Aaron Larson
Articles By

Aaron Larson

  • Enhancing the U.S. Electric Grid to Meet the Nation’s Growing Power Needs

    The U.S. power grid is in need of an upgrade and the federal government knows it. Much of the electric grid was built in the 1960s and 1970s, according to a paper published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s

  • What Is ERCOT and What Does It Do?

    To understand what the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is, it helps to understand how the North American electric power system is configured. The contiguous U.S. is comprised of three power grids or “interconnections.” The Eastern Interconnection reaches from central Canada eastward to the Atlantic coast (excluding Québec), south to Florida, and west to […]

  • A Boiler for Any Occasion

    Boilers obviously play an important role in the power generation industry, providing the mechanism to convert heat produced by burning fuel into steam that can be used to drive a turbine to generate electricity. But many other industries also use boilers to produce steam for a variety of purposes. Boilers are commonly used for space […]

  • NUCLEAR POWER Direct—December 27, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 27, 2023 Siemens Energy Poised to Partner with Oklo on Aurora Nuclear Reactor Siemens Energy may be poised to become a crucial equipment and consulting partner for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse, a liquid metal-cooled fast nuclear reactor. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) […]

  • Best of POWER—December 26, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 26, 2023 Kairos' Hermes Secures First NRC Green Light for Advanced Nuclear Non-LWR Reactor The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a construction permit for Kairos Power’s 35-MWth Hermes molten salt “non-power” demonstration reactor, which the firm has proposed to build […]

  • Microgrids a Win for Both Owners and Grid Operators

    According to a guidebook issued by Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) multi-mission laboratory, microgrids are defined as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DERs) that act as a single controllable entity. A microgrid can operate in either grid-connected or island mode, which includes some entirely off-grid applications. A […]

  • Best of POWER—December 11, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 11, 2023 Westinghouse Secures First Customer for eVinci Nuclear Microreactor Westinghouse’s first customer for its eVinci microreactor—a flagship 5-MWe/13-MWth “nuclear battery”—is poised to be the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canada’s second-largest research and technology organization. SRC—a Saskatchewan government Treasury Board… Sponsored […]

  • Impressive Milestones Achieved on Chinese Advanced Nuclear Power Projects

    China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) announced on Dec. 6 that China’s independently developed high-temperature gas-cooled modular pebble bed (HTR-PM) reactor demonstrator had commenced commercial operation. The HTR-PM project was constructed at a site in Rongcheng, Shandong Province (Figure 1), roughly midway between Beijing and Shanghai in eastern China. Touted as “the world’s first commercially operational […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—December 6, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 6, 2023 What's New in Coal Power Innovation? Despite a dismal outlook for coal, countries with substantial coal fleets are intensifying efforts to develop new technologies and operational capabilities to improve coal power’s environmental impact Tri-State Closing Arizona, Colorado Coal Plants […]

  • How Power Companies Can Ride the EV Wave for New Revenue

    Have you noticed more electric vehicles (EVs) driving around your neighborhood? According to Kelley Blue Book’s “Electric Vehicle Sales Report Q3 2023,” EV sales volume in the U.S. set a new record in

  • The Importance of Accurate Weather Prediction for Power Operations

    Power companies need precise weather forecasts for a variety of reasons. Several companies specialize in providing the type of weather information utilities need to accurately predict resource availability and

  • The Benefits of Remote Monitoring for Transformers and Other Electrical Equipment

    Obtaining real-time operating data on power plant and substation equipment has never been easier. The sensors, transmitters, and systems needed to monitor important parameters are readily available and highly

  • The POWER Podcast Archive Vol. 6

    The POWER Podcast is available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, iHeart, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and some other podcast apps. Follow the links below to subscribe via your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube YouTube Music Amazon Music iHeart TuneIn SoundCloud The POWER Podcast Archive (Jan. 30, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2023): How […]

  • How Coal Fly Ash Is Reducing CO2 Emissions and Improving Concrete

    Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. One of the key ingredients in concrete is Portland cement. The American Concrete Institute explains that Portland cement is a product obtained by pulverizing material consisting of hydraulic calcium silicates to which some calcium sulfate has usually been provided as an interground addition. When […]

  • NUCLEAR POWER Direct—November 29, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 29, 2023 Westinghouse Secures First Customer for eVinci Nuclear Microreactor Westinghouse’s first customer for its eVinci microreactor—a flagship 5-MWe/13-MWth “nuclear battery”—is poised to be the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canada’s second-largest research and technology organization. SRC—a Saskatchewan government Treasury Board… INL […]

