33 MW for Owen Springs;

Owen Springs Power Station in the Northern Territory has been producing dependable power since 2011 with 3 x 12V51/60 dual fuel engines. MAN Energy Solutions (MAN) was awarded the EPC contract from the Power and Water Corporation (PWC). PWC is a Northern Territory Government-owned corporation that services more than 80,000 customers and has approximately 360 MW of existing power-generation capacity.

Low Fuel Costs and Fuel Flexibility

When the contract was awarded in 2008, PWC said: “MAN Energy Solutions Australia is an experienced company in power station construction and its parent company in Germany specialises in dual-fuel engines in the size range required for this project. The contract specifications were technically complex as Power and Water was seeking world’s best practice in fuel efficiency and the lowest emissions of carbon dioxide per unit of electricity generated.”

One of the most efficient power plants in Australia

At the heart of the Owen Springs plant are three 11MW high-efficiency MAN 51/60DF dual-fuel generator sets. Each generator set has an efficiency of approximately 46.5%, making the Owen Springs power station one of the most efficient open-cycle power plants in Australia. A key feature of the MAN 51/60DF is its ability to operate on either gaseous or liquid fuels. This provides PWC with a backup option in the event there is an interruption to the gas supply, as the engines will switch over to diesel operation seamlessly without any loss of output.

As MAN was selected as the prime EPC contractor, it took overall responsibility for the entire project in addition to the manufacture and supply of the 51/60DF generator sets. MAN’s scope of supply comprised all engineering, procurement, structural, mechanical and electrical installation, transportation, project management and commissioning services.