The 100 MW Sodegaura power plant in Japan, powered by ten Wärtsilä 34SG engines, has been successfully handed over to Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions (TGES). The Wärtsilä engines offer the flexibility required for effective grid balancing, helping Japan increase its reliance on renewable energy sources.
Built by TGES for its parent company, Tokyo Gas, which will own and operate the facility, the plant is located in Sodegaura city, Chiba Prefecture. It will play a pivotal role in supporting Tokyo Gas’ involvement in Japan’s balancing market and the newly established capacity market.
Tadashi Ishizaka, Executive Officer and General Manager of the Power Business Department at Tokyo Gas, commented, “This gas engine power plant will act as a balancer, responding to fluctuations in renewable energy generation and electricity demand. Wärtsilä’s engines have exceptional ramp-up capabilities, providing the necessary balancing power as renewables become a larger part of Japan’s power generation mix. We expect this balancing power plant to play a key role in the Japanese electricity market.”
Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan sets a target of achieving 40-50% renewable energy by 2040. The cross-regional balancing market, launched in 2021 by the government, is designed to close the gap between energy supply and demand, especially when renewable sources like wind and solar fluctuate. Wärtsilä’s engines, which can reach full output within minutes of starting up, provide the required flexibility to stabilize the grid during such fluctuations.
Nicolas Leong, Energy Business Director for North & Southeast Asia at Wärtsilä Energy, said, “Wärtsilä’s strategy is focused on decarbonizing power generation. Through our advanced technologies, we are helping shape the power sector’s efforts in this direction. We are pleased to support Tokyo Gas with our flexible gas engine technology, enabling the integration of more renewable energy into Japan’s power system and advancing sustainable power production.”
Wärtsilä has built a strong partnership with Tokyo Gas over the years. TGES has installed a total of 39 Wärtsilä gas engines in various projects. The two companies have also been conducting regular Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) meetings to optimize plant efficiency since the early 2000s.
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