIS) dedicated to energy and water, have on 22 September 2021 signed a Concession Agreement with the Government of Gabon for the development, supply, construction, operation and maintenance of a 120 MW gas power plant. Wärtsilä, jointly leading the project development with GPC, will build the plant under a full Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract and will then operate and maintain the plant under a long-term 15-year Operation and Maintenance (O&M) agreement. The EPC contract and the O&M agreement will be signed in 2022 with Orinko S.A., the joint venture between Wärtsilä and GPC. The plant will be located at the industrial site of Owend...

7Apr

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Nigeria News

Wärtsilä Optimised Maintenance agreement supports growth ambitions of a privately-owned Nigerian supplier of energy to the national grid

The technology group Wärtsilä has signed a long-term Optimised Maintenance agreement covering power plants in three locations owned by Paras Energy, a 100 percent privately-owned Nigerian energy provider. The aim of the agreement is to ensure the plants’ continued high levels of availability, reliability and efficiency, while providing important cost predictability for future budgeting purposes. The agreement was signed with Wärtsilä in the first quarter of 2021. The plants covered by the five-year agreement are operated with Wärtsilä 34SG gas-fuelled engines producing a combined total output of approximately 132 MW. Based on an average connected capacity of some 6,5 kW for each Nigerian home, this will represent the annual consumption equivalent of close to 20,300 domestic households. “We...

31Mar

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

South Africa needs over 28 GW of flexibility to reach 100% renewables at lowest cost

Wärtsilä launches agile balancing technology - capable of ramping up to 10+ MW in two minutes - to bridge South Africa to renewable energy future The technology group Wärtsilä has highlighted a striking need to scale up flexibility in South Africa, in the form of energy storage and flexible gas technology, to enable a 100% renewable energy future. 28 GW of flexible assets are needed for South Africa’s energy systems to run on 100% renewable energy at the lowest cost. The capacity needed to balance South Africa’s switch to grids powered by intermittent renewables must come from two key technologies: over 21 GW of energy storage and over 6.8 GW of flexible gas power capacity, capable of running on future fuels. Future fuels can be produced during periods when renewables produce more electric...

16Mar

By Wale YusuffNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Nigeria News

Without flexibility, Nigeria will face difficulties integrating large amounts of renewable energy into the grid

Op-ed by Wale Yusuff, Managing Director of Wartsila Marine & Power Service Nig Ltd As the largest economy in Africa, with huge gas reserves and high solar energy potential, Nigeria has all the natural resources necessary to meet the growing demand for electricity. However, the inadequate energy infrastructure still leaves a significant part of the population without power or relying on oil-fired back-up generators. If Nigeria can improve its energy infrastructure and unlock its gas-to-power generation potential, it paves the way to integrating low-cost renewable energy, bringing electricity and development opportunities to rural villages, driving industrial growth and employment, and increasing prosperity across the country. There is no doubt that gas has an important role to play in ...

How Optimized Energy Management Delivers Reliability, Efficiency and Sustainability at the Fekola Mine in Mali

18Jan

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Mali News

How Optimized Energy Management Delivers Reliability, Efficiency and Sustainability at the Fekola Mine in Mali

Op-Ed By Luke Witmer, General Manager, Data Science, Wärtsilä Energy Storage and Optimization Since B2Gold first acquired the Fekola gold mine, located in a remote corner of southwest Mali, exploration studies revealed the deposits to be almost double the initial estimates. A recent site expansion has just been completed, and while the existing power units provide enough power to support the increase in production, the company sought to reduce its energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and increase power reliability. The addition of a 35MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and 17MW/15MWh of energy storage to the existing 64MW thermal engine plant was decided. This new energy mix is anticipated to save over 13 million litres of fuel, reduce carbon emissions by thirty-nine thousand tons pe...

Hybrid solutions are the most effective way to deliver reliable clean power to remote off-grid mining operations in Africa

10Nov

By Tarik SfendlaNo Comments

Burkina Faso News, Energy, Green Energy, Mali News, Tanzania News

Hybrid solutions are the most effective way to deliver reliable clean power to remote off-grid mining operations in Africa

Op-ed by Tarik Sfendla, Market Development Manager, Africa chez Wärtsilä Energy Business The energy markets are undergoing a massive transformation as governments around the world transition away from fossil fuels towards the integration of renewable energy. This trend is clearly visible in the mining industry as demonstrated by recent power projects in South America and in Australia. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in 2018, mines purchased 1 GW of renewable energy generation assets; this amount tripled to reach approximately 3.5 GW in 2019, 90% of which consist of hybrid solutions. Electricity demand for the mining industry is expected to increase significantly in the coming years as increased mine depth, harder rock and greater water desalination needs lead to higher energy in...