Darrell Proctor
Articles By

Darrell Proctor

  • Vogtle Unit 3 Generates Electricity, Connects to Power Grid

    Georgia Power has announced another milestone for the two-unit reactor expansion at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power site, as Unit 3 on April 1 successfully generated electricity for the first time. The utility said the unit has been synchronized and connected to the power grid. The announcement comes after Georgia Power two weeks ago said […]

  • India Eyes Major Expansion of Nuclear Power

    India’s government is pushing for construction of more nuclear power plants as the country looks to increase its supply of cleaner energy. Officials have made some ambitious pronouncements, calling for as

  • Driving on Electric Avenue—Innovation Pushes Energy Transformation

    A seismic shift is ongoing in the energy space, as transportation, industry, and other sectors turn toward electricity and away from fossil fuels to supply their power. The push for decarbonization of the

  • POWER Digest [April 2023]

    New Natural Gas–Fired Plant Approved for Philippines. San Miguel Consolidated Power Corp. (SMCPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., said it received environmental approval to

  • Hitachi Energy Part of $14 Billion European Infrastructure Deal

    Hitachi Energy has been chosen by TenneT, a transmission system provider for Germany and the Netherlands, to supply several onshore and offshore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations and associated infrastructure for European power grids. Hitachi officials on March 30 said the agreement, which includes Petrofac—an international service provider to the energy industry—is worth about […]

  • PG&E Investing $18 Billion Toward Wildfire Mitigation

    California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) said it plans to invest $18 billion toward its wildfire prevention program through 2025 after sustaining major financial losses from fire-related claims over the past few years. PG&E filed for bankruptcy in 2019, and has paid billions of dollars in settlement awards tied to criminal and civil liabilities […]

  • The POWER Interview: FREYR Leads Wave of New Battery Manufacturing

    Growth in the energy storage market, including the transportation sector, has spurred a ramp-up in global battery manufacturing and investment in new technologies. Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the U.S. has brought a flurry of announcements from foreign companies eager to build manufacturing plants in America. FREYR, a Norway-based company, late last […]

  • Japan’s JERA Buying Offshore Wind Developer in $1.7 Billion Deal

    Japan’s largest power generation group is moving into renewable energy in a big way, agreeing to a deal to buy Belgium’s biggest player in offshore wind. JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power, on March 22 said it has a definitive agreement with Belgium’s Virya Energy to […]

  • New Coal-Fired Unit Operating at Zimbabwe’s Largest Thermal Power Plant

    The first of two 300-MW units being built as part of the expansion of a coal-fired generating station in Zimbabwe has come online. The Zimbabwe Power Co. (ZPC) said the unit began sending electricity to the national grid late on March 20. ZPC in a statement said, “Power will be progressively fed into the grid […]

  • Group Outlines Plan for Three Italian Offshore Wind Projects

    An Italy-based renewable energy group said it will develop three floating offshore wind projects over the next several years that will provide about 2 GW of power generation capacity to the country. GreenIT, a joint venture between Plenitude and CDP Equity, part of CDP Group, on March 22 announced an agreement for design and construction […]

  • Hot Functional Testing Begins on Unit 4 at Vogtle Nuclear Plant

    Georgia Power announced that hot functional testing for Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear power plant has begun, as the utility moves closer to bringing both reactors of the two-unit expansion at the facility online. Hot functional testing marks the last series of major tests for Unit 4 prior to the initial loading of fuel […]

  • GE Will Supply Turbine and More for New Gas-Fired Plant in Greece

    A new 840-MW natural gas-fired power plant in Greece will use equipment from General Electric (GE), with GE also providing services for the facility that is expected to come online in 2026. GE on March 20 announced the plant in Alexandroupolis will feature a 9HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, and a W88 generator. […]

  • HYDROGEN POWER Direct—March 20, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   March 20, 2023 Entergy Picks EPC Team for Massive Hydrogen-Capable CCGT Project in Texas A 1.2-GW hydrogen-capable combined cycle power project that Entergy Texas has proposed to build in Orange County, Texas, will be spearheaded by an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) […]

  • The POWER Interview: Challenges for the Energy Storage Market

    The global market for energy storage is experiencing rapid growth, in part because the technology is being included in decarbonization and sustainability programs. It also is being used to support the grid integration of more renewable energy resources, and has been touted as an important piece of electricity transmission and distribution system upgrades. Enertis Applus+, […]

  • NV Energy Adding Two Gas-Fired Units Near Las Vegas

    Nevada utility NV Energy is ready to add two natural gas-fired units to the existing Silverhawk Generating Station as part of the group’s plan to increase the state’s energy supply during the hottest months of the year. The $353 million project, the first phase of an $827 million plan the utility filed with state regulators […]

