- Wärtsilä’s installations across Africa have clocked 7.4GW.
- The Group recent contracts on the continent include renewed O&M in Nigeria and a 120MW project in Gabon.
- Wärtsilä built the first power plant to run on naturally occurring methane in Rwanda.
The technology group Wärtsilä has reached a total installed capacity of 7.4GW in Africa. The company which started operations on the continent in 1975 has delivered over 600 installations, supplying electricity in 46 countries and contributing to about 25 per cent of the power supplied in over 25 countries. One-third of the current 7.4GW is covered by operation and maintenance contracts.
Wärtsilä prides itself on being the industry-first across several segments. The group was the first to install Africa’s largest gas engine power plant on the Kribi coast of Cameroon with a 216MW capacity. The company also is responsible for Africa’s highest installation, the 175 MW power plant in Sasolburg, South Africa, sitting at 1,700m above sea level. The KivuWatt power plant in Rwanda, the first power plant to use the naturally occurring methane from Lake Kivu to generate electricity is also one of these trendsetting installations.
Wärtsilä is also equipping the continent for the transition to low carbon sources. One way the company is doing this is via its gas engine technology and innovative energy management systems. These systems can help the continent meets its demand for flexible and reliable electricity. the flexibility of these systems means that they can be interoperable with clean energy resources, able to be ramped up as wind or solar output fluctuates.
Wärtsilä’s mission goes beyond delivering power solutions. The group provides unique power solutions and educational and economic benefits to local communities. The group is currently partnering with Ambitious.Africa, an initiative working to connect the youth of African and Nordic countries. Wärtsilä aims to connect students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, financiers, and other stakeholders from across two continents and provide them with the knowledge, skills and training they need to bring about real and lasting change. In Senegal, Wärtsilä provides local institutions with hands-on training and support for talented students. The group which says that it is committed to accelerating broad-based electrification across Africa recently signed contracts for the development of a 120MW power plant in Gabon, a 90MW gas conversion project in Senegal, and renewed O&M in Nigeria