2023 April Previews
COVER FOCUS: Gas Power
Gas Power Outlook
It seems likely that wind and solar resources will continue to be added at an increasing pace around the world. It is also possible that nuclear power will make a strong comeback. Yet, even if these events materialize, gas turbines in simple and combined cycle will play a vital role in decarbonization of the electricity sector simply by replacing coal-fired power plants and supporting renewable energy resources for capacity firming and/or emergency backup in partnership with long-duration energy storage. As long as we accept the fact that the world’s population and economic growth cannot be arrested or turned back, there is no other way.
Optimizing Combined Cycle Power Plant Operations
Cogentrix Energy and Siemens Energy are working together to optimize 8000H-class machine reliability and outage planning. The Patriot and Liberty facilities, two natural gas–fired combined cycle projects in Pennsylvania, have seen significant operational performance improvements since Cogentrix took over management of the facilities in June 2020. Under the company’s direction, Patriot successfully upgraded one of its combustion turbine rotors in 2021, and Liberty achieved a continuous operations record for H-class 60-Hz machines at 206 days.
FEATURES
Technology Driving Support for Electrification
The push for electrification includes many elements, from powering vehicles with batteries, swapping gas-fueled furnaces for electric heat pumps, and finding ways to produce electricity without fossil fuels. The electrification of everything, as some call it, includes a focus on decarbonization as a way to combat climate change.
Startups Are Shaking Up Geothermal Power’s Prospects
New entrants are injecting millions of dollars into the geothermal power industry, confident that innovation will scale up the niche renewable power subsector in a highly material way. In this article, POWER will navigate the booming startup space, and examine emerging technologies and first-of-a-kind geothermal projects across the world.
OPM for Power Generation Provides Modular, Interoperable Performance Optimization Tools
Operations Performance Management (OPM) is a robust three-module solution that can increase revenue and margins by coupling process digital twin technology based on first principles (physics-based modeling), artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced machine learning, with cutting-edge modeling and analytics, and edge control, enabling optimized power plant performance across a generation fleet.
Tools That Deliver Enhanced Safety and Physical Security
Recent gunfire attacks on substations in Ohio, Washington, and North Carolina have prompted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to study the effectiveness of the existing reliability standard for the physical security of the bulk power system. This article will examine tools that could help power companies safely manage site security.
How the Right EPC Can Help You Take Advantage of Available Funding and Construct Projects Meeting the Highest Standards
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors can eliminate headaches and help utilities navigate Inflation Reduction Act requirements to ensure they’re taking maximum advantage of available incentives and adders. They can also help evaluate design decisions and build generating facilities to achieve your goals, managing sequencing, scheduling, and supply chain issues. In doing so, EPCs can help ensure timely project delivery.
Celebrating Diversity Drives Results
Multiple studies suggest diverse companies are more successful. Yet, even though women make up 48% of the global workforce, they hold just 22% of jobs in energy production and distribution, according to the International Energy Agency. This article will explain how companies—and workers throughout organizations—can help change that.