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Renewables
California Power Group in PPA With 384-MW Solar Project
Arevon Energy, a renewable energy developer, owner, and operator, on Dec. 9 announced the start of operations at its Eland 1 Solar-plus-Storage Project in Kern County, California. Eland 1 is under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Southern California Public Power Authority. The project, located in Mojave, is a 384-MW solar project coupled with […]
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Distributed Energy
DOE Earmarks $305 Million for Energy Storage in California Buildings
Nostromo Energy, provider of the IceBrick thermal energy storage (TES) technology, said the company has received a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $305.5 million from the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO). The proposed financing would be used by Nostromo for Project IceBrick, the first wide-scale deployment of […]
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Solar
Best Practices for Mitigating Hail Damage to Solar Projects
Mitigating against the risk of hail for solar projects is both extremely complicated and more straightforward than you may think. Natural catastrophes (NatCat), particularly hail, pose a significant risk for solar projects and can lead to severe damage with cost impacts for projects and insurers. In this article, we look at the risk that hail […]
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Connected Plant
Why Power Companies Are Turning to Refurbished Parts for Plant System Upgrades
Amid growing pressure to optimize costs, dependability, and green initiatives, some power companies are beginning to reconsider their approaches to upgrading dated equipment. Refurbished elements provide a viable option to realize these objectives, enabling companies to address the challenges of power plant maintenance and upgrade. All plants need to be updated at some point in […]
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T&D
GE Vernova to Provide Grid-Stabilizing Technology for German Transmission System Operator
GE Vernova secured a contract with 50Hertz Transmission GmbH to deliver advanced STATCOM technology, supporting Germany’s transition to a renewable energy future The 300 Mvar FACTSFLEX GFM solution, with Grid Forming Control, will enhance grid stability and resilience as Germany integrates more renewable energy sources STATCOM units will be deployed at key substations in Germany, […]
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Engineering
EPRI Develops Power System Generic Models to Plan for an Increasingly Net-Zero Grid
Planning and operating a power system requires detailed grid studies to guide investment decisions and prepare for how the system may evolve over time. Long-term planning can identify the policy, regulatory, infrastructure, and operational updates that may be needed to achieve desired outcomes. Also, comprehensive planning can identify operating limits, determine performance improvements, assess mitigation […]
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Solar
Dimension Energy Completes 44-MW California Community Solar Project
Dimension Energy, a developer, owner, and operator of community solar projects, has completed construction of the largest third-party-owned community solar project in the U.S. The installation in Inyokern, California, will produce 44 MW of power, serving a diverse group of residential and commercial customers in Southern California Edison’s service territory. Among the beneficiaries are more […]
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Connected Plant
AI-Driven Big Data Platform Revolutionizes Power Plant Operations
The surge in adoption of renewable energy driven by carbon neutrality policies has created operational challenges for large thermal power plants. These plants must now accommodate rapid load fluctuations and offer flexible operation, which involves adjusting their outputs rapidly as the renewable generators’ outputs fluctuate. However, operating beyond original design specifications places additional stress on […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Watt’s Up with Cyber and AI? Navigating Legal Currents in Power Generation and Smart Grids
In the rapidly evolving landscape of power generation, companies are increasingly integrating smart grids and artificial intelligence (AI) into their operations. This transition, while promising enhanced efficiency and reliability, also brings forth a myriad of challenges, particularly in the realms of cybersecurity and legal compliance. This commentary delves into three legal issues around emerging cybersecurity […]
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Power
AI and Energy: A New Horizon for Powering Our Future
The energy industry finds itself in the midst of a transformative era. In 2023 alone, a record 31 GW of solar energy capacity were installed—a 55% increase from 2022—while battery energy storage systems
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Gas
Replacing Duct Burners in Combined Cycle Power Plants
Many combined cycle power plants (CCPP) and cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) plants utilize supplemental firing systems, or duct burners, inside the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) boilers
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T&D
Transformer Safety: Fire Barriers as Essential Protection for Electrical Infrastructure
Flammable insulating fluids and electrical faults pose significant fire and explosion risks to transformers. These hazards can result in catastrophic damage, disrupt business continuity, and cause extensive
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Nuclear
Enhancing Nuclear Plant Safety, Efficiency, and Compliance Through Video Borescope Inspections
This article explores the role video borescopes play in nuclear plant inspections, emphasizing the value they bring in terms of safety, efficiency, and long-term plant integrity. Nuclear power plants operate
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Energy Storage
Fire Suppression for Battery Energy Storage Systems
As demand for electrical energy storage systems (ESS) has expanded, safety has become a critical concern. This article examines lithium-ion battery ESS housed in outdoor enclosures, which represent the most
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Sustainability
Wärtsilä Among Groups in New Consortium to Explore Hydrogen-Argon for Net-Zero Power
Technology group Wärtsilä is part of a new research project exploring innovative technology for cleaner, more energy-efficient engines utilizing a closed-loop combustion cycle. The research, announced on Nov. 26, will focus on the use of argo, a non-toxic ideal gas present in the atmosphere, to increase efficiency of balancing engines. The co-innovation project is run […]
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Offshore Wind
Cutting-Edge Process Turns Wind Turbine Blades Into Reusable Materials
A damaged 44-meter turbine blade from Vattenfall’s Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm has been recycled by Plaswire, a Northern Ireland-based company. Plaswire has developed a sustainable solution which overcomes the challenge of what to do with scrap wind turbine components. The recycling process will give new life to the old blade, by turning it into […]
