PVTIME – The Finnish energy technology group Wärtsilä has secured a contract with Water en Energiebedrijf Aruba to design, build and maintain a 35MW/70MWh battery energy storage system on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. This marks the largest grid-scale storage deployment in the region.
The scope of work includes engineering, procurement and construction, as well as the integration of Wärtsilä’s energy management system and a long-term service agreement. The order was booked in Q3 2026, with commissioning scheduled for Q2 2028.
Once operational, the facility will coordinate Aruba’s existing wind, solar and thermal generation assets through Wärtsilä’s energy management platform. This provides load forecasting and real-time grid control, maximising renewable penetration while maintaining supply reliability. The EMS will be delivered on a service basis, including continuous software updates and lifecycle technical support.
WEB Aruba chief executive Alfredo Koolman said that the utility currently draws on a mix of wind, solar and engine-based generation and that Wärtsilä’s technology will enable the company to optimise its overall energy system, delivering the most efficient power output and increasing its use of renewables.
Risto Paldanius, Wärtsilä’s vice president for the Americas, noted that the combination of storage, intelligent control and ongoing services would improve the quality and cost of the electricity supply for island residents and businesses while directly supporting Aruba’s transition to a greater proportion of renewable energy.
Wärtsilä has previously supplied equipment for five power plant projects serving WEB Aruba, totalling 230MW of installed capacity. The company has not disclosed which battery platform from its recently established joint venture, Valo (formed with RCT Solutions), will be deployed for this project. Valo currently holds a global pipeline exceeding 20GWh.
