Piston power |
Batteries plus recips help Hungary’s PV expansion
Lausanne based Alpiq has inaugurated its new Csepel hybrid power plant in Budapest, Hungary, which it describes as an innovative facility that combines battery storage with highly flexible gas fuelled piston engine generation in a single, integrated operating concept. It provides fast-response capacity for the Hungarian electricity system, strengthening security of supply and facilitating the integration of more renewable energy, says Alpiq.
The “smart combination of two complementary technologies” enables the facility to react rapidly to grid needs while allowing the gas engines to remain switched off until
Alpiq’s Csepel hybrid (PV + piston) power plant. Photo: Alpiq
additional capacity is required. The project is part of Alpiq’s strategy to add flexibility to the electricity system in order to contribute to a sustainable electricity supply. The approximately EUR 64 million facility combines 50 MW of high-efficiency piston based generating capacity, provided by 15 Jenbacher engines, with a 5 MW/10 MWh CATL battery energy storage system. Commissioned in August 2026, the battery responds immediately to changes in the electricity system, while the gas engines start rapidly when additional capacity is required.
Together, they can make the facility’s full capacity available to the system operator in less than five minutes.
A key innovation is the “zero must- run” operating concept, notes Alpiq. The battery allows the facility to provide the initial response without keeping the gas engines permanently in operation. The engines remain switched off when the electricity system does not require their generating capacity – avoiding unnecessary gas consumption and generation-related emissions during these periods.
Alpiq says it developed and managed the project from technical design and procurement through to construction, an approach which “enabled the project team to design the plant specifically around local needs, with a clear focus on speed, reliability and operational efficiency.” Hungary’s rapid expansion of solar generation is increasing the need for balancing capacity that can compensate for fluctuations in renewable electricity production. The additional flexibility provided by the Csepel gas engine power plant is expected to facilitate the integration of approximately 150 MW of additional photovoltaic
capacity into the Hungarian electricity system. The new power plant complements Alpiq’s existing Hungarian assets at its Csepel site in Budapest, including the 403 MW Csepel II combined cycle gas fired power plant and a 35 MW power-to-heat facility, making use of the site’s existing infrastructure and the expertise of the local operations and maintenance team.
The Csepel site can cover around 6% of Hungary’s total electricity demand and also supplies district heating to about 20 000 households in south Budapest.
Gold standard for reliability in Senegal
Wärtsilä is supplying five Wärtsilä 32 engines for a captive power plant to be installed at the Diamba Sud gold project in Senegal. The 14 MW plant is required to ensure a reliable and efficient supply of electricity, essential for the mining project’s operations. Due to its remote location, the mine will depend solely on this piston based plant for its power needs.
The order was placed by Africa Power Services (APS), the France based main contractor for the engineering, procurement and construction of the power plant, on behalf of Canada based Fortuna Mining, which is developing the mine. The Wärtsilä 32 engine generating set has established a reputation for reliability over 30 years of successful operation, says Wärtsilä, providing more than 8000 MW of generating capacity to users around the world, with its fast-starting flexibility
Wärtsilä 32 engines. Photo: Wärtsilä
supporting the integration of intermittent renewables into power systems by enabling efficient grid balancing. Fortuna Mining has indicated its intention to add renewable energy to the Diamba Sud microgrid in the near future.
In addition to the generating sets theselves, Wärtsilä’s scope includes
28 | October 2026 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
basic engineering, engine specific auxiliary units, and the engine control and monitoring system. The company will also provide advisory support during the installation and commissioning phases. “By deploying a number of smaller generating sets instead of a single large unit, we enable the plant to match fluctuating load demands with high precision, maximising fuel efficiency and reducing emissions,” said Marc Thiriet, Wärtsilä Energy Business Director, Africa.
The Wärtsilä equipment is
scheduled for delivery in March 2027, and the power plant is expected to be operational by the end of that year. Acquired by Fortuna in September 2023, the Diamba Sud gold project is located in the Kenieba – Koudougou Inlier, a geologically significant area that hosts several major gold deposits in eastern Senegal and western Mali.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47
