“A steady power supply is essential in the catering industry, especially when temperatures reach record highs and it’s the festive season. Energyst’s power plant truly alleviated a bad situation for us, to the great relief of Vicente’s restaurant, and indeed the entire town.”
Daniel Martínez, Restaurant Chef, Vicente Resto Bar, Guaminí
Energía Argentina Sociedad Anónima (ENARSA) is a private company created by the Argentinian government to manage the country’s energy resources. In November 2013, ENARSA asked Energyst to put together a power solution for Guaminí, a rural town in the Buenos Aires province that was blighted by periodic energy cuts during periods of peak consumption. And just one month later, an extraordinary heat wave made the situation even more critical.
With the highest temperatures ever recorded by Argentina’s national meteorological service, the heat wave created extreme conditions throughout Argentina, triggering a fault in the electricity grid that caused a serious energy crisis. The blackout left millions of residents and businesses in the Buenos Aires province without power and vital services, including potable water supply, residential energy and public lighting. By December 22nd, it seemed likely that we would have to demobilise the temporary plant intended for Guaminí and install the units in the capital city of Buenos Aires. However, after analysing the time and costs involved it was decided to stick to the original plan. With just two days to stabilise the energy supply before the Christmas festivities, we had to put Real Energy into getting the solution up and running in Guaminí.
A commissioning team of technicians and supervisors was immediately activated, arriving in Guaminí the weekend before Christmas. Two Energyst engineers then also made the 500 kilometre journey from Buenos Aires, arriving on the evening of December 23rd. Their task was to keep the plant operating once testing was completed. The challenge was considerable, given the short time available to complete the installation before Christmas. A local TV company even arrived at the scene, expecting a last minute news story. However, determined to re-stabilise the town’s power supply, our team pulled out all the stops. Four Caterpillar XQ2000 generator sets, four power transformers and two external fuel tanks were used to supply 5 MW / 13.2 kV of continuous power that was connected to the national grid that same evening. With the plant generating non-stop power, the town slowly came back to life. Final adjustments were made the next morning and the solution has been providing uninterrupted power to the town and its surrounding areas ever since.
ENARSA awarded Energyst the temporary power supply contract because we promised them the commitment, reliability and flexibility necessary to adapt to changing local needs. Neither party could have predicted just how quickly this promise would be put to the test. By putting Real Energy into stabilising the power supply, we were able to ensure that the residents of Guaminí could enjoy the Christmas festivities. Following the switch-on the residents spotted our commissioning team and the two engineers in a local restaurant where they were given a personal vote of thanks, in recognition of their efforts. With Energyst under contract for two more years, we can promise them a continuous and reliable power supply – and many more celebrations to come.
To find out more about our design and engineering expertise, or to ask our advice on power, heating or cooling, contact us now. We will put all our energy into helping you find the right solution.
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“From the very beginning of planning up to the first première, Energyst provided excellent and professional support. All changes were quickly dealt with and the material is very reliable.”
As a global operator, Energyst provides turnkey rental solutions for temperature control and power generation. The company originated as a joint venture between Caterpillar Inc. and 10 of its dealers.
