Darrell Proctor
Articles By

Darrell Proctor

Darrell Proctor is a data analyst and communications professional with years of writing, editing, and analytical experience in the energy sector. He has been part of Pulitzer Prize-winning teams and has more than three decades of management expertise, leading teams in both newsrooms and boardrooms. He's a sought-after speaker and analyst on topics across the spectrum of power generation, energy infrastructure, financial aspects of the industry, and more.

  • The POWER Interview: European Group Building Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors

    Advancements in nuclear power technology have brought several new companies into the sector, many of them working on innovative reactor designs and fuels to move the industry forward. One of those groups is newcleo, a company based in the UK with additional operations in Italy and France. The company began operating in 2021, and in […]

  • Major Wind Farm at Arizona Cattle Ranch Comes Online

    AES Corp. has announced the start of commercial operations for phase one of the Chevelon Butte wind farm in Arizona, a project sited on one of the state’s oldest working cattle ranches. AES on June 1 said the project’s first phase is bringing 238 MW of power generation online, with another 216 MW expected to […]

  • Dutch Officials Set Funding for Nuclear Power Program

    Government officials in the Netherlands have earmarked more than $350 million to fund further development of nuclear energy in the country, including extending the operating license of the 485-MW Borssele

  • POWER Digest [June 2023]

    KEPCO Wants to Extend Operations of Two Reactors. Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) in April asked Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for permission to extend the lifespan of Units 3

  • New Tech Highlights Innovation, Spurs Growth in Wind Energy

    Onshore, offshore, and up in the air—the power of wind is evident in the changing energy landscape. Advancements in wind power technology are many, with developers in both the onshore and offshore sectors

  • Unit 3 at Vogtle Nuclear Plant Reaches 100% Power Output

    Georgia Power officials said Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle has reached 100% power output, as the first reactor in a two-unit expansion at the site in Waynesboro, Georgia, nears commercial operation. The utility on May 29 said Unit 3 reached its expected output of about 1,100 MW for the first time, as the reactor continues […]

  • The POWER Interview: Using AI to Optimize the Power Grid

    There is a continued push in the power generation sector to make the industry more efficient through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data science. Several companies are working to provide products and services for utilities and other power producers, focused on generation, transmission and distribution, and the way utilities interact with […]

  • Major Battery Plant to Support EVs Announced for Georgia

    The market for U.S. manufacturing of batteries for the electric vehicle (EV) sector continues to grow. The latest announcement comes from South Korea-based LG Energy Solution (LGES), which together with Hyundai Motor Group has formed a joint venture (JV) for a battery cell factory in Georgia. The announcement on May 26, during a signing ceremony […]

  • Hydro, Gas Projects Aim to Bolster Cameroon’s Electricity Supply

    A new hydroelectric dam in Cameroon is expected to begin producing power by the end of this year, with commercial operation beginning in 2024, according to an official with the African Development Bank (AfDB). Rokhaya Diop Diallo, who leads the project for AfDB, recently said work on the Nachtigal hydropower station is more than 80% […]

  • Growth Slows, but U.S. Renewable Energy Installs at Third-Highest Level in 2022

    The American Clean Power Association (ACP) in a new report said installations of energy storage, along with wind and solar power capacity, were at the third-highest level on record in 2022, with more than 25 GW of new clean power installed cross the U.S. But challenges to clean energy deployment remain. The group’s “Clean Power […]

  • Saudi Arabia Group Supports Renewables, Hydrogen Projects in Uzbekistan

    A Saudi Arabian energy group has signed agreements with officials from Uzbekistan to help the latter country increase its use of renewable energy resources and develop production of green hydrogen. ACWA Power, which develops power generation and other industrial projects, and Uzkimyosanoat (UKS), the national holding company for chemicals in Uzbekistan, announced the deals during […]

  • Maryland Microgrid Will Produce Hydrogen for County’s Transit Fleet

    A microgrid project in Maryland could become a model for how integrated off-grid systems generate power for commercial and industrial installations, along with producing hydrogen to fuel transportation vehicles. AlphaStruxure, a joint venture of Schneider Electric and Carlyle, on May 18 announced development of project that will feature bus charging and on-site green hydrogen production. […]

  • RENEWABLE POWER Direct—May 17, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   May 17, 2023 Hitachi, Quanta Will Build Major U.S. Transmission Line A massive wind power project in New Mexico will include a transmission line to deliver the installation’s electricity across the southwestern U.S. Pattern Energy Group, a California company that develops… Sponsored […]

  • 500-MW Hydrogen Power Plant Planned in Arkansas

    An Arkansas city known for its use of renewable energy announced plans to break ground this year on a power plant that would be part of the state’s first so-called “hydrogen hub.” Officials in Clarksville on May 12 signed an agreement with Syntex Industries, part of SyntexNRG, to design and build the Syntex Hydrogen Power […]

  • Carbon Capture Key to EPA’s New Power Plant Emissions Rule

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled new greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for the nation’s power plants, moving to require both existing and new facilities to capture emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) for the first time. The rule announced May 11, if implemented, would mean coal- and natural gas-fired power plants would have to […]

