ARG Precision has awarded PW Power Systems to supply three 60-Hz 30 MW FT8 MobilePac gas turbine gensets to help secure the electric grid in the wake of Puerto Rico’s continuing energy shortage following Hurricane Maria.
Twin-trailer housed genset package requires a small 72×53-ft footprint for trailer deployment and surrounding work space. Little advanced site preparation is needed, says PWPS, just a cleared site without foundation or concrete pad will suffice.
The modular trailer packages are transportable by land, sea or air. Can be driven to a site for deployment and generate power in 9 days or less.
PWPS will support ARG to complete the turnkey installation of the dual-fuel gas turbine units at strategic locations on the island. ARG will manage logistics and construct, commission, and complete the interface with the existing power plant infrastructure.
The new equipment will provide power to isolated areas if an outage due to a natural disaster occurs or restoration works on the power lines or existing generating units.
“Eighteen months after Hurricane Maria knocked out the entire grid, the island of Culebra was reconnected via underwater cable in March 2019, thereby restoring power fully to Puerto Rico. And now, the work continues to minimize the vulnerabilities of the electric grid.
Armando Rodriguez, president of ARG noted that the MobilePac unit solves this critical need because it provides reliable, black start capability, which means the grid will have a necessary safety net in place when the need arises.”