  • Best of POWER—November 27, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 27, 2023 Pioneering Hydrogen-Powered Gas Peaking: Inside Duke Energy’s DeBary Project In late 2024, a first-of-a-kind, fully functional project spearheaded by Duke Energy, GE Vernova, and Sargent and Lundy could begin demonstrating the commercial peaking capabilities of an integrated hydrogen power-to-power… […]

  • 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hydropower

    For many years, the National Hydropower Association has designated August 24 as National Hydropower Day in the U.S. In honor of the occasion, POWER is highlighting a variety of things many people may not know about hydropower. 1. The First Electricity Generated in the U.S. by Hydropower Was in 1880 People have been using water […]

  • Five Energy-Saving Tips for Compressed Air Systems

    Compressed air is vitally important to all power plants. Although in some cases it is used simply for convenience, such as when operating certain pneumatic tools, in other cases, compressed air is critical to the operation of the plant, such as for air-operated control valves and some fabric filter cleaning systems. In such cases, a […]

  • New Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Offering Hits the Market

    PROENERGY, a global peaking-power solutions provider based in Sedalia, Missouri, released a new 48-MW aeroderivative gas turbine designed to quickly respond to gaps in power supply and demand. The PE6000 model was unveiled as a finale to PROENERGY’s annual user conference, held in Houston, Texas, earlier this month. The company explained that each PE6000 begins […]

  • FutureCoal CEO Suggests ‘Cancel Coal’ Mantra Is Short-Sighted, Abated Coal Solutions Must Be Part of Energy Transition

    Speaking at the 5th annual India Coal Conference in New Delhi, FutureCoal CEO Michelle Manook said, “Government and finance policies, which embrace a ‘cancel coal’ mantra, are short-sighted and undermine the very ambitions we seek to achieve as a global community.” Formerly known as the World Coal Association, FutureCoal: The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal […]

  • DOE Competition Helps College Students Prepare for Cyber Jobs in the Energy Industry

    There is growing demand for cybersecurity professionals all around the world. According to the “2023 Official Cybersecurity Jobs Report,” sponsored by eSentire and released by Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million unfilled jobs in the cybersecurity industry through 2025. Furthermore, having these positions open can be costly. The researchers said damages resulting from cybercrime […]

  • HYDROGEN POWER Direct—November 20, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 20, 2023 Pioneering Hydrogen-Powered Gas Peaking: Inside Duke Energy’s DeBary Project In late 2024, a first-of-a-kind, fully functional project spearheaded by Duke Energy, GE Vernova, and Sargent and Lundy could begin demonstrating the commercial peaking capabilities of an integrated hydrogen power-to-power… […]

  • Best of POWER—November 13, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 13, 2023 America's Most Powerful Nuclear Reactor Makes a Landmark Revival Entergy’s Grand Gulf 1—the largest single-unit nuclear power plant in the U.S.—has thrived for four decades by cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, achieving record-breaking performance UAMPS and NuScale Power […]

  • UAMPS and NuScale Power Terminate SMR Nuclear Project

    Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and NuScale Power Corp. (NuScale) have mutually agreed to terminate the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), a small modular reactor (SMR) project that was planned for construction on Idaho National Laboratory (INL) property near Idaho Falls, Idaho. “Despite significant efforts by both parties to advance the CFPP, it appears […]

  • GAS POWER Direct—November 8, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 8, 2023 South Africa Will Add 3 GW of Gas-Fired Generation An official with South Africa’s government said the country will accelerate its development of natural gas-fired power generation as energy shortages continue to be a challenge for the nation’s economy.… […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—November 1, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 1, 2023 Germany Restarts Coal-Fired Generation to Support Winter Power Supply Government officials in Germany have approved a plan to bring some shuttered coal-fired power plants back online in an effort to avoid energy shortages this winter. Cabinet members on Oct.… […]

  • Nuclear Industry Giants Collaborate on European Projects While Japan Expands Partnership with U.S. Reactor Designer

    Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have together proposed a deal to supply the Czech Republic with as many as four AP1000 nuclear reactors. The proposal aims to construct one or two units at the Dukovany nuclear site and two additional units at the Temelin site. The Dukovany site currently has four Russian-designed VVER-440 nuclear units, […]

  • Olkiluoto Unit 3 Provides Carbon-Free Nuclear Power and Energy Security for Finland

    As a first-of-a-kind project, Olkiluoto Unit 3 took more time to build than was originally expected, but the end result has proven worth the wait. Calling it the “largest single climate action” in

  • Flow Battery Market Poised for Growth as Energy Storage Needs Expand

    When it comes to energy storage, most people are quite familiar with lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. They are, of course, commonly used to power cell phones, electric vehicles (EVs), power tools, and many

  • Understanding Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems and SCR Design Considerations

    Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is an important emissions control technology utilized at many coal, biomass, waste-to-energy, and gas-fired power plants. Many items must be considered when designing SCR