Case Study: Portland General Electric achieves flexible peaking power with Wärtsilä Energy

Portland General Electric brings 224 MW of flexible peaking power online with Wärtsilä Energy

Portland General Electric (PGE), an investor-owned utility serving over 800,000 customers in Oregon, needed to add 224 MW of flexible peaking capacity to its grid. This was required to manage seasonal demand variations and the natural variability of wind and solar power, a challenge for which their existing technology was not suited. PGE partnered with Wärtsilä Energy to address this need.

Wärtsilä Energy provided a solution using twelve of its 50SG internal combustion engines, which offer fast-start capabilities and excellent ramp rates. The resulting 224 MW Port Westward Unit 2 power plant can ramp up to full load in less than 10 minutes, allowing PGE to quickly adjust to renewable energy fluctuations. This ensures reliable power for customers at an optimal cost and enables quicker revenue generation from the asset.

Portland General Electric (PGE)