Duke Energy

  • Siemens Energy teams up with Duke Energy, Clemson University to study hydrogen use

    DEC. 10, 2020 — Siemens Energy, Duke Energy and Clemson University have teamed up to study the use of hydrogen for energy storage and as a low- or no-carbon fuel source to produce energy at Duke Energy’s combined heat and power plant located at Clemson University in South Carolina. The U.S. Department of Energy announced […]

  • Duke Energy Pursuing Sweeping Changes to Generation Mix

    Doubling down on its net-zero efforts, Duke Energy will retire all coal-only units in the Carolinas, multiply its renewable portfolio, and cease emitting methane in its natural gas business by 2030.  The company made the announcements on Oct. 12 at its first environmental, social and governance (ESG) day, a virtual event geared toward its investors. […]

  • Mixed Reactions on Looming DOE NOPR for Bulk Power System Security

    The Department of Energy (DOE) will issue a notice of proposed rule-making (NOPR) to implement President Trump’s broad bulk power system (BPS) security executive order (EO) “later this fall,” a DOE official confirmed to POWER on Oct. 5. Though the NOPR is delayed beyond the 150-day timeframe set by the EO, various BPS stakeholders are […]

  • Wärtsilä’s GEMS to centrally manage multi-state energy storage projects for Duke Energy

    Wärtsilä Corp. (Aug. 31, 2020) — Technology group Wärtsilä has contracted with Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, for the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of three battery storage facilities during the past six months. These facilities will be located in North Carolina and Indiana in the […]

  • Analysis Supports Competitive Southeast Power Market

    A new report from two groups that study energy policy supports the establishment of a fully competitive regional electricity market in the U.S. Southeast, something already being discussed by at least two of the region’s largest utilities. The analysis published August 25 from San Francisco, California-based Energy Innovation, and Boulder, Colorado-based Vibrant Clean Energy (VCE), […]

  • Duke Energy Has New CCGT Plant in Asheville

    Duke Energy Progress, the Duke Energy subsidiary that serves about 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, announced the completion of its new Asheville Combined Cycle Station in Arden, North Carolina. The company said the $817 million combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) facility (Figure 1) includes two power blocks with a total of four generators and […]

  • New Duke Energy reports show progress toward ambitious climate and sustainability goals

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 28, 2020) – Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today released a pair of data-driven reports outlining the company’s recent accomplishments and path to advance its critical environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. The company’s Sustainability Report details the company’s performance in four key areas – customers, growth, operations and employees. The report also is available […]

  • World’s First HL-Class Gas Turbine Starts Successfully

    Siemens Energy completed “first fire” at Duke Energy’s Lincoln Combustion Turbine Station near Denver, North Carolina, on April 6. The accomplishment is a major milestone for the world’s first SGT6-9000HL gas turbine, confirming the engine and auxiliary systems, including the gas supply, lube oil system, control system, and startup systems, all work as designed. During […]

  • Utilities Plan to Keep Key Staff Housed at Power Plants

    U.S. electric utilities and other energy companies are preparing to have key personnel remain at power plants and operations centers to ensure the facilities remain online during the coronavirus pandemic. The federal government considers power plants part of the nation’s critical infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for working with power […]

  • Power Industry Weighs Impacts of Coronavirus

    Utilities and power generators worldwide are altering their business practices and developing strategies for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s particularly critical for the power industry, as a reliable supply of electricity is essential to prevent even more economic disruption. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lists utilities among the 16 industries that the […]

  • The POWER Interview: Google, Utilities Partner for Energy Solutions

    Businesses are putting more emphasis on sustainability, coordinating their operations to ensure financial success while also being mindful of environmental concerns. Investors in many cases are demanding companies embrace sustainability, which often includes being more efficient in their use of energy. That’s one reason behind the growth in distributed power generation, as companies develop their […]

  • Nation’s Largest Community Solar Program Set to Launch

    Florida Power & Light (FPL) on March 3 received approval from state regulators to launch the nation’s largest community solar program. FPL’s $1.8 billion SolarTogether project will more than double the amount of available community solar power nationwide. The program, unanimously approved Tuesday by the Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC), adds almost 1.5 GW of […]

  • More renewable energy options available under Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 25, 2020) – The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has approved Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program in North Carolina, enabling the company to expand renewable energy options for customers. View the NCUC order. “Large customers focused on securing more renewable energy now have an additional option with Duke Energy’s Green […]

  • Duke Energy Florida announces installation of one-millionth solar panel in state

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 24, 2020) — One million solar panels and counting… Duke Energy Florida today announced the installation of its one-millionth solar panel in the state at the company’s Columbia Solar Power Plant in Fort White, Fla. Duke Energy Florida plans to install a significant amount of additional solar energy over the next […]

  • Predicting the Future? There’s an App for That

    Power plant operators are turning to predictive maintenance applications to monitor equipment and collect performance data. Asset management systems, using artificial intelligence and other methods, are part

