- 123 MW gas fired power plant in Texas to feature the world’s largest Wärtsilä 31 installation.
- Ten year operation and maintenance agreement strengthens Wärtsilä’s role as a long term partner.
- Project highlights growing demand for flexible generation to support power grids with renewables.
Technology group Wärtsilä has secured an order to supply generating sets for a new 123 MW power plant to be built in Odessa, Texas, marking the largest Wärtsilä 31 installation globally. Once commissioned, the facility will be operated and maintained by Wärtsilä under a ten year operation and maintenance agreement. The plant will supply electricity to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas grid. The order was booked in the first quarter of 2026.
The contract was placed by EPC contractor Saulsbury Industries on behalf of EMPower USA, an independent power producer. Wärtsilä worked closely with EMPower throughout the early development phase, supporting market entry into the United States, project structuring, execution and the transition to long term operations under a Development Services Agreement. The order represents the successful completion of this development process.
By combining technology delivery with long term operational services, Wärtsilä continues to strengthen its position as a lifecycle partner to power producers. In the US power market, asset availability, operational flexibility and performance during peak demand periods are key value drivers. Wärtsilä’s integrated approach supports these requirements while improving project bankability for independent power producers. The EMPower project marks an important milestone in Wärtsilä’s expansion within the US IPP market.
Daniel Gutierrez, CEO of EMPower, says Wärtsilä has demonstrated its value as a reliable partner. He notes that the company’s efficient and flexible energy solutions, combined with strong market expertise, have been critical to a project designed to supply electricity to approximately 30,750 homes in the region.
The power plant will operate with ten Wärtsilä 31SG engines. Equipment delivery is scheduled for early 2027, with commercial operation expected in 2028.
According to Sanna Silander, Energy Business Director for Region North, Americas at Wärtsilä Energy, the project builds on an existing partnership with EMPower in other markets. She highlights that the Wärtsilä 31SG power optimised engine offers low fuel consumption, reduced carbon dioxide emissions and fast start capability, reaching full output in 2.5 minutes. These features make it well suited to power systems with increasing levels of renewable energy, while the operation and maintenance agreement ensures long term performance and efficiency.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
