Business
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O&M
Equipment Showcase: Valves, Piping, and Fittings
Proper valves, pipes, and fittings are important for successful operation of power generation facilities. This equipment includes products with versatile designs to establish effective joining and sealing
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IIOT Power
Advanced Process Control for Optimizing Flue Gas Desulfurization
Coal-fired power plants can significantly improve wet limestone scrubbing with advanced process control. One optimization system implemented at a Japanese facility utilized enhanced regulatory control
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O&M
Precision and Partnership Spur Innovations for Nuclear Project
Replacing two 40-year-old feedwater heaters at a plant of Oconee Nuclear Station’s size and age was fated to be a complicated project, but through meticulous modeling and planning, and seamless
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Renewables
China Sets a New Renewable Portfolio Standard
China in mid-September increased its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 35% of electricity consumption by 2030. The country has already heavily invested in wind and solar, and it anticipates more gains will
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Legal & Regulatory
A Legal Guide to Power Generation Mergers and Acquisitions
A myriad of issues come into play when parties execute power industry mergers and acquisitions. Part 1 of this two-part series examines what dealmakers need to know before making any transactions
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Nuclear
Big Gains for Tiny Nuclear Reactors
As the hubbub of interest and activity surrounds development of small modular reactors (SMRs) hovering between 60 MW and 300 MW, and medium-sized nuclear reactors of under 700 MW, several nuclear technology
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Commentary
Latest Carbon Fee Initiative May Succeed Where Others Have Failed
Washington state’s latest effort to fight climate change, Initiative 1631 (I-1631), is on the November ballot. With a broad coalition of support from business, environmental, and special interest groups
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Renewables
POWER Digest [November 2018]
Ørsted Snaps Up Deepwater Wind in Major U.S. Offshore Wind Deal. Danish offshore wind farm developer Ørsted in October entered into an agreement with U.S.-based D.E. Shaw Group to buy a 100% equity interest
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Coal
Advanced Coal Technologies Improve Emissions and Efficiency
New coal-fired generating plants are not showing up in the U.S. Elderly plants are retiring in large numbers. But other parts of the world continue to develop coal generation. Advances in combustion and
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Commentary
Tax Reform Legislation Drives Increased Focus on Cash Flows
In the wake of the implementation of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), many utilities and their holding companies are experiencing increasing pressure on cash flow due to the elimination of bonus
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IIOT Power
Network-Level Optimization: The Golden Ticket to the Future of Energy
To remain efficient and profitable, utilities must anticipate the ebb and flow of the market. That means companies must gain visibility into the generation and consumption of energy. With network-level
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Renewables
Report: Investments in Coal Risky, Billions in Assets Could Be Stranded
A study from a London-based group focused on financial aspects of the energy industry said up to $60 billion of coal-fired power generation assets may be stranded in Southeast Asia in the next 10 years. The study released this week by Carbon Tracker said renewable energy resources and more-stringent environmental policies make investments in new […]
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Press Releases
Fluor Awarded Valero Cogeneration Project in Wales
IRVING, Texas and FARNBOROUGH, UK (October 30, 2018) – Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction of Valero Energy Corporation’s combined heat and power cogeneration project at its Pembroke Refinery in Wales, UK. Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the third quarter of 2018. “We are […]
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Press Releases
X-ELIO and Sofos Harbert announce partnership to develop solar projects in the US
X-Elio and Sofos Harbert have entered into an agreement to create a Joint Venture for the development of solar energy projects in the US It is expected that the new company will be initially focused on the Southeastern market of the United States The new group has confirmed its intention to expand to other markets […]
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Coal
More Losses for FirstEnergy; FES Seeks Policy Support Amid Bankruptcy
Despite significant milestones to become a fully regulated utility, FirstEnergy Corp. on October 25 reported third-quarter losses of $512 million on revenue of $3.1 billion. The results largely reflect charges related to the court-approved settlement in the bankruptcy cases of its competitive subsidiaries FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) and FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. (FENOC), the company said. […]
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Press Releases
POWER Announces Strategic Partnership
The 2019 HRSG User’s Group Annual Meeting will co-locate with the 2019 ELECTRIC POWER Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada, offering extended conference content for both conferences and allowing HRSG User’s Group vendors to exhibit with the ELECTRIC POWER Exhibition. Houston, TX, October 29, 2018 – POWER announced today the co-location of the HRSG […]
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Press Releases
U.S. Department of Energy Awards GE $33.7 Million to Strengthen the Resilience of Nuclear Reactor Fuel
GE’s Global Research Center and Nuclear fuel business partnering with three National Labs (Los Alamos, Oak Ridge and Idaho) and with the Exelon and Southern Company utilities to develop and test more advanced fuel rod technologies Project will tap Global Research’s deep technical strength in materials science, 3D printing and jet engine technologies to develop […]
