Wapa

WAPA To Begin Introduction Of Propane At St. Thomas' Harley Power Plant As Migration To Propane Fuel Continues

ST. THOMAS -- The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority’s conversion to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) as a primary source of fuel in the generation of electricity on St. Thomas is making steady progress, WAPA announced Wednesday. A major step forward in the process will take place over the next few days when, for the first time, WAPA introduces propane to one of its retrofitted generating units. WAPA personnel, its contractor VITOL and General Electric, the unit’s manufacturer, will oversee the introduction of propane to Unit 15, according to the release. Once work on Unit 15 is completed, with the unit on line and powered by LPG, personnel will commission another 20-megawatt generator, Unit 18. The two units are expected to provide approximately 60% of the power demand in the St. Thomas - St. John district through the use of the less-expensive and cleaner-burning LPG. In 2017, the third and largest generating unit on St. Thomas, Unit 23, will undergo both a major overhau...