Aaron Larson
Articles By

Aaron Larson

  • GAS POWER Direct—March 14, 2018

    March 14, 2018 Future Looks Bright for Gas-Fired Generation Analysts who spoke with POWER differ slightly on the numbers, but they all agree that U.S. demand for natural gas for power generation will continue to rise. Supply should not be a problem—domestic Read More FPL Will Build New Gas Plant, Adds More Solar Florida regulators […]

  • POWERnews—March 8, 2018

    March 8, 2018 Experts: Warfare Between Coal and Gas Is Nonexistent Markets may currently favor natural gas, but coal, which has been diminished for “good reason,” will likely have a significant place as a reliable fuel for power generation, a diverse… Read More Rexroth® Actuator Rebuild Experts with Short-cycle Turnaround Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis’ (MD&A) […]

  • Germany’s New Coalition Government Agrees to Phase Out Coal, but Will Miss 2020 Emissions Targets

    Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) members agreed to join their longtime rival and governing partner, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and reluctantly entered into a third grand coalition government on March 4. While this ended months of anxious handwringing following September’s national elections, the entire process was mired in frustration as the prospect of yet […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—March 7, 2018

    March 7, 2018 More Coal and Nuclear Can Replace Retired Generation, State Supreme Court Rules The Supreme Court for the state of New Mexico affirmed a final order by state regulators to allow Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to replace lost generation from… Read More Successful Torrefied Biomass Test Burn at a Coal […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Boiler Chemical Cleaning

    Most engineers and operators know (or should know) that boiler tubes containing deposits create long-term reliability problems for the boiler. Long-term overheating of the metal will result from prolonged operation with heavy tube deposits. The tubes will first bulge and then fail. Because the deposits tend to be widespread, this generally means that large sections of […]

  • New Marley® MD Everest Counterflow Cooling Tower’s Modular Design Speeds Site Delivery and Installation, Allowing Process Cooling Plants to be Operational and Productive Sooner

    Process cooling operations benefit from 60 percent faster delivery, 80 percent faster installation, safer assembly processes and robust components Overland Park, Kan. – SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc., a full-line, full-service industry leader in the design and manufacture of evaporative and air-cooled heat exchangers, announces the new Marley MD Everest, a modular counterflow cooling tower. The […]

  • GE Announces Innovative Energy Storage Platform called the Reservoir

    The Reservoir seamlessly integrates across the Grid to enable customers to increase Renewables integration, improve financial performance, enhance grid operations, reduce energy costs and enable more distributed, local generation GE’s Reservoir condenses 4MWh and 10 years of energy storage experience into a 20’ box – delivers an estimated 15% improved lifecycle on the batteries, 5% […]

  • Vogtle Improves Safety and Productivity Following Westinghouse Bankruptcy

    According to Georgia Power’s Eighteenth Semi-annual Vogtle Construction Monitoring Report (VCM) released on February 28, more than 12 million man-hours have been worked without a lost-time injury at the Vogtle expansion project since Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy on March 29, 2017. Additionally, the company said productivity has improved since Southern Nuclear Operating Company assumed overall […]

  • King Coal Is Alive and Kicking in Poland

    Running counter to the overwhelming trend in Europe, coal remains the king in Poland. The country’s governing party unabashedly champions the industry as the foundation of its energy sector—a footing it doesn’t want to abandon. In December 2018, as ministers and delegates from all over the world attend the United Nations-sponsored climate conference (COP24) in […]

  • Cogeneration Solution Serves Processing Plant Needs [PODCAST]

    Concentric Power, a California-based provider of high-efficiency energy modules for onsite refrigeration and electric power generation, recently launched a $100 million financing program for cogeneration and microgrid projects. “We are excited to create a new path forward in energy infrastructure financing and development,” Brian Curtis, founder and CEO of Concentric Power, said in a press […]

  • Westinghouse Electric Company Signs Cooperation Agreement for Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Development

    CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a Cooperation Agreement for lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology development with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and Ansaldo Nucleare. The agreement demonstrates each party’s commitment to collaborating toward the development of a next-generation nuclear plant based on LFR technology, […]

  • Entergy One Step Closer to New Gas Plant in New Orleans

    In what has been a much longer and more drawn-out process than Entergy could have imagined when it first proposed a new gas-fired power plant in New Orleans, the company got some good news on February 21. The Utility, Cable, Telecommunications, and Technology Committee agreed—after what has turned out to be years of discussion—to send […]

  • VIBSCANNER 2 The high-speed data collector sets new standards

    ISMANING – February 21th 2018 – VIBSCANNER 2, the new high-speed data collector, increases the efficiency of vibration-based condition monitoring of machines and plants. PRUFTECHNIK, the Bavarian manufacturer, has developed and produced the new device according to the motto “keep it smart and simple”. The result is a vibration measurement instrument on the pulse of […]

  • KSB Pumps Limited wins Euros 55 million order to supply primary coolant pumps to NPCIL as a part of the “Make in India” initiative

    With the Indian Government’s ambitious growth plans in the energy sector, and the aim to raise contribution in indigenous manufacturing under “Make in India” initiative, M/s Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has awarded an order worth Euros 55 million (Rupees 4130 million) to KSB Pumps Limited for the supply of eight primary coolant pumps […]

  • Cybersecurity Tips for Power Plant Operators [PODCAST]

    Cybersecurity threats have increased dramatically as sophisticated, nation-state developed hacking programs have been leaked to the general public. Now, common criminals have high-tech tools at their disposal with the capability to cause serious damage. As such, the power industry must take precautions and upgrade security to keep systems safe. While regulations provide a minimum security […]

