Darrell Proctor
Articles By

Darrell Proctor

  • India Energy Giant Posts Record Electricity Output, Mostly From Coal

    India’s state-owned energy company NTPC said the company produced a record amount of electricity on an annual basis over the past fiscal year, with the utility’s coal-fired power stations recording a plant load factor, or capacity utilization, of 77%. NTPC, the former National Thermal Power Corp., in a statement published March 31, said it generated […]

  • Germany Shutters Seven More Coal-Fired Power Units

    Two German energy companies said they shut down seven coal-fired power plants over the Easter holiday weekend, taking more than 3,000 MW of generation capacity offline for decommissioning. The German government, which already has called for an end to coal-fired power generation in that country, had allowed the units to continue operating through the winter […]

  • Chinese Companies Continue to Dominate Global Wind Turbine Market

    Chinese wind turbine makers continue to pace the global market, taking four of the top five spots in a ranking of the world’s top manufacturers of both onshore and offshore wind power equipment. Research from BloombergNEF (BNEF) published March 27 showed global wind power generation capacity additions hit a record 118 GW in 2023. BNEF’s […]

  • UAE Considers Investment in European Nuclear Power Projects

    The state-owned nuclear energy group of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed interest in supporting nuclear power projects in Europe. The news comes just weeks after the fourth unit of the emirate’s only nuclear power plant, the Barakah station (a POWER Top Plant in 2021), began delivering electricity to the grid. The Khaleej Times, […]

  • Charging Corridors, Stations Will Support Heavy-Duty EV Trucks

    The push for electrification of the transportation sector is being supported by companies making significant investments in charging infrastructure. These groups are taking innovative approaches, including utilizing solar power, to providing the electricity necessary for a network of charging stations. Greenlane on March 27 announced a major project that features a 280-mile charging corridor that […]

  • The POWER Interview: Remote Monitoring Key For Asset Management

    Developments in communication technology, including software applications and new control hardware, are providing utilities the ability to monitor assets, analyze alarms, and control their power generation facilities remotely. Companies are using new technology to address power plant operations, support maintenance tasks, and ensure proper compliance reporting and incident response. Remote monitoring was part of POWER’s […]

  • New Wind Farm Part of Vietnam’s Energy Transition

    Vietnam’s renewable energy goals are taking a step forward with the installation of a wind farm that will feature the largest onshore wind turbine installed in the country to date. China’s Shanghai Electric in February announced its subsidiary, Electric Wind Power, will supply its advanced wind turbines to joint venture partners Hai Anh Wind Power […]

  • RENEWABLE POWER Direct—March 20, 2024

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   March 20, 2024 Offshore Wind Area Detailed for Gulf of Maine; New York Project Delivering Power The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its designation of an offshore wind energy area in the Gulf of Maine. The BOEM, in […]

  • Bill Gates’ TerraPower Ready to Build New U.S. Nuclear Power Plant

    A group established by Microsoft founder Bill Gates is preparing to begin construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants in June, according to the company’s chief executive. Chris Levesque, CEO of TerraPower, on March 18 said the company is ready to move forward with work on its Natrium reactor at the site of […]

  • Offshore Wind Area Detailed for Gulf of Maine; New York Project Delivering Power

    The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its designation of an offshore wind energy area in the Gulf of Maine. The BOEM, in a notice published in the Federal Register on March 18, said two million acres has been earmarked for development in that region. The BOEM in its announcement said the […]

  • HYDROGEN POWER Direct—March 18, 2024

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   March 18, 2024 Understanding Future Prospects for Hydrogen, Energy Storage, and Renewables The world is undergoing a remarkable energy transition. Clean power systems are in high demand, offering a bright future for hydrogen and renewables. However, energy storage projects that may look […]

  • Japan Could Be Nearing Restart of World’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant

    The world’s largest nuclear power plant, among the facilities taken offline after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, could be nearing a restart. Japanese media reported that on March 14, Takeshi Saito—Japan’s minister of Economy, Trade and Industry—asked Hideyo Hanazumi, the governor of Niigata Prefecture, for permission to restart the first of seven reactors at […]

  • The POWER Interview: Advanced Technology For Hydrogen Production

    Governments worldwide are investing in hydrogen production as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help decarbonize the energy sector. The U.S. Dept. of Energy last year published its U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, highlighting the need for collaboration across multiple agencies to push national decarbonization goals. The European Commission in […]

  • Indiana Utility Will Convert Remaining Coal Units to Burn Natural Gas

    A major Indiana utility said it’s preparing to switch its remaining coal-fired power plant to burn natural gas. AES Indiana on March 12 said the two coal-burning units at its Petersburg Generating Station, in Pike County in southwestern Indiana about 100 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, would stop using coal and start using natural gas […]

  • GAS POWER Direct—March 13, 2024

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   March 13, 2024 Floating Gas-Fired Power Station Planned Off Louisiana Coast Entergy Louisiana has asked state officials for approval to build a floating natural gas-fired power plant that would serve areas along the Gulf Coast. The utility’s recent March filing with…   […]

