Technology group Wärtsilä will supply a new gas engine power plant and a six-year service agreement to Finnish energy company EPV Energy Ltd, the company announced in a press release.

43 MW Mertaniemi balancing power plant

The 43 MW project forms part of EPV's balancing power programme and is intended to respond to the growing need for fast-reacting and flexible electricity generation as the share of variable renewable energy in the Finnish power system increases.

Wärtsilä will deliver the project under a full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, with the order booked in Q4 2026. The new plant will be built on the existing Mertaniemi power plant site in Lappeenranta, Finland, and is scheduled to be fully operational in the first half of 2029.

Second project under EPV's balancing power programme

The Mertaniemi plant is the second project under EPV Energy Ltd.'s balancing power programme. The first plant, located in Tornio, Finland, entered operations in April 2026.

Both projects feature Wärtsilä gas engines and service agreements.

Engine technology for grid balancing

According to Wärtsilä, the new power plant will strengthen Finland's power system flexibility and security of supply.

Engine-based power generation offers the flexibility needed to integrate significant levels of renewable energy sources into the electricity system, as the technology can rapidly start and stop, an capability described as essential for grid balancing.

When operational, the plant is expected to provide reliable power during demand peaks, system disturbances, and periods when wind or solar generation is insufficient.

"Flexibility is a key requirement for future power systems. Weather dependency in electricity generation is increasing while electricity demand continues to grow, creating a greater need for flexible solutions and rapidly dispatchable power generation capacity. We believe that the Wärtsilä balancing power plant solution, with its fast-starting and stopping capability, exactly meets this need," said Rami Vuola, CEO of EPV Energy Ltd.

The investment builds on Mertaniemi's existing infrastructure, according to Arto Nikkanen, CEO of Lappeenrannan Energia, who said the company is pleased to see the site continue to play an important role in the country's energy future and in strengthening Lappeenranta's role in Finland's evolving power system.

Plant configuration and future fuels

The plant will operate with four Wärtsilä 34SG engines. The engines will initially run on natural gas but are designed to support a transition towards lower-carbon and sustainable fuels in the future.

Biogas and synthetic renewable gases are planned to be gradually introduced as they become sufficiently available.

Six-year service agreement

The power plant will be supported by a six-year service agreement designed to provide greater predictability in maintenance and operations.

Through the Wärtsilä Expertise Centre, Wärtsilä will provide maintenance planning and coordination, operational support, and advanced predictive maintenance based on digital analytics. Together with spare parts, field service, and control system patching, the agreement is intended to help EPV optimise the power plant's availability and efficiency.

"Wärtsilä's engine power plants, supported by our lifecycle services, offer a proven way to secure flexible generation capacity in a rapidly changing energy landscape," said Kenneth Engblom, Vice President, Africa & Europe, Wärtsilä Energy.

"The technology enables operators to respond quickly to the needs of the market and grid, while the service agreement provides predictability in maintenance planning and operational support. Together, they support power system reliability and the continued growth of renewable energy, benefiting our customer, Finland's energy system as a whole, and consumers."

Context: Wärtsilä's energy business

Wärtsilä describes Wärtsilä Energy as working at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future, offering flexible engine power plants and lifecycle services.

The company's track record comprises 81 GW of power plant capacity in 180 countries, with about 35% of its operating installed base under service agreements.

Wärtsilä as a group employs 17,900 professionals across 199 locations in 78 countries and reported net sales of USD 6.86 billion in 2025. The company is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

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