Challenge
The tsunami-affected Satala power plant in Pago Pago experienced a loss of 23 MW of generation capacity, which accounted for 60 percent of the island’s load demand. While temporary power was brought in, a long-term strategy had to be developed to restore the island’s power infrastructure.
Solution
American Samoa Power Authority, with funding from the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), contracted WSP to design and procure the diesel power generation equipment, as well as complete site development and plant construction through a design-build contract.
WSP’s solution includes a power system design that substantially reduces fuel consumption compared to the previous power plant. The reduced fuel consumption will save millions of dollars annually in fuel costs and should reduce Pago Pago’s high cost of electricity.
The Satala plant is designed to withstand the challenges that American Samoa can present, including earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, high humidity and corrosive salt air. Other new features include the plant’s new higher elevation on engineered fill, an eight-foot flood wall with water-tight flood doors, and acoustic noise reduction measures.
