Business

  • How Wind Turbine Pitch-Control and Sealing Systems Work

    With over 350,000 wind turbines currently in use globally, wind continues to be one of the fastest growing forms of renewable energy. In 2021, 93.6 GW of new installations brought global cumulative wind power capacity to 837 GW, showing year-over-year growth of 12%. The Global Wind Report 2022 notes that 557 GW of new capacity […]

  • Indictment of Former Westinghouse Executive Charged in Connection with V.C. Summer Nuclear Project Dismissed

    Former Westinghouse Electric Co. Senior Vice President Jeffrey A. Benjamin’s motion to dismiss for grand jury bias a federal indictment issued in August 2021 alleging he concealed damaging information concerning the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion project schedule was granted by U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis on August 2, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina. Benjamin […]

  • Two Big Nuclear Regulatory Milestones for Idaho NuScale SMR Project

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on July 31 accepted a standard design approval (SDA) application for NuScale Power’s VOYGR-6, a plant design that will be featured in the 462-MWe Carbon-Free Power Project (CFPP) proposed at an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. The milestone comes on the same day that CFPP submitted a limited work authorization […]

  • FERC Adopts ‘Historic’ Reforms to Ease Nationwide Generation Interconnection Backlog

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved key transmission reforms aimed at clearing a staggering backlog of more than 10,000 generation and storage projects—more than 2,000 GW—stalled in interconnection queues across the country. Order 2023, a final rule unanimously adopted by FERC’s four commissioners at a July 27 open meeting and posted in full […]

  • TECO Achieves Highly Reliable Power Grid Service with Advanced Technology

    Tampa Electric Company (TECO) has enhanced its power system operation through the adoption of advanced technology. Its pioneering culture and the benefits obtained with these new innovative tools have led to

  • NRG Energy’s Pivot Amid Power Sector Change

    Once a giant pure-play independent power producer, NRG Energy has cultivated a legacy of pioneering business models to withstand waves of change in the power sector. Its latest strategic shift pivots from

  • Generator Maintenance: Preparing for the Bubble

    If you were paying attention to the power industry during the early 2000s, you may remember a large spike in the U.S. gas turbine fleet at the time. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that

  • A Model for ZLD Treatment of Blowdown from Cooling Towers—Even the Big Ones

    Pilot testing under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Pitch-to-Pilot desalination research funding proved an electro-coagulation, clarification, micro-filtration, reverse osmosis with vacuum-assisted

  • Quantum Computing Can Help Utilities Become More Reliable

    Below freezing at breakfast, sweltering by supper, dramatic swings in weather are no longer the purview of small talk. Predicting, accounting for, and reacting to weather are boardroom agenda items that impact

  • Spider Power for Turbomachinery Operators

    Slowly, a blue spider crawls across its spider web. When it reaches the center, it stretches, solidifying the self-woven structures. We are in the middle of a video scene. Only when the camera opens up and moves away from the scenery does it become clear. This is not a real spider, but a model from […]

  • Vogtle Unit 3 Enters Commercial Operation: First ‘Newly Constructed’ U.S. Nuclear Power Plant in Decades

    Georgia Power declared Plant Vogtle Unit 3 commercially operational on July 31, 2023, making it the first “newly constructed” nuclear power unit to be added to the U.S. fleet in decades. “Today is a historic day for the State of Georgia, Southern Company, and the entire energy sector, as we continue transforming the way we […]

  • Creating More Resilient Data Centers to Navigate Energy Volatility and Extreme Weather

    An astonishing surge of heat across the globe shattered temperature records and marked three days of July 2023 as likely the hottest in Earth’s modern history. When temperatures rise dramatically, data centers also struggle to keep their servers cool. As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, energy market volatility is expected to persist. […]

  • Hydrogen Offers a ‘Multi-Billion-Dollar Opportunity’ This Decade for Innovative Companies

    Hydrogen demand throughout the world reached 94 million metric tons in 2021, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Global Hydrogen Review 2022, an annual report issued by the IEA in late September last year. Demand for new applications grew to about 40,000 metric tons (up 60% from 2020, albeit from a low base). Notably, […]

  • Busy Week: News and Notes from the Power Industry (July 27, 2023)

    A number of companies in the power industry revealed new projects and other interesting developments this week. The following are some the more noteworthy announcements that POWER has been monitoring. BWXT to Provide Nuclear Reactor Engine and Fuel for DARPA Space Project BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT) announced on July 26 that its reactor and fuel […]

  • Transmission for Transition: Solving the South African Energy Crisis Through Logistics

    South Africa is in the midst of an energy crisis characterized by electricity shortages, blackouts, and lack of new infrastructure investment. Eskom, the state-owned utility supplying more than 90% of the nation’s electricity, has suffered from operational failures, maintenance issues, and breakdowns at aging, poorly maintained power stations, leading to steady declines in the energy […]

  • Energy Storage Projects Commissioned to Serve New York City

    A Virginia-headquartered group said it has brought online the first two of the company’s four planned energy storage systems (ESS) designed to support and stabilize the New York City power grid. Summit Ridge Energy on July 25 said the projects, located across Brooklyn and Staten Island, ultimately will provide 58 MWh of generation to the […]

