The new highly efficient facility will generate electricity for PGE customers and features maximum flexibility to help integrate renewable resources.
PGE president and CEO Jim Piro said: "With the growing amount of variable renewable power coming online, this type of flexible resource is essential in helping us continue to provide reliable service to our customers in an increasingly complex environment."
The Port Westward Unit 2 features 12 Wärtsilä North America-built reciprocating engines designed to be highly efficient, flexible and responsive.
PGE Port Westward Unit 2 project manager Rick Tetzloff said: "Port Westward Unit 2’s advanced technology and unique configuration allows PGE to ramp up the plant to full load in less than 10 minutes.
"This flexibility allows us to adjust quickly when renewable energy — like wind and solar — rise and fall with natural variability. And it also means that on peak demand days, our customers benefit from increased reliability."
Black & Veatch and Harder Mechanical Contractors, in a contractual joint venture, were responsible for the design and construction of the project, which is located adjacent to PGE’s existing natural gas-fired Port Westward and Beaver plants in Columbia County.
