Aaron Larson
Articles By

Aaron Larson

  • The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Renewable Energy Growth Continues

    Wind and solar power capacity and generation have been growing steadily for years, as efforts to halt climate change and a desire for clean energy have gained public support around the world. As renewable

  • Experience POWER: Event Expands and Evolves with New Name

    When the World Health Organization published news on Jan. 5, 2020, about cases of “pneumonia of unknown etiology” detected in Wuhan City, China, few people began stocking up on toilet paper or canceled

  • EPRI Selected for Three Energy Storage Projects

    The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead three advanced energy storage projects. The projects will study innovative, non-battery-based bulk energy storage solutions integrated with fossil assets. “Investing in research and development to improve energy storage is critical at this moment in time,” Neva Espinoza, vice […]

  • 5 Reactors Connected to the Grid, 5 Removed in 2020

    Nuclear power capacity continues to grow worldwide, as larger reactors are added to the grid while smaller units are retired. Furthermore, uprates to some existing reactors have also added to the world’s nuclear power capacity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reports the total net installed capacity is about 393 GW today. Nuclear reactor additions […]

  • Best of POWER—December 28, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 28, 2020 New Generator Technology Cuts Emissions, Embraces Sustainability The search for more efficient methods of power generation at a time when climate change is top of mind continues to foster innovation. A U.S. company is among the latest…   China […]

  • Improving Asset Inspections with Drones and AI

    The U.S. bulk electric system consists of more than 360,000 miles of transmission lines, including approximately 180,000 miles of high-voltage lines, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That means power companies have a lot on their plates when it comes to inspecting and maintaining those assets. Furthermore, the stakes are high. As wildfires in […]

  • Nuclear, Carbon Capture, and Energy Storage Advocates Happy; Co-ops Disappointed by Stimulus Package

    Although provisions in the $900 billion stimulus package agreed to by Congress on Dec. 21 that will extend the solar investment tax credit (ITC) and the wind production tax credit (PTC) received the greatest publicity, lawmakers also authorized about $35 billion for clean energy research and development (R&D) programs focused on solar technology, advanced nuclear […]

  • Wind and Solar Tax Credits Extended

    Congress agreed on legislation that would extend the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar projects for two years and the production tax credit (PTC) for wind projects for one year. The full legislative package combines a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package and an omnibus spending bill for 2021 with tax extenders and energy policy changes. […]

  • Best of Power—December 14, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 14, 2020 Vogtle Receives First Shipment of Nuclear Fuel The two-unit expansion of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia reached another milestone as Georgia Power received the first shipment of nuclear fuel for Unit 3 of the project.…   GE […]

  • Economic Factors Drive Wind and Solar Growth

    Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have found that a combination of lower capital, operating, and finance costs, in addition to better equipment performance, and longer useful lives, have driven power purchase agreement (PPA) prices and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for utility-scale wind and solar projects to all-time lows. The findings were […]

  • GAS POWER Direct—December 9, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 9, 2020 RWE’s 300-MW ‘Grid Stability’ Gas Plant Will Debut GE LM2500XPRESS Technology RWE Generation will install 11 units of GE Gas Power’s freshly launched LM2500XPRESS power plant technology to provide a critical gas-power reserve in Germany’s reliability-challenged southern region.  The […]

  • Engineering Technicians and Technologists Are an Important Industry Pillar

    According to Cheryl Farrow, CEO of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT), there are three basic pillars that make up the engineering field. They are licensed engineers, technicians and technologists, and skilled trades. “We can’t be successful without all three of these pillars working together effectively,” Farrow said as a guest […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—December 2, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   December 2, 2020 Leveraging the Latest Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Technologies to Transform Emissions into Profit There is significant governmental support for the development of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies. Understanding options and taking advantage of opportunities could help maintain […]

  • A Half Century of Environmental Progress

    In the late 1960s, the U.S. was facing an environmental crisis. Air pollution was a serious problem in cities across the country, industrial activities and the widespread use of hazardous pesticides were

  • Best of POWER—November 30, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 30, 2020 Battle Brewing About California’s Role in Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Retirement An assortment of entities have sought to intervene in a complaint alleging that the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and California state agencies violated bulk power system reliability […]