  • UK Leaders Say New Gas-Fired Plants Needed for Energy Security

    Officials in the UK said the country will need to build new natural gas-fired power plants beyond 2030 in order to ensure a reliable supply of energy and avoid blackouts. Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho on March 12 said gas-fired units able to provide baseload power generation will be needed as a backup to renewable […]

  • Floating Gas-Fired Power Station Planned Off Louisiana Coast

    Entergy Louisiana has asked state officials for approval to build a floating natural gas-fired power plant that would serve areas along the Gulf Coast. The utility’s recent March filing with the Louisiana Public Service Commission calls for construction of a $411 million, 112-MW floating facility called the Bayou Power Station. The plant would be located […]

  • The POWER Interview: Diving Into Data with Autonomous Inspection of Utility Assets

    Companies offering the ability to collect data for use by electric utilities are finding their services in demand as the power generation sector embraces digitization. It’s an industry that promotes innovation, as utilities need to track the real-time performance of thermal and renewable energy generation assets, and gain more insight about how their equipment is […]

  • The POWER Interview: IRA’s Impact on Solar’s Evolution

    The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie’s recent report on solar power installations said the U.S. installed a record 32.4 GW of new solar generation capacity in 2023, including 22.5 GW of new utility-scale capacity. That’s a 37% jump from the previous record, set in 2021, and a 51% increase from 2022. The […]

  • Nuclear Power on the Moon? Russia, China Working on a Plan

    The head of Russia’s space agency said his country and China have been working on a program to build a nuclear power plant on the moon, with an eye toward producing electricity that would allow settlements on the lunar surface. Yuri Borisov, who leads Russia’s Roscosmos space group, on March 5 said the agency was […]

  • AWS Acquiring Data Center Campus Powered by Nuclear Energy

    Talen Energy Corp. said the company has sold its Cumulus data center campus, located near a Pennsylvania nuclear power station that provides the site with its power, to Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to a Talen investor presentation. Talen owns the nuclear power plant, the 2.5-GW Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, in Luzerne County. Talen’s investor […]

  • The POWER Interview: Engineering the Best Use of Data in the Electricity Sector

    Utilities and other power generators recognize the importance of proper data management and the use of data analytics. Maximizing the value of data enables utilities to draw operational insights, including identifying current or potential issues at power plants and along the transmission and distribution system. Power generators are adopting communications networks to improve their operations, […]

  • Commercial, Industrial Sites Embrace Innovation for New Generation

    The importance of a reliable and resilient power supply continues to grow, and so does the need to control energy costs. That’s why more institutions want power systems that support operational efficiency

  • Coal Continues as Key Part of Japan’s Energy Mix

    Japan’s energy mix is in flux as the country slowly brings idled nuclear reactors online. The 2011 Fukushima disaster upended the nation’s power generation, resulting in more reliance on coal and natural

  • New York Moves to Resurrect Two Major Offshore Wind Projects

    New York officials put forth conditional contracts to buy electricity from two proposed offshore wind farms, announcing the awards Feb. 29 for installations that would be the largest power generation projects built in the state in decades. The solicitation by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which allowed developers to exit […]

  • New Colorado Gas-Fired Plant Will Feature GE Vernova Power Units

    A new natural gas-fired peaker plant being built on Colorado’s eastern plains will feature aeroderivative gas power packages from GE Vernova. The Mountain Peak Power Plant, which will be managed and operated by Princeton, New Jersey-based Kindle Energy, and will serve the United Power electric cooperative, is expected to come online in 2025. GE Vernova’s […]

  • NRG Will Seek $900 Million in Loans to Build New Gas-Fired Power Plants

    The interim CEO of Texas-based NRG Energy Inc. said the company plans to apply for up to $900 million in loans from the state in order to finance construction of new natural gas-fired power plants. Larry Coben, who was appointed interim CEO in November 2023 after the resignation of long-time CEO Mauricio Gutierrez, on Feb. […]

  • Texas Adds Two More Utility-Scale Solar Power Projects

    Texas continues to add to its U.S.-leading portfolio of renewable energy projects, with two large solar power installations recently coming online. Clearway Energy Group on Feb. 22 said it had completed the 452-MW Texas Solar Nova complex in Kent County. The multimillion-dollar array, which was built in two phases, already has offtake agreements, including a […]

  • The POWER Interview: Heliene CEO Touts Support for U.S. Solar Manufacturing

    Several solar power equipment manufacturing companies are building factories in the U.S., with many of those groups saying the investments are due to passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its incentives tied to domestic production. One of those companies is Heliene, a Canada-based solar power equipment maker. Heliene, which also makes solar panels […]

  • Fusion Energy Project Sited at Former TVA Coal-Fired Power Plant

    A major U.S. utility is part of a fusion energy project that would be located at the site of one of the company’s retired coal-fired power plants. Type One Energy Group on Feb. 21 announced plans to build Infinity One, a stellarator fusion prototype machine, at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) closed Bull Run Fossil […]