  • Settlement Reached in Largest U.S. Coal Ash Cleanup

    Duke Energy will save about $1.5 billion in coal ash cleanup costs under a settlement between the utility and environmental and other groups announced Jan. 2 by North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The DEQ said Duke Energy will need to excavate about 80 million tons of coal ash currently stored in basins at […]

  • Indiana Utility Will Close Coal-Fired Units Early

    Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) on Dec. 9 announced it will close two of the four coal-fired units at its Petersburg Generating Station in southern Indiana, as the utility continues to move away from coal generation. IPL has been pressured by state political leaders and environmentalists to close the 1,700-MW Petersburg facility, the largest power […]

  • Decarbonization: Utilities Leading the Way

    Decarbonization is a word that seems to be used quite regularly these days. For the power industry, it refers to the shift in electric generating resources from carbon-heavy coal to carbon-free nuclear or

  • Siemens Delivers World’s First HL-Class Gas Turbine to North Carolina Site

    Siemens has delivered its first-ever HL-class gas turbine to Duke Energy’s Lincoln County Combustion Turbine generation station, located near Denver, North Carolina. The HL-class gas turbine was derived from proven Siemens H-class technology in what the company calls “an evolutionary development step.” The advanced air-cooled gas turbine is a next-generation design that uses a series […]

  • NRG Aligns Carbon Goals with 1.5-Degree-C Climate Trajectory

    NRG Energy has joined a growing list of major U.S. coal generators that want to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.  The Princeton, New Jersey-based energy company on Sept. 24 said it would accelerate carbon goals it set in 2014 to reach its 50% GHG reduction target (from a 2014 baseline) by 2025—not […]

  • Power Sector CEOs Join Top Execs in Redefining Corporate Purpose

    The list of 181 CEOs who earlier this week moved to publicly degrade shareholder value in a bid to redefine the “purpose of a corporation” includes several chief executives from power companies.  The Aug. 19 statement issued by the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs “to promote a thriving U.S. economy and expanded opportunity for […]

  • Duke Energy Passes 1 GW of Owned Solar Capacity

    Duke Energy passes major renewable milestone: 1 gigawatt of owned solar energy capacity Owned capacity serves about 2 million homes and businesses Part of the company’s 4 gigawatts of owned and purchased solar capacity Delivering renewable energy to retail and wholesale customers from Florida to California CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With the North Rosamond Solar Facility […]

  • Duke Energy Florida to build its largest battery storage projects yet

    22 megawatts of electricity storage to enhance Florida’s smart grid ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duke Energy Florida (DEF) today announced three battery storage projects, totaling 22 megawatts, that will improve overall reliability and support critical services during power outages. Collectively, the storage facilities will enhance grid operations, increase efficiencies and improve overall reliability for surrounding […]

  • POWER Notebook: GE Plant in France, Targeted for Job Cuts, Will Not Close

    The head of GE’s operations in France told a Paris newspaper that a French factory targeted for more than 1,000 job cuts will not close. GE last week said it wanted to make its operations in France more efficient and said changes would come at the Belfort plant in eastern France, which handles technology for […]

  • Duke Energy Renewables acquires Palmer Solar project in Colorado

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 30, 2019 — Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, has acquired the development assets associated with the 60-MW Palmer Solar project in El Paso County, Colorado, from juwi Americas, a renewable energy company based in Boulder. The project, which contains more than 200,000 solar panels, is being built […]

  • POWER Notebook: Duke Energy Sells Renewable Assets in $1.25 Billion Deal

    Duke Energy this week said it has a definitive agreement to sell a minority interest in part of its commercial renewable energy portfolio owned and operated by its affiliate, Duke Energy Renewables, to the John Hancock Infrastructure Fund and John Hancock Life Insurance Company. Duke in an April 24 release said the interest is valued […]

  • Duke Energy Projects Lead Carolinas’ Solar Expansion

    Duke Energy on April 17 announced it will develop six utility-scale solar power projects in North Carolina, among 14 solar projects chosen as part of the state’s Competitive Procurement of Renewable Energy (CPRE) program. The 14 projects—10 in North Carolina and four in South Carolina—could cost as much as $772.5 million to build according to […]

  • N.C. Officials Order Duke Energy to Excavate Coal Ash Ponds

    North Carolina officials have ordered Duke Energy to excavate all its coal ash storage ponds in the state, saying the utility’s current plan for its coal ash sites does not sufficiently protect groundwater. The directive issued April 1 comes after regulators in other states, including Virginia, issued similar rulings regarding coal ash disposal in those […]

  • CEOs Say Preserving the Nuclear Power Fleet Is Imperative

    Several power-sector CEOs—appearing at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Summit in New York this week—suggested that existing nuclear power plants should not be allowed to slowly vanish from the U.S. electricity grid under market pressure caused by cheap natural gas and the growth of renewable energy. The leaders submitted that nuclear power provides important […]

  • Solar Power Is Economical Today, but Comes With Challenges

    Depending on the deployment location and competing energy prices, photovoltaic solar panels are among the most cost-effective power solutions being added to the grid today, often without subsidies and other incentives. The revelation came during a panel discussion—which included several CEOs from the power sector—that took place at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Summit […]