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Commentary
Why Businesses and the Government Are Turning to Nuclear Reactors for Our Increasing Energy Demands
The energy landscape in the U.S. is undergoing a seismic shift, owing in part to the exponential growth of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications and data centers, according to McKinsey & Company. This rise in energy demand is further exacerbated by the country’s increasing seasonal cooling and heating needs due to extreme weather. To offset […]
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Commentary
Hotly Contested Dispute Over Co-Located Loads Is Primed for FERC Action
Federal regulation of customer loads located next to existing power generating facilities, referred to as “co-located loads,” have become a significant area of interest for the electric industry. Large industrial loads have taken an interest in this configuration because it promises a faster, streamlined pathway to interconnecting to the grid and meeting their power supply […]
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T&D
GE Vernova Will Supply Essential Grid Equipment for Australian Project
GE Vernova Inc. said it has secured a contract from Powerlink, Queensland’s state-owned transmission utility, to supply essential equipment for an upcoming Capital Work program. Under the agreement, GE Vernova will deliver 69 Dead Tank Circuit Breakers (DTCBs) rated 245 kV and above, supporting Queensland’s renewable energy targets and enhancing power infrastructure resilience. Powerlink is responsible […]
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Solar
Market Report Says 2024 a Record-Breaking Year for Solar
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) on Nov. 25 announced the release of the inaugural Solar Market Monitor, a market analysis of the domestic utility-scale solar industry produced by S&P Global Commodity Insights. The new report includes projections of a record-breaking year for solar, with more than 32 GW of installations for 2024. The new […]
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Power
Large Solar-Plus-Storage Project Comes Online in California
Renewable Energy developer, owner and operator Arevon Energy on Nov. 21 announced the start of operations at its Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project in Imperial County, California, near Holtville. The $529 million project includes 157 MW of solar coupled with 150-MW/600-MWh of battery energy storage. Vikings, considered one of the first utility-scale solar peaker plants in the […]
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Solar
Ampion Expands Community Solar to Three More States
Ampion Renewable Energy announced it is expanding its community solar programs to Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia, bringing the company’s portfolio under management to about 1.5 GW. Ampion notes that U.S. community solar installations are expected to exceed 14 GW in the next five years. The company is partnering with new developer and asset owner […]
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Energy Storage
EVLO Will Provide Dominion Energy With Safety-Enhanced Energy Storage Systems
EVLO Energy Storage, a fully integrated battery energy storage systems (BESS) provider and wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, on Nov. 20 announced a major achievement in its relationship with investor-owned utility Dominion Energy. EVLO will develop a BESS with enhanced fire and safety features that meet and exceed Dominion’s unique safety specifications. The augmented version […]
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Hydrogen
Uniper Picks Electric Hydrogen’s Tech For 200-MW Green Hydrogen Project
German energy company Uniper has selected Electric Hydrogen as its exclusive partner to design a 200-MW electrolyzer plant for the large-scale electrolysis within Uniper’s Green Wilhelmshaven project in Northern Germany. Electric Hydrogen began conducting the preliminary front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) work for the project in October of this year. The companies made the partnership announcement […]
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Renewables
SRP and EDP Renewables Announce New Energy Storage System to Support Increasing Energy Demand
Salt River Project (SRP) and Flatland Storage LLC, a subsidiary of EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA), have entered into an agreement to provide 200 MW of new energy storage to Arizona’s grid. The Flatland Energy Storage Project will be a 200-MW/800-MWh battery energy storage system located near Coolidge, Arizona. The project will utilize […]
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Business
New Blade Adapter Trailer Eases Transport of 80-Meter-Long Wind Turbine Blades
Collett & Sons Ltd., a global transport logistics company, has successfully completed the delivery of 90 wind turbine components to the Cushaling Wind Farm in Ireland. “This milestone project is a significant addition to our renewables portfolio, and we are proud to have contributed to Ireland’s renewable energy goals,” the company said. The delivered components […]
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Electrification
Itron, PG&E Announce Program to Support EV Charging with Grid Edge Intelligence
Itron, which provides energy, water, intelligent infrastructure services and more for utilities and cities, announced it is joining with California utility Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) to make electric vehicle (EV) charging more accessible and affordable for PG&E’s customers. The groups on Nov. 13 said that as part of PG&E’s effort to modernize its electric […]
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Wind
Oregon Customers Benefit as PGE’s Eastern Montana Wind Farm Helps Set Records
In its first 10 months serving Portland General Electric (PGE) customers, the Clearwater Wind Energy Center contributed to new records for PGE wind generation, including helping the company produce 1 GW of power from wind sources alone—a new milestone. 1 GW (or 1,000 MW) is enough electricity to power the equivalent of 830,000 homes, or about half […]
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T&D
Cable Delivery Begins for Massive German Transmission System Project
After more than two years of meticulous planning and preparation, on behalf of its client Prysmian, deugro has started the first cable drum deliveries for SuedOstLink. SuedOstLink is operated by the transmission system operator TenneT TSO GmbH. It is considered a central component of the energy transition and is primarily intended to bring electricity from […]
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T&D
Cable Deal Supports French Transmission System Upgrades and Expansion
NKT will deliver high-voltage power cable solutions to RTE to enable its long-term strategy to renew, adapt, and develop France’s electricity grid. As one of Europe’s largest exporters of electricity, the upgrade of France’s grid is essential for the power supply of the continent. RTE, France’s transmission system operator (TSO), has awarded NKT the extension […]