Wärtsilä has signed an agreement with Water- en Energiebedrijf Aruba (WEB Aruba), the Caribbean island’s energy provider, to integrate and optimise Aruba’s power generation assets through a 35 MW/70 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). The agreement covers engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work for the installation, along with an energy management system and battery storage maintenance services.
Wärtsilä booked the order in the third quarter of 2026, with final project handover scheduled for the second quarter of 2028. According to the company, the project is its largest energy storage project in the Caribbean region in terms of both installed power capacity and energy capacity.
WEB Aruba generates electricity using wind and solar energy alongside engine-based power plants. The new battery storage system is intended to help the utility optimise its overall energy system, improve power generation efficiency and maximise the use of renewable energy sources.
Wärtsilä’s energy management system will integrate the new battery storage installation with WEB Aruba’s existing power generation assets. Advanced forecasting and secondary and tertiary control capabilities are designed to strengthen grid reliability and optimise the dispatch of electricity generation resources.
The agreement also includes an energy management system service model designed to support continuous improvement after deployment. The service arrangement will enable regular updates to the system’s configurations and models and provide access to technical support. The integrated solution is intended to improve operational efficiency and support WEB Aruba’s efforts to increase renewable energy use while reducing the cost of electricity supply.
Wärtsilä has previously supplied engines and equipment for five power plant projects operated by WEB Aruba, representing a combined installed power capacity of 230 MW. The new agreement builds on this existing relationship and supports Aruba’s efforts to strengthen electricity supply reliability, improve operational flexibility and integrate a greater share of renewable energy into its power system.
