OnPower is an Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Brazil that packages containerized power plant modules for use in Brazil and Argentina. Each module contains 4 Scanias or Perkins diesel gensets and can provide over 2 MW of power for low voltage or medium voltage (when needed) systems. These 40 foot long modules are easy to transport, quick to install, simple to maintain, and offer the availability and reliability needed to meet the challenges of the application. OnPower calculates that it is more economical to use 4 smaller sized engines for these applications then one larger engine. These units are ideal for use by utilities as well as the rental market. Due to recent droughts, the Brazilian energy matrix is changing from predominantly hydropower to more renewable forms of energy and gas/diesel power plants. These packaged solutions offer a very short “project to operation” installation cycle making them attractive when a large amount of power is needed quickly.

Each module includes a variety of Woodward products used on each of the four gensets. They include: an easYgen-3500 genset controller (specifically designed for rental units), a LS-5 breaker controller, a HighPROTEC feeder protection relay, a module SCADA system, and Woodward engineering services. These products enable the module’s gensets to operate as a baseload unit or in a load sharing mode. They also have the capability to operate as peaking unit to handle periods of peak loads or as an emergency standby unit. Woodward’s facilities in Brazil built the first 13 control cabinets for these genset modules and they will be used at a power plant in Argentina.

OnPower, http://www.onpower.ind.br is owned by Xavantes Group, which also owns Xavantes Energy, a power plant with more than 450 operational genset, almost all with Woodward equipment.

This article originally appeared in Woodward’s Energy Control Newsletter, January 2016.