POWER
July 2023 Previews
COVER FOCUS: POWER AWARDS
Plant of the Year: Estrella del Mar III
A growing population needs a power supply that is efficient, reliable, and affordable—now and in the future. At the same time, land is a precious commodity for some ever-expanding cities. The Estrella del Mar III project marks a new step in the evolution of floating power plants: the hybrid power plant is equipped with a battery storage system, two gas turbines, and a steam turbine. Located on a barge on a river in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, the combined cycle power plant is making a strong contribution to improving the quality of life for people in the growing nation.
Reinvention Award: Dania Beach Clean Energy Center
The Dania Beach property south of Fort Lauderdale was the location of Florida Power and Light’s first power plant in 1927, and it has been the site of power generation ever since. As part of FPL’s ongoing program to further improve its fleet of power-generating facilities, the Dania Beach Clean Energy Center replaced outdated units with the first GE 7HA.03 to commence commercial operation. This modernization led to a 70% emissions reduction compared to the previous units and will help ensure FPL is able to reliably and affordably deliver 24/7 electricity in the highly populated areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Water Award: Surry Power Station
In 2020, Dominion Energy set a goal in its Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report to reduce its water use by 21 million gallons over five years. Two years later, the station implemented a reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate recovery project, which reprocesses the reject water previously discharged during operation. The Surry Power Station now reclaims the rejected water by purifying it with an additional RO system. The project completely fulfilled Dominion Energy’s goal and then some.
Hydrogen Award: A.J. Mihm Power Plant
The technology group Wärtsilä—in collaboration with WEC Energy Group, the Electric Power Research Institute, and Burns & McDonnell—carried out a hydrogen fuel testing project at WEC’s A.J. Mihm Power Plant. The hydrogen fuel tests were conducted using an unmodified 18-MW Wärtsilä 50SG gas-fired reciprocating engine. The parties tested fuel blends of up to 25% hydrogen by volume mixed with natural gas. This was a world-first achievement, as it was the largest internal combustion engine ever to operate continuously on a hydrogen fuel blend.
Game-Changer Awards: Connected Plant Conference
Behind the digital tools that make up the industrial internet of things in the power generation and chemical process industries are people. Each year, the Connected Plant Conference recognizes the achievements of individuals and companies who are fast risers in the field. Through insight and experience, these “Game Changer” champions have contributed to innovation, solved problems, or made extraordinary improvements.
FEATURES
Mid-Year Industry Forecast
The power industry went through a long period during which load demand growth was non-existent. Those days are over. Although electrification has become a bit of a buzzword, the growth it is causing for the power industry is real. This article will dive into the type of generation that is being added to the grid and how it might change in the not-too-distant future.
Microgrid Technologies
The energy landscape is constantly changing. Many end-users are keenly focused on decarbonizing, digitizing, decentralizing, and electrifying all of their processes. These trends are coupled with growing customer demands for clean, reliable, and economical energy. This environment has led to a wide proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) through microgrid and renewable integration projects. Learn how microgrid and DER management solutions are being designed and deployed not only for consumer and industrial customers, but also for utilities.
Wildfire Prevention and Safety
Power infrastructure is a leading cause of wildfires globally. A new solution can help power companies detect fires within 60 minutes, allowing for quick action to stop smoldering embers before they develop into ruinous megafires. With accurate and timely information, utility companies can more effectively manage risk, protecting lives and property, and reducing the likelihood of fines and potential impacts on a company’s reputation.
Integrating Hydrogen Production with Hydropower
The Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have partnered with Idaho Power to evaluate the feasibility and advantages of making hydrogen at existing hydropower plants. Integrating hydrogen production with hydropower can enhance grid stability through energy storage, re-oxygenate water for downstream environmental improvements, and support decarbonizing energy production in Idaho and other facilities across the country.
How Natural Gas Can Act as a Facilitator for New Renewable Generation
Many green energy advocates would like to see the world switch immediately to 100% renewable resources. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. However, natural gas can act as a bridge to renewable power generation by providing relatively low-emission reliable and flexible baseload power, as well as peaking capacity that complements intermittent renewable resources.