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IIOT Cyber
Three Newly Approved CIP Reliability Standards for Cybersecurity Will Be Costly
Entities with industrial control systems (ICS) associated with bulk electric system (BES) operations must develop and implement plans that include security controls for supply chain management, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ordered in a final rule that formally adopts three new critical infrastructure protection (CIP) reliability standards. FERC on October 18 issued Order No. […]
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Renewables
NRG Renews Emphasis on Retail with PPA-Free Renewables Service
NRG Energy, which recently shed a substantial portion of its competitive generation portfolio and has shifted efforts to stimulate growth of its retail business, unveiled a simplified renewables procurement process that does not require a power purchase agreement (PPA). The company on October 18 launched “Renewable Select,” a plan that it says transforms the “lengthy […]
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Connected Plant
Companies Will Collaborate on Blockchain Tool for U.S. Power Market
A subsidiary of grid operator PJM Interconnection has joined with a Switzerland-based group to build and evaluate a blockchain-based tool to help the U.S. power generation industry. Energy Web Foundation (EWF) and PJM Environmental Information Services (PJM-EIS) on October 25 said they would collaborate on developing and testing a reference implementation of EWF’s open-source Energy […]
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Press Releases
Unprecedented power station asset sale announced
Global advisory and asset management specialist, Gordon Brothers has announced the exceptional sale of major power generation equipment from the UK power station, Seal Sands in Teesside, North East England. This unique sale is unparalleled with in the industry due to the pristine, virtually unused condition of the equipment. The majority of assets are unused […]
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Press Releases
Endress+Hauser Releases Memograph M RSG45 Advanced Data Manager DIN Rail Version
With its extensive communications capabilities, the Memograph M is ideally suited for IIoT applications and use as an edge device. October 23, 2018—Endress+Hauser releases the Memograph M RSG45 Advanced Data Manager DIN rail version, an intelligent remote device with extensive communication capabilities, making it ideal for IIoT applications and use as an edge device for […]
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Renewables
Reports: Trump Administration Supports GE Over Siemens in $15B Iraq Deal
Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding on October 15 to develop power plants in the country with General Electric (GE). The Financial Times on October 18 said the $15 billion deal was brokered after senior officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iraq that relations with the U.S. would be threatened if Iraq […]
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Coal
West Virginia Coal Plant Will Remain Open Until 2022
FirstEnergy on October 18 said its coal-fired Pleasants Power Station in West Virginia will stay open until June 2022, after earlier announcing the plant would close in January of next year. FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young said, “Keeping Pleasants in operation … allows the plant to fulfill current capacity obligations and provides additional time for evaluation […]
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Press Releases
GE and Clarke Energy to Supply Turnkey CHP Plant for Municipal Electricity Utility in Michigan
SEBEWAING, MICH. (October 18, 2018) — As phased decommissioning of coal plants and additional renewables integration into the grid have led to increased variability in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)’s wholesale electricity segment, GE’s Distributed Power business (NYSE: GE) and Clarke Energy — GE’s authorized Channel Partner of Jenbacher* gas engines in Michigan — today announced that they […]
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Press Releases
Hevel Group Builds 70 MW of PV Plants in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Electricity and Power Market Operator (JSC “KOREM”) summed up the results of the final auction for the construction of renewable energy power plants. According to the results, Hevel Group was awarded a 15-year PPA for the sale of power from a 70-MW solar plant in southern Kazakhstan. Commissioning is planned for 2019-2020. “This tender […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Distributed Energy Is Disrupting the Power Industry: Is the Sky Falling?
Utilities are faced with many disruptive changes in the power market. Customers are demanding cleaner energy and turning to distributed generation as a solution. One expert suggested power companies must react and evolve their business models to change with the times. During a keynote presentation at the Distributed Energy Conference in Golden, Colorado, on October […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Dominion Files to Extend Operations at Surry Nuclear Plant to 80 Years
Dominion Energy has filed an application to extend the operating licenses for two 45-year-old nuclear reactors at the Surry Power Station through 2052 and 2053—when they will be 80 years old. Surry’s Unit 1 and 2, located near Newport News, Virginia, are three-loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactors (PWRs) that began operation in December 1972 and […]
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O&M
Hydropower Bill Overwhelmingly Clears Senate, Heads to President’s Desk
The U.S. Senate has cleared a major water infrastructure bill that contains several provisions promoting hydropower development, sending it to the president’s desk. The Senate passed S. 3021, “America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018,” on October 10 through a bipartisan vote of 99–1. Because the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill in a voice […]
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Coal
AEP Will Close Ohio Coal Plant Early
American Electric Power (AEP) this week confirmed it will close its coal-fired Conesville Power Plant in Ohio earlier than originally planned. An AEP spokesperson in an email to media confirmed the plant’s workers were told October 5 that the plant will close by May 31, 2020. AEP said Units 5 and 6 at the plant, […]