UPDATE 1-Foster Wheeler's first-quarter profit climbs

(Adds details on results, analyst estimates)

NEW YORK, May 7 (Reuters) - Foster Wheeler Ltd (FWLT.O), an engineering and construction company, said on Wednesday its first-quarter earnings rose as a result of improved performance of its global power group.

Net earnings were $138.1 million, or 95 cents per share, compared with $114.8 million, or 80 cents per share, a year earlier, the Hamilton, Bermuda-based company said.

Excluding items, the company posted earnings of 85 cents a share, well above Wall Street's expectations of 73 cents a share.

However, the company did note that lately it has noticed a change in the tone of the solid-fuel boiler market, primarily in North America. Solid-fuel boilers are used primarily by companies that produce electricity from coal, petroleum coke, biomass and other such fuels.

"We are beginning to see instances of delays in certain projects that we view as prospects," said Chief Executive Raymond Milchovich, in a statement.

The company's power group, which contributes about 30 percent of its annual revenue, produces these boilers that are used primarily by utilities.

Milchovich said environmental considerations, along with cost inflation and slower economic growth in the North American market are some of the reasons for the delays. North America accounts for about 13 percent of the company's order backlog.

Foster Wheeler's order backlog in the quarter rose to $8.95 billion, from $5.71 billion, a year earlier. (Reporting by Euan Rocha, editing by Mark Porter and Dave Zimmerman)