Technology group Wärtsilä said it will supply a new gas engine power plant and a six-year service agreement for a project developed by Finnish energy company EPV Energy Ltd.
The 43-MW facility is part of EPV’s balancing power program, responding to the growing need for fast-reacting and flexible electricity generation as the share of variable renewable energy in Finland’s power system increases. Wärtsilä will deliver the project under a full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2026.
The new power plant, to be built on the existing Mertaniemi power plant site in Lappeenranta, Finland, will strengthen Finland’s power system’s flexibility and security of supply. Engine-based power generation offers the flexibility needed to successfully integrate significant levels of renewable energy sources into the electricity system. This engine technology can rapidly start and stop, which is essential for grid balancing. When operational, the new power plant will provide reliable power during demand peaks, system disturbances, and periods when wind or solar generation is insufficient.
“Flexibility is a key requirement for future power systems. Weather dependency in electricity generation is increasing while electricity demand continues to grow, creating a greater need for flexible solutions and rapidly dispatchable power generation capacity. We believe that the Wärtsilä balancing power plant solution, with its fast-starting and stopping capability, exactly meets this need,” said Rami Vuola, CEO of EPV Energy Ltd.
“This investment builds on Mertaniemi’s existing infrastructure while strengthening Lappeenranta’s role in Finland’s evolving power system. We are pleased to see the site continue to play an important role in the country’s energy future,” said Arto Nikkanen, CEO of Lappeenrannan Energia.
The plant will operate with four Wärtsilä 34SG engines and will be supported with a six-year service agreement designed to provide greater predictability in maintenance and operations. Through the Wärtsilä Expertise Centre, Wärtsilä will provide maintenance planning and coordination, operational support, and advanced predictive maintenance based on digital analytics. Together with spare parts, field service and control system patching, the agreement will help EPV optimize the power plant’s availability and efficiency.
The engines will initially operate with natural gas fuel but are designed to support transition towards lower-carbon and sustainable fuels in the future. Biogas and synthetic renewable gases are planned to be gradually introduced as they become sufficiently available.
“Wärtsilä’s engine power plants, supported by our lifecycle services, offer a proven way to secure flexible generation capacity in a rapidly changing energy landscape,” said Kenneth Engblom, vice president, Africa & Europe, Wärtsilä Energy. “The technology enables operators to respond quickly to the needs of the market and grid, while the service agreement provides predictability in maintenance planning and operational support. Together, they support power system reliability and the continued growth of renewable energy, benefiting our customer, Finland’s energy system as a whole, and consumers.”
The Mertaniemi plant is scheduled to be fully operational in the first half of 2029. It is the second project under EPV Energy Ltd’s balancing power program. The first plant, located in Tornio, Finland, entered operations in April 2026. Both projects feature Wärtsilä gas engines and service agreements.
—This content was contributed by the communications team for Wärtsilä.