  • Pennsylvania Plant Agrees to Phase Out Coal

    In a move designed to resolve a Sierra Club lawsuit before it was even filed, Talen Energy agreed to operate its Brunner Island Steam Electric Station, a 1,411-MW plant located in York Haven, Pennsylvania, only on natural gas during the ozone season beginning in 2023 and to cease coal operations altogether by the end of […]

  • GAS POWER Direct—February 14, 2018

    February 14, 2018 NRG Sells Renewables Assets, 3.6 GW of Louisiana Coal and Gas Power Plants NRG Energy, in a bid to shed $7 billion in consolidated debt, is selling the bulk of its renewable assets and development platforms along with several coal and natural gas… Read More Complimentary Webinar Tomorrow Overcoming CCR Challenges: Solutions […]

  • Siemens Gamesa to supply 1,386 MW to Ørsted at the world’s largest offshore wind farm, in the UK

    It marks the largest-ever offshore project in the history of Siemens Gamesa, the world leader in the segment The company will install its SG 8.0-167 DD turbines with power boost functionality at the Hornsea Project Two offshore facility located 89 km off the east coast of England Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been awarded […]

  • EthosEnergy awarded rotor exchange contract in Germany

    Mulheim, Germany – EthosEnergy has been awarded a rotor exchange contract at a combined cycle power plant in Germany. The contract is for the supply of one fully refurbished GE Frame 6B rotor which will be installed at the next scheduled major inspection. Ulrich Zumbusch, VP of Gas Turbines Europe at EthosEnergy, said “We utilised […]

  • APS, First Solar Partner on Arizona’s Largest Battery Storage Project

    50-MW solar plus storage facility will serve APS customers during hot summer months PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two homegrown leaders in renewable energy, Arizona Public Service and First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), are bringing a first-of-its-kind 50-megawatt (MW) solar-fueled battery to the desert to provide clean power to Arizonans on hot summer days. This project will make Arizona home […]

  • GE & Marinus Energy to build first-of-its-kind Waste Gas to Power plant in Ghana

    25 MW pilot power plant will utilize Isopentane gas as a fuel source New plant will add equivalent power needed to supply more than 100.000 Ghanaian homes TM2500 proven technology will provide secure, flexible and reliable power New TM2500 order will further expand existing fleet of 10 units in the country ACCRA, GHANA — February […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Gas Turbine Failure Modes

    The number of gas turbines operating around the world is growing steadily. In this environment, the number of power sector workers new to gas turbines is also expanding, and a review of what can go wrong with this equipment is useful. Although gas turbines vary, all have a common set of operational challenges. Knowing what […]

  • GNF Delivers Accident Tolerant Fuel Assemblies for Plant Installation

    WILMINGTON, North Carolina—February 8, 2018—Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) today announced that it has manufactured and shipped lead test assemblies of its IronClad and ARMOR accident tolerant fuel solutions to Southern Nuclear Operating Company for plant installation in early 2018. GNF is working with both Southern Nuclear and Exelon Generation to insert lead test assemblies utilizing […]

  • Hydropower technology from Voith plays crucial role in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region

    Voith to be gold sponsor of congress and exhibition “Hydropower Caspian and Central Asia” in Georgia More than 150 projects realized in Central Asia and around the Caspian Sea In this region, technology from Voith supplies more than 95 million people with environmentally-friendly electricity Heidenheim, Germany. For more than 80 years, Voith has been building […]

  • Seeq Customers Share Success Stories on Advanced Analytics at ARC Industry Forum in Orlando

    Presentations demonstrate how Seeq enables customers to get value from IIoT and process manufacturing data in oil & gas and energy industries. SEATTLE, February 7, 2018 – Seeq®, a leading provider of advanced analytics solutions, announced today that Pioneer Resources, Devon Energy, and Fisher Valves will present next week at the 22nd ARC Industry Forum […]

  • COAL POWER Direct—February 7, 2018

    February 7, 2018 Regulators Back Settlement for Costs of Failed Kemper IGCC Project Shareholders of Mississippi Power will have to absorb the majority of outstanding costs resulting from the scuttled Kemper County coal gasification project, as the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) on… Read More Report: Trump Wants Deep Cuts in Clean Energy Programs Documents […]

  • Valmet signs Value-Added Reseller agreement with RR Projects in Ireland

    Valmet has signed a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) partnership agreement for power and process industry automation with RR Projects in Tullamore, Ireland, to go into effect immediately. Together, the two companies will be targeting Irish process industries in the utility sector, particularly power and water. Valmet will benefit from the capabilities of RR Projects to provide […]

  • Babcock & Wilcox Initiates Executive Transition

    Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (B&W) (NYSE:BW) announced today that it has appointed Leslie C. Kass to serve as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Jim Ferland will work closely with Ms. Kass, the management team and the Board in the role of Executive Chairman until he […]

  • Major Players in World Nuclear Market Merge

    China’s State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission reorganized and transferred China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corp. (CNEC) to China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) on January 31, forming a new giant in the nuclear power industry. The combined company is estimated to have nearly $100 billion in combined assets and almost 150,000 employees, according to data […]

  • GE Power’s 6F.01 Gas Turbines Achieve Commercial Operation at Huaneng Guilin Gas Distributed Energy Project

    Three 6F.01 gas turbines have started commercial operation at Huaneng Guilin Gas Distributed Energy Project as of Dec. 9, 2017 200+ 6F turbines have been sold worldwide in 42 countries, with more than 30 in China, and Guilin will be the first use of 6F.01 6F.01 is an ideal choice for gas distributed energy thanks […]