MAN Energy Solutions’ Dual-Fuel Engines to Drive Floating Power Plants

Karpowership contracted MAN Energy Solutions to supply 24 18-cylinder 51/60DF dual-fuel engines, each with a power generation capacity of 20.7 MW across numerous globally operated floating power-plant barges set to enter service in Asia, South and Central America, and Africa.

Karpowership builds, owns, and operates power-plant ships to deliver quick electricity supplies in locations struggling with energy shortages after a natural disaster, for example.

"Through our long-standing partnership with Karpowership, we have received orders for over 150 engines and are pleased that we have been able to win its confidence once again,” said Timur Iyi, Managing Director, MAN Energy Solutions Turkey. “In addition to our efficient, flexible, and powerful engines, our experience and service quality have also played a decisive role; we have been able to increase the availability of the engines in Karpowership's existing fleet over the past few years."

Onur Sultan power-plant barge; image credit: MAN Energy Solutions

This large-scale engine delivery allows Karpowership to expand its fleet power by approximately 500 MW, while switching between fuels based on local availability. The 51/60DF engine can fire natural gas, liquid biofuel, and additional liquid fuels, making it a suitable power generation asset for the Powership concept.

"We are thrilled about and proud of our long-standing partnership with MAN Energy Solutions,” said Gökhan Koçak, Chief Technical Operations Officer at Karpowership. “They’ve been with us along the way in our pursuit to support access to energy and decarbonize grids globally. We are glad to know we can count on MAN Energy Solutions’ technology to support our growth as an energy-transition company.”

Prior to these new-build barges, Karpowership’s Powership fleet contained 40 vessels with a total capacity of over 7,500 MW.

"We are proud to have been ensuring secure energy supplies around the world, together with Karpowership, since 2009,” said Alexander Stöckler, Head of Sales, Tendering & Project Management, Power Segment, MAN Energy Solutions. “Dual-fuel technology offers customers the fuel-flexibility necessary to reliably operate their Powerships at any location.”

In early January 2024, MAN Energy Solutions and Karpowership signed a contract for the supply of 48 dual-fuel engines. The company also agreed to deliver control systems and electromechanical equipment. MAN PrimeServ also converted four barges with a total of 32 engines to dual-fuel operation.

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Earlier this month, MAN Energy Solutions and EDF PEI signed a maintenance-based partnership agreement for power-generation plants on the French islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, and Corsica. Until 2031, MAN Energy’s PrimeServ will handle engine and auxiliary maintenance operations for each plant. The Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion plants use 12 18V48/60 engines, and the Corsican plant uses seven 18V51/60 engines.

The contract represents over 100,000 hours of annual maintenance executed by a 30-person team, allowing EDF PEI to achieve nearly 95% availability on power assets. The engine operational intervals range between 36,000 – 102,000 hours, with each plant satisfying environmental requirements for fuel consumption, noise, and exhaust emissions. The maintenance work includes spare parts, labor and inspection kits, refurbishment, supervision, and more.