A water wall boiler tube repair system for biomass boilers that precisely cuts tube panels without a HAZ (heat affect zone) and bevels for superior welding end preps has been introduced by Esco Tool of Holliston, MA. The MILLHOG® Water Wall Boiler Tube Replacement System consists of an APS-438 Air-Powered Saw and Track System that […]

Latest VCM Report illustrates continued progress, improved productivity and lower projected rate impact for customers ATLANTA, March 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power announced today the placement of the nuclear reactor vessel inside Unit 4 containment at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia. Standing 35 feet tall, the reactor vessel functions as a heat […]

Industry Leader Tom Cornell Promoted to Lead the New Power & Energy Solutions Business LAKE MARY, FLORIDA – (March 29, 2018) Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPS) today announced the creation of a Power & Energy Solutions business focused on delivering customer solutions in the areas of digital power, energy storage, and low carbon power […]

Innovative effort producing pipeline-quality biogas from North Carolina hog farms OptimaBio’s project in Duplin County to spur more renewable energy CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Duke Energy power plant is using renewable natural gas from North Carolina-based hog farms to produce electricity – the first application of the technology from in-state farms. “This is a major […]

Following the lead of Illinois and New York, which have enacted policies supporting nuclear power plants, the Minnesota Legislature is weighing a bill that could help the owner of two nuclear facilities within its borders. Minnesota is home to the single-unit 671-MW Monticello nuclear plant and the dual-unit 1,100-MW Prairie Island plant (Figure 1). Xcel […]

On March 27, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved Westinghouse Electric Co.’s plan of reorganization. Westinghouse said the approval is “a significant milestone in the company’s strategic restructuring,” which involves its sale to Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Brookfield announced on January 4, 2018, that it had entered into an […]

The NEW E9000 emissions analyzer with Heated Sample Line is a complete portable system for EPA compliance level emissions monitoring and testing. The E9000 is ideal for regulatory & maintenance use in boiler, burner, engine, turbine, furnace, and other combustion applications. Features: Up to (9) Total Gas Sensors Electrochemical Sensors – O2, CO, NO, NO2, […]

MPLS/Ethernet DIN-Rail switch provides exemplary solution for power utilities expanding their operational networks to meet the demands of the new energy cloud  Petach Tikva, Israel – March 28, 2018 – ECI®, a global provider of ELASTIC Network® solutions for service providers, critical infrastructures and data center operators, announced today the launch of the NPT-1010D DIN-rail […]

Ten SG 2.1-114 turbines ordered for project in Brandenburg Ten turbines to be installed in eastern and northern Germany 20 years of service ordered for the entire new fleet of 52.3 megawatts New orders for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) from Germany: The company will equip a total of five wind farms with its onshore […]

Third Project Constructed for NTE Energy GLASTONBURY, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gemma Power Systems, LLC (GPS) has entered into an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services contract with NTE Carolinas II, LLC, an affiliate of NTE Energy, to construct a 475 MW state-of-the-art natural gas-fired power plant in Rockingham County, North Carolina. The NTE Reidsville Energy Center is […]

Joe Grimes, executive vice president of generation with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), gave the keynote presentation during the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition, which was held March 19–22 in Nashville, Tennessee. His presentation focused on steps TVA is taking to diversify its generation portfolio in order to reduce risks and keep costs as low […]

The Watts Bar 2 nuclear unit has a lengthy and well-chronicled history. Construction began on the unit in 1973. It was suspended in 1985 due to slower electricity demand growth, rising construction costs due to inflation and new regulatory requirements stemming from the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, and regulatory concerns throughout the […]

Engineers test autonomous UAS to fly inside damaged nuclear power station SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A team led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is developing unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology to fly into the containment vessels of the damaged units at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station and assess conditions. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated (TEPCO […]

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW) announced today that its subsidiary, The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), has been awarded a contract for more than $50 million to design and supply boiler equipment for an existing North American power plant. The majority of the value of this contract will be booked in first […]

The 20th annual ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition wrapped up on March 22. The event included nearly 200 exhibitors, with many offering interesting demonstrations of innovative new products. A sampling of some are presented below. Deep Trekker Inc. supplies high-quality, commercial-grade, remotely operated vehicles—underwater drones—specifically designed and developed to make underwater observation easy and affordable. […]

Held once again in Düsseldorf, Germany’s huge exhibition center March 13–15, the 12th annual International Renewable Energy Storage (IRES) Conference and Energy Storage Europe Conference attracted roughly 4,500 international visitors, and more than 170 exhibitors, from over 60 nations. While showcasing the latest in energy storage technologies, presenters discussed developing markets worldwide, offered detailed case […]

Munich, 19 March, 2018 – MTU Aero Engines AG launches a new brand to improve transparency in services for gas turbine customers. The new brand is called MTU Power and consolidates the existing gas turbine engineering, manufacturing and aftermarket expertise and services from the business units Aero Solutions, Brush Seals and MTU Maintenance at MTU. […]

Highlighting its commitment to supporting Pakistan in meeting its growing power needs, Siemens has announced the signing of a long-term service agreement with Punjab Thermal Power (Private) Limited to provide comprehensive maintenance, parts and repair services for Punjab Power Plant Jhang for the next 12 years. The agreement includes Siemens’ Power Diagnostics, part of the […]

Multi-Year Deal with Palo Verde Generating Station PHILADELPHIA, March 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Day & Zimmermann (D&Z), the century-old, family-owned provider of construction and engineering, staffing and defense solutions for leading corporations and governments around the world, announced today that its Engineering, Construction & Maintenance group has been awarded a five-year contract by Arizona […]

Framatome has performed a comprehensive modernization of the instrumentation & control (I&C) technology of the Borssele Dutch nuclear power plant, operated by EPZ (Elektriciteits-Productiemaatschappij Zuid-Nederland). The project started in 2014 and included the installation of a new reactor control and limitation system to monitor the operation of the plant and interfere in case of any […]

In a move that demonstrates how difficult current market conditions are, even for some natural gas-fired facilities, GenOn Energy—a subsidiary of NRG Energy—said it will shutter three California gas-fired power plants for economic reasons. The company notified the California Public Utilities Commission and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) in letters dated February 28 that it […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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% […]

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 […]

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 […]