Power
Monthly Issue | March 31, 2016
Around the turn of the century, Entergy took a flyer on older, low-cost nuclear units to bid into new competitive wholesale markets. Facing pressure from cheap gas and unanticipated political…
When you hear “drone,” do you think, toy, military craft, dangerous device, or useful tool? Depending on the type of unmanned aircraft system (aka, drone) we’re talking about, any of…
Courtesy: International Climbing Machines Drones and robots are everywhere these days, but using them effectively for power plant operations and maintenance (O&M) without breaking the bank is neither simple nor…
Saudi Arabia Mulling Privatization of State-Owned Utility. State-controlled Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) is to be split into four power generation firms by the end of 2016 to increase efficiency, Abdullah…
A surge in the installation of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems around the world has underscored the importance of cost-effective operations and maintenance practices to boost lifecycle plant economics. In…
A great level of risk is present when operating pressurized systems. Over the years, industry safety concerns have increased with the occurence of catastrophic events. To help prevent further loss…
Developing a resilient organization pays benefits daily, but during outages and other maintenance tasks, it can account for the difference between success and failure. In the January issue, I introduced…
Vietnam, which has long been a coal exporter, is considering a hiatus in licensing new coal-fired power plants because it says domestic coal reserves won’t be enough to feed generators…
Choosing whether to maintain or upgrade hydropower plant components can be difficult. Poor original equipment reliability can force changes, but often a detailed cost-benefit analysis is needed to make decisions.…