  • GE Developing 18-MW Offshore Wind Turbine

    The global competition to build ever-larger offshore wind turbines continues to ramp up, with General Electric (GE) announcing the company’s renewable energy arm is developing a 17- to 18-MW model that could rival those currently being launched by Chinese groups. “Now we are getting a very positive reception from the market with our 17-MW to […]

  • Ukraine Group Completes First Phase of Wind Farm Despite Ongoing War

    Ukrainian energy company DTEK Group said it has finished construction of the first 114 MW of a planned 500-MW wind farm in the country, as DTEK continues to work on energy projects despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The company on March 10 said it is seeking international help to complete the Tyligulska wind […]

  • The POWER Interview: IRA, Economics Support Solar-Plus-Storage Market

    Several executives in the energy industry have spoken with POWER in recent months about how utility-scale solar power projects benefit from the addition of energy storage. Many have noted how installing storage systems alongside solar arrays supports the integration of renewable energy to the power grid, and also enhances the economic potential of any such […]

  • Duke Energy Group Brings Texas Solar Farm Online

    Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions (DESS), an arm of major U.S. utility Duke Energy, said commercial operation has begun on the group’s largest solar power plant. DESS on March 8 said the 250-MW Pisgah Ridge Solar farm in Navarro County, Texas, is online, supplying power to at least three groups as part of virtual power purchase […]

  • Major Pumped-Hydro Storage Project Moves Forward in Nevada

    A Utah-based energy developer has filed a final license application for construction of a major pumped-hydro storage project in Nevada. rPlus Hydro on March 8 said it made the filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the company’s 1,000-MW White Pine Pumped Storage installation in White Pine County. White Pine, the first pumped-hydro […]

  • Vistra Expands Nuclear Portfolio in $3.4 Billion Deal for Energy Harbor

    Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. is adding to its nuclear power generation capacity. The group on March 6 announced it would buy Ohio-based Energy Harbor Corp. in a $3.4 billion deal that includes ownership of three nuclear power stations. The transaction includes $3 billion in cash, with Energy Harbor shareholders receiving a 15% stake in […]

  • Biden Administration Pledges $1.2 Billion to Keep U.S. Nuclear Reactors Online

    The Biden administration has pledged another $1.2 billion to help extend the operating life of older or distressed nuclear power plants, with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm saying nuclear power is needed to support the nation’s clean energy goals. The funding, announced by the Dept. of Energy (DOE) on March 2, is the second tranche of […]

  • NRC Approves Move to Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Open

    The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California can continue operating while Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) seeks a license renewal for the 2,250-MW facility that would extend its lifecycle. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on March 2 approved PG&E’s request for an exemption to keep Diablo Canyon open past 2025. Thursday’s move is a […]

  • Russia Ready to Bring Nuclear Power to Sri Lanka

    Government officials in Sri Lanka said they will work with Russia to bring nuclear power to the country as part of its effort to increase the supply of electricity for the island nation. Professor S.R.D. Rosa, chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, told local media the country is looking at offshore and onshore […]

  • The POWER Interview: DC-Coupled Storage Optimizing Solar PV Systems

    Asset owners want to get the most out of their solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is why many today are adding energy storage to an installation or upgrading a project through repowering. Companies working in the space recognize that both new and older solar power systems can be optimized, thanks to innovative technologies and new […]

  • Renewable Properties Closes Fund 8 Portfolio of Nearly 30 MW of Community Solar Projects with Financiers Nelnet Renewable Energy and AB CarVal

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA — March 1, 2023 — Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility and community solar projects, has closed its Fund 8 portfolio with two financing partners, Nelnet Renewable Energy and AB CarVal. Fund 8 consists of nearly 30 MW of community solar projects in California and New York. The closing of Fund 8 reflects the company’s strong ties to […]

  • New Technologies, New Sites Supporting Growth of Energy Storage

    Advancements in energy storage, including new battery types and longer-duration batteries, are driving innovation in the sector. Retired power generation plants are being repurposed as storage sites, and the

  • South Africa Energy Crisis at Critical Stage as Load-Shedding Continues

    The energy crisis in South Africa has prompted continued calls for government action, and officials in January said an energy action plan announced last year is starting to be implemented. The plan was laid

  • Solar Power/Hydrogen Project Underway in DRC

    Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has entered into a partnership with the government of Kinshasa, a city-province and capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa, for construction and operation

  • Group Touts Milestone for Hydrogen-Boron Fusion Power

    A California-based group said it has completed the first-ever hydrogen-boron fusion experiments to produce a sustainable fuel for utility-scale fusion power. TAE Technologies on Feb. 28, in a peer-reviewed paper published by the scientific journal Nature Communications, said its research supports the path to providing electricity from nuclear reactors fueled with hydrogen-boron, also known as […]