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POWER Podcasts
Is a Microgrid Right for You?
A microgrid is a discrete energy system consisting of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, backup generators, and battery storage systems, and loads capable of operating in parallel with, or independently from, the main power grid. A microgrid generally operates while connected to the grid, but importantly, it can break off and […]
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Gas
Big New Gas-Fired Plant Enters Commercial Operation in Texas
The Montgomery County Power Station, a two-unit 993-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle plant, achieved commercial operation on Jan. 1, Entergy Texas Inc. and McDermott International Ltd. reported on Jan. 13. The plant—located at Entergy’s existing Lewis Creek site near Willis, Texas, about 50 miles north of Houston—was reportedly brought online “well ahead of schedule,” according […]
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Best of POWER—January 11, 2021
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store January 11, 2021 Governments Look to Expand Nuclear Power Through SMRs Advancements in small modular reactor (SMR) technology are being supported by government investment within several countries, including the U.S. and the UK, as SMRs are increasingly seen as a way to […]
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Connected Plant
Enhancing Operations and Maintenance with an EAM System
Enterprise asset management (EAM) involves a combination of software, systems, and services that are used to maintain and control operational assets and equipment. The aim is to optimize the quality and utilization of assets throughout their lifecycle, increase uptime, and reduce costs. EAM involves work management; asset maintenance; planning and scheduling; supply chain management; and […]
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COAL POWER Direct—January 6, 2021
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store January 6, 2021 Eight International Power Sector Trends to Watch in 2021 and Beyond Roiled over 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, two much-watched international power market outlooks surveying short-term and long-term implications caution the road ahead will be ridden by complexity. The… […]
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Renewables
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
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O&M
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
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Energy Storage
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 […]
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Nuclear
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 […]
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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 […]
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POWER Podcasts
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 […]
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Nuclear
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 […]
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Renewables
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. […]
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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 […]
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Renewables
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 […]
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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 […]
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POWER Podcasts
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 […]
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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 […]
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Environmental
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
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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 […]
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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: […]
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Nuclear
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 […]
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POWER Podcasts
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 […]
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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 […]
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POWER Podcasts
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 […]
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Renewables
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 […]
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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: […]
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Top Plant
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
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T&D
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
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Nuclear
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 […]