-
Nuclear
Accident-Tolerant Fuels Could Be a Boon for Nuclear Industry
Following a planned outage, Unit 1 at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley in southeastern Georgia returned to service in early March outfitted with first-of-their-kind accident tolerant fuel (ATF)
-
O&M
Automated Tools Improve Hydroblasting Productivity and Safety
Just a decade ago, a hydroblasting contractor was considered cutting-edge if he owned a spinning nozzle for his shotgun and a 2-D tank cleaning tool. Now, the next evolution in hydroblasting technologies is
-
O&M
Electric Co-op Shines a Light on Rack Selection
Clay Electric Cooperative was determined to dramatically improve its logistics, reliability, and productivity, even before the Florida member-owned utility set out to build a new warehouse to consolidate
-
Commentary
Market Barriers Eased for Energy Storage Resources
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted a final rule on February 15 (Order No. 841) that facilitates the direct participation of electric storage resources in centralized markets operated by
-
Coal
Gaining Steam: Combined Heat and Power
There are increasing schemes in Europe to use marginally profitable gas-fired power plants to also generate heat for cities, and for good reason. Lausward Power Plant’s Fortuna Unit—POWER’s 2016 Plant of
-
Renewables
Williamson College of the Trades Energy Island: Time-Honored Innovation
Williamson College of the Trades’ Power Plant Technology program provides hands-on training for learners within its student-run power plant—known as the “Energy Island.” Through the program, students
-
O&M
Advanced Boiler and HRSG Designs Offer Improved Performance
Innovative boiler and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) designs are improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and lowering maintenance costs. Some well-proven technology, such as circulating fluidized bed
-
Technology
Innovative Firefighting Technology Improves Equipment, Personnel Safety
A hybrid fire protection system has the ability to discharge a cloud of hybrid media into protected spaces to extinguish fires without the use of dangerous chemicals. The hybrid cloud is based on cyclonic
-
POWER Video Archive
POWER Video Archive For more videos, visit POWER‘s YouTube channel. GE Continues to Improve Gas Turbine Efficiency Guy DeLeonardo, leader of gas turbine products for GE’s Gas Power Systems, provided POWER with an exclusive explanation of how the new nozzle design for the improved 9HA.02 gas turbine works. GE Power in early December 2017 said […]
-
IIOT Cyber
Industrial Cybersecurity Is the Next Risk Frontier
The energy industry must work together to restore trust in the digital age. When Hurricane Harvey hit, Houston knew what to do. Emergency response plans went immediately into effect to save lives and jump-start a long recovery. But as energy leaders convene here in the world’s energy capital for CERAWeek, we need to ask […]
-
IIOT Power
Using Data Analytics to Improve Operations and Maintenance
Power plants are challenged to generate value from their data, but this can be a tedious and slow process, with uncertain outcomes. Now, as shown in these use cases, data analytic solutions can put innovation
-
Legal & Regulatory
A Break in the Nuclear Waste Impasse?
Spent nuclear fuel has continued to accumulate at sites across the nation, paralyzed by a government deadlock on a nuclear waste management strategy formally established 35 years ago. Can recent developments
-
O&M
Design and Care of Reverse Osmosis Systems
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems offer power plant owners and operators a reliable and well-proven water treatment solution. However, designing and caring for an RO system requires a thorough understanding of a
-
Solar
Can C&I Customers Lead the Energy Storage Revolution?
The private sector is traditionally known as a driver of innovation, so it may be surprising to some people that many businesses have only recently begun to consider advanced energy technologies. Looking at
-
Instrumentation & Controls
Electric Power Show Preview
The ELECTRIC POWER Conference + Exhibition for two decades has been the place for those in the power generation industry to come together for up-to-date training and continuing education—a place to gain a
-
Commentary
Coal Rebound Is Vital to Local Economies
In President Trump’s State of the Union address, he said, “We have ended the war on American energy, and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal.” It’s safe to say that things have gotten better
-
History
As Nuclear Giant AREVA Reforms, Framatome Is Resurrected
Reforging its core business to return to competitiveness after record losses of €4.83 billion in 2014, French nuclear firm AREVA has split its five operational business units and rebranded them—again. All
-
Renewables
Spain’s Market Regulator Rejects Attempt to Save Coal Plants
Spanish market and competition regulator CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) in a report published on January 24 said a draft government decree to block power plant closures if they
-
O&M
Special Flooring Considerations for Mission-Critical Facilities
Every element in the construction and operation of power generation plants must be considered to keep such mission-critical facilities running around the clock. The proper flooring can contribute not only to
-
O&M
Taking Visual Inspection Technology to a New Level
When many of us pick up our smartphones and take a panoramic photo, we probably think that’s a neat feature. But for inspection personnel at a nuclear energy facility, the technique behind those panoramic
-
Commentary
How the Offshore Wind Energy Industry Can Overcome the Jones Act
Europe’s decade-long economic and regulatory commitment to the offshore wind industry has paid off. With approximately 14 GW of power installed as of June 2017, the continent now boasts more than 90% of
-
Commentary
Trump’s Broken Promises, and His War on Clean Energy
Commentary The clean energy industry was hit hard by two decisions coming out of the Trump administration these past few weeks. First, a 30% tariff was imposed on imported solar panels. Then earlier this week, the Trump administration proposed plans to cut the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office budgets by 65%, all while […]
-
IIOT Oil & Gas
Modernize Gas Turbine Controls with an Eye on the Future
Although it may seem as if gas turbines have only recently become the technology of choice for new U.S. power plants, a lot of gas turbine units have been in service for decades. Control systems have evolved
-
IIOT Power
Battery-Gas Turbine Combination Provides Power Plant Flexibility
With a broadening portfolio of generation technologies and rapidly changing demands, effectively combining and integrating diverse technologies is important to a reliable power grid. Siemens’ SIESTART
-
O&M
Turbophase Dry Air Injection Optimizes Aero-derivative Combustion Turbines
Turbophase enables combustion turbine owners and power grids to increase flexibility, power, and efficiency, which is critical at a time when dispatch of renewable energy is growing. Combustion turbines
-
Press Releases
Connected Plant Conference Show Preview
The Connected Plant Conference is a forum designed for professionals in the power generation and chemical process industries who are leading digital adoption at all stages. Sessions are tailored to offer
-
Commentary
Pressing Forward with Vogtle, a Nuclear MVP
Georgia wasn’t looking for an award or recognition when we set out to build new nuclear reactors in our state. Yet, we now find ourselves as the last team on the field as our commissioners unanimously voted
-
Commentary
Changing the Power Industry Culture
The news has been filled with high-profile sexual harassment cases recently. Although more women seem to be coming forward lately to tell their stories and bring misconduct to light, it’s far from a new
-
Gas
Energy Transitions Begin to Leave Out Natural Gas Power
The world’s energy transition took an interesting turn at the end of 2017 as global power firm Engie announced it would switch all its gas operations to biogas and renewable hydrogen, the UK slashed its
-
O&M
How the Internet of Things May Help Power the Future
Utility poles are the literal backbone of the electric utility industry. With an estimated 180 million or more in the nation’s power grid, it’s not hard to imagine the monumental task associated with