  • Lamons® and Modumetal Announce Partnership

    History and Innovation Come Together for Advancement in Corrosion Protection for Bolting  HOUSTON, TX (July 24, 2023) – Lamons, a global leader in safety sealing and attachment solutions, announced a new partnership with Modumetal, a state-of-the-art research and development company focused on a new class of metals known as nanolaminated metals. Combining the 75-year history […]

  • Al Gore-backed Energy Group Announces $20 Billion Investment in Offshore Wind

    A UK-based energy supplier that counts former U.S. Vice President Al Gore among its investors announced it would pour about $20 billion into offshore wind projects by 2030. Octopus Energy Group on July 24 said the investment would come through its generation division. The company said it envisions building 12 GW of offshore wind capacity […]

  • How Utilities Can Achieve Automated, Condition-Based Grid Maintenance to Boost Safety and Grid Reliability

    Site safety, equipment reliability, and a balanced budget from smooth operations are the cornerstones of a successful power grid. Today’s utility companies face immense challenges with current equipment monitoring practices, such as failures from aging electrical equipment, the need to extend the life of critical assets, and carrying out ongoing lifecycle management that is essential […]

  • How to Achieve a Thriving Nuclear Power Industry in the U.S.

    There are many reasons to be excited about the U.S. nuclear power industry and its potential for growth. For activists focused on climate change, its carbon-free attribute makes it a viable long-term power resource. Additionally, its around-the-clock generating capability makes it a vital option in a world increasingly filled with intermittent renewables. Furthermore, new technology […]

  • World premiere: CMBlu delivers first Organic SolidFlow energy storage to one of the biggest solar parks in Austria

    Eisenstadt, Austria, 19 July 2023 – The first operational Organic SolidFlow Battery of the world has successfully been delivered. CMBlu Energy, the manufacturer of this secure, sustainable and affordable battery storage system and Burgenland Energie, the hosting electric utility, have held a ceremony with prestigious guests covering politics, economics and science. The world premiere took […]

  • POWER and Enverus Partner on New Power Industry Data and Insights Tool

    Power industry professionals searching for valuable data and insights on U.S. power plants will find a wealth of information in the POWER Plant ID (Intelligence Database) research tool. Data available includes plant locations, capacities, generation types, ownership breakdown, production history, emissions data, and more.   HOUSTON/AUSTIN, Texas (July 18, 2023) — POWER, the leading power […]

  • Saudi Group Set to Build 10-GW Wind Farm in Egypt

    Egypt’s support for renewable energy has received another boost, with ACWA Power and Egyptian officials on July 17 signing an agreement to allocate land for a 10-GW wind power project. Saudi Arabia-based ACWA Power, the world’s largest private water desalination company, on Monday announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the New and Renewable Energy […]

  • Magnashear™ Motor Brakes Eliminate Pitch Drive Maintenance

    Fairfield, OH – Maintaining yaw and pitch drives is a challenge because of the inherent time that it takes for maintenance personnel to ascend to the nacelle.  But foregoing maintenance can lead to costly failures and even more downtime.  The Magnashear™ motor brake from Force Control Industries eliminate pitch drive maintenance by eliminating the root […]

  • Curtiss-Wright’s Brea CA Facility Receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification

    BREA, CA ­– July 14, 2023 – Curtiss-Wright’s Nuclear division announced today that its Brea, CA facility has received ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system (QMS). This globally-recognized certification allows the company to provide valves, vessels, actuators, control systems, and engineering services for use in construction of next generation Advanced Reactor (AR) and […]

  • The Future of the Utilities Workforce: Building Capabilities in the Digital Era

    The utility industry is facing a major challenge as it navigates the constantly evolving landscape of the electric grid. Managing the transformation brought about by the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the rise of remote and hybrid work, and the growing reliance on renewable energy sources has become central to the industry. Operators must adapt […]

  • Emerging Risks in Renewable Energy: A Brief Overview of Solar, Wind, BESS, and Hydro Trends in Latin America

    Renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydro, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), are at the forefront of the global energy transition. The U.S. and Latin America (LATAM) are witnessing significant advancements in these technologies, driven by geopolitical and economic trends. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a growth of electricity demand from 1,295 TWh […]

  • How Renewable Propane-Fueled EV Charging Solutions Can Significantly Cut Carbon Emissions

    Calculating and comparing air emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles is a complicated endeavor. While EVs, including hybrids, produce lower tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles do—and zero tailpipe emissions when running only on electricity—tailpipe emissions are only one factor to consider in a vehicle’s lifecycle emissions. Gasoline and electricity fuel pathways […]

  • Watertight AUMA actuators for underwater hydro turbine control

    An AUMA electric actuation solution ensures high-precision guide vane adjustment for a fully-submersible hydro turbine from Natel Energy at the Sauerbrunn hydropower plant near Graz, Austria, thus helping to boost green energy. California-based turbine manufacturer Natel Energy required an actuator that could operate continuously underwater, provide accurate positioning to optimally control the water supply to […]

  • Amazon, AES Partner on First Utility-Scale Wind Farm in Mississippi

    Amazon, the online retailer with a goal of powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, on July 7 announced a project that would be the first utility-scale wind farm in Mississippi. The 184.5-MW Delta wind farm, being built in Tunica County, is Amazon’s sixth renewable energy installation in that state, and will join […]