  • POWERnews—Nov. 25, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 25, 2020 UK Undergoing ‘Remarkable Shift’ in Power Generation Natural gas-fired generation continues to provide much of the electricity in the UK, but renewable power in total at times has taken the lead spot in the country's generation mix…   BWXT: […]

  • A Hopeful Narrative for the Nuclear Industry

    Although there is only one nuclear power plant construction project in progress today in the U.S., that doesn’t mean the nuclear industry has gone dormant. A lot of research and development are ongoing, and the federal government is putting millions of dollars behind some of the efforts. The Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program “The Department of […]

  • Could Geothermal Energy Become the ‘Sexy’ Renewable?

    Geothermal is an often-overlooked and even disregarded renewable energy resource. While new wind and solar energy projects garner headlines nearly every day, geothermal is rarely sighted in news feeds. That could change in the future. In a report issued last year, the U.S. Department of Energy said geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold […]

  • Best of POWER—November 16, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 16, 2020 Black & Veatch: No More Coal Construction Black & Veatch is ending the company’s participation in coal-based power market design and construction, saying it will allow the company to focus on clean energy technologies. The engineering and…   Darlington's […]

  • Clean Energy Tech Company Offers Customers Renewable Options

    There is a growing trend toward clean energy around the world. A number of high-profile companies, including Google, Apple, Walmart, and more than 260 others, have set 100% renewable electricity goals, and power companies, too, have joined in the movement, with many targeting net-zero emissions in coming decades. However, most consumers have found it more […]

  • Developments in Offshore Wind Technology

    By some estimates, offshore wind energy has the potential to deliver 18 times the current global electricity demand. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said offshore wind power could develop into a $1 trillion industry over the next two decades, so there’s obviously a lot of growth potential around the world. While the cost for […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—November 4, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   November 4, 2020 Black & Veatch: No More Coal Construction Black & Veatch is ending the company’s participation in coal-based power market design and construction, saying it will allow the company to focus on clean energy technologies. The engineering and…   NETL: […]

  • Consistent Excellence Makes Byron Nuclear Plant Special

    A focus on continuous improvement has helped the nuclear power industry shine in recent years. The U.S.'s fleet of nuclear reactors has achieved average capacity factors of more than 92% over the past five

  • Understanding California’s Rolling Blackout Problem

    In mid-August, the western U.S. experienced some of the most extreme heat it has encountered in recorded history. Temperatures in some locations were up to 20F above normal. During the hot spell, California

  • Fusion Power May Be Closer Than You Think

    Fusion research and development have been ongoing for decades, and many people probably believe a fusion power system will remain out of reach for decades longer. But the truth is that more than 100 tokamaks have been constructed and the science behind fusion is well-understood. What has been elusive is generating net energy from a […]

  • Best of POWER—October 26, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   October 26, 2020 GE Secures First HA-Class Hydrogen Gas Power Deal: Long Ridge Energy Terminal Long Ridge Energy Terminal will transition a 485-MW combined cycle power plant that is under construction within its sprawling multimodal facility on the Ohio and West Virginia […]

  • Developing a Safer Lithium-Ion Battery

    Most consumers know that lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can get hot. People experience the phenomenon in devices such as cell phones and laptop computers. In extreme circumstances, the heat can cause fires with catastrophic consequences. One company that is working to remedy the problem is Burlington, Washington-headquartered LAVLE. The company’s COO Morten Pedersen and CTO Ben […]

  • RENEWABLE POWER Direct—October 21, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   October 21, 2020 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… Sponsored […]

  • Best of POWER—October 12, 2020

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   October 12, 2020 DOE Has Chosen Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Winners The Department of Energy (DOE) notified Congress that it has chosen recipients for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and will make its…   It's Fair to Say – New Plant […]

  • Taking Lithium-Ion Batteries to the Next Level

    Although the first lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery was conceived more than 50 years ago, the technology continues to be refined and improved today. Scientists and engineers are constantly modifying and testing electrolytes, anodes, and cathodes in an effort to make Li-ion batteries more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and safer. Chicago, Illinois-based NanoGraf Technologies is one company working to […]