Technology company Wärtsilä has announced that it will supply the Caribbean island of Curaçao with a 25 MW / 25 MWh BESS. This project, commissioned by Aqualectra, Curaçao’s public utility company, represents a major step towards a sustainable energy future for the island. BESS will increase renewable energy capacity and reduce carbon emissions, while improving the stability and reliability of the power grid.
Aqualectra’s strategic objectives
The BESS system and GEMS digital platform will provide the stability and reliability needed to reduce unserved energy and mitigate the risk of power outages.
Joseph Everon, technical advisor at Aqualectra, said, “Aqualectra’s strategic objective is to provide the community with affordable, sustainable and reliable electricity. Wärtsilä’s solution will support all these objectives by reducing production costs, enabling the integration of renewable energies and lowering CO2 emissions.”
Technology solutions and partnerships
This order with Wärtsilä follows detailed modeling of the electrical system to determine the best way forward.
Christoffer Ek, Director of Decarbonation Services at Wärtsilä Energy, added: “BESS and GEMS provide the reserves needed to improve asset loading, and thus efficiency, energy availability, grid stability and reliability. Wärtsilä’s cutting-edge technologies and our lifecycle services capabilities will support Aqualectra’s vision of a sustainable energy future.”
Wärtsilä’s commitment to the Caribbean
The project underlines the importance of the Caribbean region for Wärtsilä, a region where the company has enjoyed long-term relationships for decades.
Jon Rodriguez, Director of Energy Activities at Wärtsilä Energy, said, “Partnering with Aqualectra to integrate BESS into their system is a sign of our strong relationship. We look forward to continuing to serve this market for decades to come.”
Project details and outlook
The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2025, and the project should be fully operational by the end of the second quarter of 2025. Aqualectra, an existing Wärtsilä customer, operates three Wärtsilä engine-driven power plants comprising a total of 16 generator sets. The new BESS system will help smooth out the intermittency of renewable energies, supporting Aqualectra’s vision for a sustainable energy future.
Wärtsilä and Aqualectra’s battery energy storage system project on Curaçao represents a major step towards sustainable, reliable energy. By integrating innovative technologies, this partnership supports the island’s energy transition and the reduction of carbon emissions.
