WILLEMSTAD – Aqualectra is building a new power plant in collaboration with Wärtsilä, which should be operational by the end of 2025. With this plant, Aqualectra wants to improve the security of the power supply and be ready for the increasing demand for energy.

The new plant, which will be named Salu Power Plant, will have a capacity of forty megawatts (MW). This is crucial for the expansion of the power grid on the island, especially during peak hours when electricity demand is high.

In addition, Aqualectra wants to improve the quality of maintenance with the construction of the new power plant. The increased capacity will allow the company to maintain a stricter maintenance schedule without compromising the power supply. This has been a challenge in the past, as the machines sometimes had to run longer than planned due to high demand.

Preserve

The Salu Power Plant is one of the many steps that Aqualectra says it is taking to make Curaçao’s energy market more sustainable. In addition to the construction of the new plant, investments will be made in wind energy, battery storage (BESS) and an advanced Energy Management System. All this should accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy sources and contribute to a more stable and environmentally friendly power supply.

Aqualectra and Wärtsilä have been working together for more than 27 years and have strengthened their relationship over the past decades. Wärtsilä motors are already being used in Aqualectra’s existing power plants on Dokweg. This close cooperation led to the choice of Wärtsilä as the partner for the construction of the new plant.

The construction of the Salu Power Plant comes at an important time for Curaçao. The growth of the economy and tourism, combined with the challenges of climate change, require a substantial investment in the island’s energy infrastructure.

About The Author

Staff Reporter

See author's posts