MAN Energy Solutions will supply 6 x 18V51/60G, the engines with the highest power output in the market, along with the major Balance of Plant equipment to the City of Lakeland, Florida for its municipal utility, Lakeland Electric, which the City of Lakeland owns and operates.

Together, Lakeland Electric and MAN Energy Solutions will build a new 120 MW RICE (Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine) plant on a brownfield site in the city.

The new facility will run on natural gas and replace a recently retired, coal-fired plant. This will significantly contribute to Lakeland Electric’s commitment to the community to improve the carbon footprint of their power generation.

Both parties want to put the plant in service as quickly as possible, so MAN committed to a fast-track delivery of all equipment to the site by July 2022.

A long term service agreement will ensure, that the plant will be maintained to the highest industry standards for the next 10 years.

Wayne Jones OBE, Chief Sales Officer and member of the Executive Board at MAN Energy Solutions, says: “We are very proud, that Lakeland Electric entrusts us with this lighthouse project, which represents a significant milestone for our Power Segment here in the U.S.  The Lakeland plant will serve as the flagship installation for MAN Energy Solutions. Our top-of-the-line 18V51/60 reciprocating gas engine, combined with a very sophisticated, heat-recovery system, specifically designed to support the plant’s stand-by operation, perfectly matches Lakeland Electric’s stated commitment to safely provide its customers with affordable, highly dependable and sustainable electric-services.  We don’t even have to mention the high flexibility of the engines, because that’s a given.  A significant number of great people at Lakeland and MAN have been working hard over the past months to get to this point. We can’t wait to get the ball rolling and fire up the plant.”

About the MAN 51/60G engine

The MAN 51/60G gas engine suits itself to power plants in achieving an efficiency of approximately 50% in single cycle and up to 95% in cogeneration (CHP). The engine is highly efficient and dynamic, delivering fast starting-times. Building on the experience of its predecessors, the MAN 51/60G’s two-stage turbocharging makes it even more efficient and powerful.

Engine benefits include its excellent efficiency of >50 %, high reliability, lack of derating in high temperatures owing to two-stage turbocharging, high fuel-flexibility, and high efficiency even in part load.