  • Microsoft Has Deal to Buy Fusion Power from Helion

    Software giant Microsoft on May 10 announced it has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with nuclear fusion startup Helion Energy to buy electricity from Helion as soon as 2028. Andrew Holland, CEO of the Fusion Industry Association, said Microsoft’s deal is the first time a fusion company has signed a deal to sell electricity. […]

  • GAS POWER Direct—May 10, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   May 10, 2023 New York Group Acquiring More Than 2.1 GW of Texas Gas-Fired Capacity New York-based energy investment firm LS Power on May 8 said it has reached an agreement with Brazos Electric Power Cooperative to acquire 2,145 MW of natural […]

  • New York Group Acquiring More Than 2.1 GW of Texas Gas-Fired Capacity

    New York-based energy investment firm LS Power on May 8 said it has reached an agreement with Brazos Electric Power Cooperative to acquire 2,145 MW of natural gas-fired power generation in the ERCOT North region of Texas. The deal comes six months after a federal bankruptcy court judge approved Brazos’ reorganization plan, which includes a […]

  • Hitachi, Quanta Will Build Major U.S. Transmission Line

    A massive wind power project in New Mexico will include a transmission line to deliver the installation’s electricity across the southwestern U.S. Pattern Energy Group, a California company that develops renewable energy projects globally, on May 4 said it has chosen Hitachi Energy and Quanta Services to build the SunZia Transmission and Wind project, which […]

  • Group: More Than 51 GW of U.S. Offshore Wind in Pipeline

    A coalition of companies working in the U.S. clean energy sector has released its latest report on the nation’s offshore wind market, noting projects totaling more than 51 GW of capacity are in a growing pipeline of expected installations. The Washington, D.C.-based American Clean Power Association (ACP) on May 4 said it is tracking projects […]

  • Israel Adding Energy Storage to Support Grid Integration for Renewables

    Israel’s governmental energy agency said the country plans to build four major battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the northern Gilboa mountain region. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on May 2 said the projects are the first step in a “program of great importance for the energy sector.” The program is designed to […]

  • The POWER Interview: A Snapshot of the Energy Storage Market

    Energy storage continues on an upward growth trajectory, with new projects seemingly being announced every day. POWER looked at advancements in battery energy storage technology, and trends in the sector, in the March 2023 issue. A number of experts within the energy storage industry provided their views on the issues impacting storage. Among those experts […]

  • Europe Ramps Renewables, Looks for New Gas to Reduce Reliance on Russia

    European countries have moved quickly to adopt new energy sources after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Governments have reduced imports of Russian-produced energy, with demand for natural gas

  • Utilizing Data Is Key for Top Grid, Power Plant Performance

    The wealth of data available for today’s power generators is supporting more efficient electricity production, and more reliability and resiliency for the grid. There are many reasons utilities and power

  • Winter Demand for Coal, Gas Falls Across EU Despite Energy Concerns

    An analysis from an energy research group shows European Union (EU) countries burned less coal and natural gas for power generation than in prior years, despite an ongoing energy crisis driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A study from Ember, a think-tank based in the UK, said coal-fired generation in the EU dropped 27 TWh […]

  • Arctic Circle Offshore Wind Farm Will Power Oil Exploration Platform

    Development of the first floating offshore wind farm in the Arctic Circle is moving forward, with three Norwegian companies releasing a project plan for the installation. The GoliatVIND project is envisioned as a 75-MW array installed in deep water northwest of Hammerfest, Norway, in the Barents Sea. The installation would be linked into the Goliat […]

  • Norwegian Group Promotes 20 Areas for Offshore Wind Development

    A Norwegian energy regulator has told officials it has identified at least 20 areas suitable for offshore wind farm development, as the government seeks to meet a target of installing at least 30 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2040. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, known as NVE, an agency under the […]

  • RENEWABLE POWER Direct—April 19, 2023

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   April 19, 2023 DTE Energy Boosts Renewable Energy Portfolio with Major Michigan Wind Farm Midwestern utility DTE Energy announced its 225-MW Meridian Wind Park project has entered commercial operation. The group on April 18 said the wind farm, located in Merrill and […]

  • DTE Energy Boosts Renewable Energy Portfolio with Major Michigan Wind Farm

    Midwestern utility DTE Energy announced its 225-MW Meridian Wind Park project has entered commercial operation. The group on April 18 said the wind farm, located in Merrill and spanning parts of Midland and Saginaw counties in central Michigan, features 77 turbines and operates on land leased from farmers in the region. A DTE spokesperson said […]

  • Olkiluoto 3 Finally Online in Finland; Germany Closes Last Three Nuclear Plants

    A long-delayed nuclear power plant in Finland has begun producing electricity, ready to provide energy to a region in need of the facility’s output in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 1.6-GW Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor, which is now the largest reactor in Europe, began a regular production schedule on April 16, according […]