en.Wedoany.com Reported - Wärtsilä has signed a ten-year optimized maintenance agreement with Midwest Energy, a customer-owned cooperative based in Hays, Kansas, USA. The agreement covers the 104 MW Goodman Energy Center located in Ellis County, which operates using natural gas-fueled Wärtsilä 34SG engines. The plant primarily functions as a flexible peaking power plant, responding to fluctuations in load and non-dispatchable generation to support the regional grid. The order for this agreement was booked by Wärtsilä in the second quarter of 2026.

Aaron Rome, Vice President of Energy Supply at Midwest Energy, stated that maintaining operational efficiency is crucial for providing reliable power to customers in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). Since the Goodman facility uses Wärtsilä engines as prime movers, it is a logical choice for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to lead, oversee, and support all major maintenance activities related to these engines.

Under the terms of the agreement, Wärtsilä will provide on-site services, spare parts, remote support, control system patches, and assist with maintenance planning. The agreement also includes Wärtsilä's digital predictive maintenance product, Expert Insight, which enables the Wärtsilä Expertise Center to proactively provide customer support.

Kees de Grijs, General Manager for Agreement & Upgrade Business Development at Wärtsilä Energy in North America, stated that Wärtsilä's long-term service agreements are designed to deliver tangible benefits to customers, helping facilities maintain operational efficiency and ensuring reliable power for communities and businesses. As a key element of Wärtsilä's lifecycle services, these agreements support improved asset performance, reduced operational risks, and enhanced long-term predictability. The support provided encompasses the company's technology, software, service expertise, and in-depth installation understanding at the system level, enabling customers to adopt a more proactive operational approach, optimize maintenance planning, and make informed decisions throughout the asset lifecycle.

Midwest Energy is a customer-owned electric and natural gas cooperative serving 92,000 electric and natural gas customers across 40 counties in central and western Kansas.