Business

  • POWER’s 2023 Plant of the Year: Estrella del Mar III

    For more than four decades, POWER magazine has honored the top performers in the electricity-generating industry with annual power plant awards. Award winners are selected by the editors of POWER based on nominations submitted by industry insiders, including suppliers, designers, constructors, and operators of power plants. Winning POWER’s Plant of the Year in 2023 is […]

  • Estrella del Mar III, a Visionary Floating Power Plant, Is POWER’s Plant of the Year

    Winning POWER’s highest honor is Estrella del Mar III, a first-of-its-kind floating combined cycle gas turbine power barge that fulfills a remarkable assortment of modern power system demands. Nearly fully

  • Dominion Energy’s Reverse Osmosis Concentrate Recovery System Wins POWER’s Water Award

    Sustainability and corporate responsibility are hugely important to power companies and their stakeholders today. When employees take these initiatives to heart and implement innovative ideas, goals can be met

  • Space Solar Power Prototype Beams First Power to Earth

    California Institute of Technology’s (Caltech’s) first space-borne prototype launched into orbit has demonstrated the ability to wirelessly transmit power in space and beam detectable power to Earth. The

  • Clean Energy Transition Continues Despite Reliability, Supply Chain, and Financial Uncertainty

    Although there is a risk of energy shortfalls in parts of the U.S. if extreme summer temperatures materialize, there is no stopping the clean energy transition that is sweeping the nation. Energy storage

  • Integration of Hydropower and Hydrogen Gains Momentum

    In May, U.S. national laboratories Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) partnered with regulated utility Idaho Power to determine the viability of integrating

  • Interconnection Constraints Threaten Success of Clean Energy Projects

    Power projects are filled with risk. One of the biggest risks today for clean energy developers involves interconnection constraints. And according to Sarp Ozkan, vice president of Commercial Product at

  • Ways to Address the Wind Power Technology Talent Gap

    In the face of climate change and clean energy mandates, the demand for affordable, resilient and renewable wind energy is set to accelerate. While it took the global wind energy sector 40 years to reach one terawatt (TW) in installed capacity, expected by the end of this year, it will take just eight years to […]

  • Zinc Batteries Fare Well in Life Cycle Assessments

    As promising zinc-based battery technologies advance, Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) provided by certified, independent third parties can serve as differentiators in the crowded field of energy storage options. Several zinc battery developers have commissioned Boundless Impact Research & Analytics to provide LCAs, systematic analyses of the potential environmental impacts of these emerging clean technologies during […]

  • Finnish Group Touts Nuclear Reactor for District Heating

    A Finnish group announced construction of a reactor-based heating plant that would provide residential and district heating, saying the project would advance the district energy model and support decarbonization and electrification in Europe as more countries move away from the use of fossil fuels for energy. Steady Energy, a company spun out of the VTT […]

  • Siemens Energy Investigating Dark Web Ransomware Claim

    Siemens Energy and Schneider Electric, two industrial control system (ICS) vendors for critical infrastructure industries, have been reportedly listed as ransomware victims by cybercrime gang CL0P, though any targeted attacks are yet unconfirmed. The ransomware gang, also known as TA505, began exploiting a vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, an internet-facing automated file transfer web application, starting […]

  • eschbach AI Team Garners Connected Plant 2023 Game Changer Award

    Shiftconnector Smart Search Accelerates Plant Floor Search Capabilities with AI Boston, MA – June 26, 2023 – Global software developer eschbach, provider of the Shiftconnector® enterprise software platform for process manufacturing, announces that its AI development team was awarded a 2023 Game Changer Award for its new Shiftconnector Smart Search functionality. The eschbach team was […]

  • Driving Decarbonization: Lessons Learned from Europe That Can Help Unlock the U.S. Clean Hydrogen Economy

    Environmental experts consider decarbonization to be among the most important keys to minimizing the effects of climate change. While the transition to a low-carbon economy may present challenges, it also offers opportunities for innovation, the creation of new jobs, and sustainable economic growth. Accordingly, the U.S., like Europe and other parts of the world, has […]

  • Essential Energy Lowers Costs and Carbon Footprint Across Australia’s Energy Sector

    OpenUtilities Enables Substation Intelligent Digital Design, Reducing Environmental Impact and Saving 50% in Costs With a network spanning 737,000 kilometers, covering approximately 95% of New South Wales, Australia, Essential Energy distributes electricity services to more than 870,000 homes and businesses in 1,500 regional, rural, and remote communities. Despite their large coverage area, Essential Energy has […]

  • New Technologies Driving Electric Grid Modernization

    Over the past couple of decades, the expected growth in electricity usage unexpectedly flatlined, leaving utilities with stagnant revenue, but aging infrastructure in need of capital investment. Then came the technology revolution of the last five years, with electric vehicles (EVs) becoming more popular as governments worldwide mandate lower emissions, and microgeneration of electricity via […]

  • Brownfield Sites Spur Opportunity in the Power Grid

    Over the past few years, climate change coupled with the Biden administration’s push for clean energy alternatives has spurred innovation in the power grid. One growing trend among developers, planners and forward-looking utilities centers on repurposing former brownfields and superfund sites into facilities that produce renewable energy alternatives such as wind and solar energy. The […]

  • New York City’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System Nears Completion

    Con Edison President Matthew Ketschke reported that his company will place the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in New York City in service just in time to help meet summer electricity demand peaks. The installation is a 7.5-MW/30-MWh system located at a substation in the Fox Hills area of Staten Island, New York (Figure […]

  • NRC Completes Safety Review for Kairos Nuclear Test Reactor Within 18 Months

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has wrapped up a final safety evaluation for Kairos Power’s 35-MWth Hermes “non-power” demonstration reactor, which the firm has proposed to build at the East Tennessee Technology Park Heritage Center site in Oak Ridge, and plans to begin operating by 2026. The NRC’s review, which concluded “no safety aspects that would […]

  • ERCOT’s Energy Emergency Risk Has Shifted from Late Afternoon to Early Evening

    Modeling from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) suggests an 11% probability of having a load shed issue on a peak day this summer, an official said during a reliability committee meeting on June 19. The Texas grid, which was tested this week by a record-breaking heat wave, issued a weather watch and a […]

  • What’s Really Driving the Lithium Crisis in North America

    The conversation around lithium demand in the U.S. has been highly focused on surging sales of electric vehicles (EVs), but as we look ahead to the coming years, the real driver will be energy storage systems. COMMENTARY Last year was reported as a record year for battery storage and its rapid growth in the market […]

  • Pakistan Expanding Nuclear Plant With New Hualong One Reactor

    China continues to be a world leader in exporting its nuclear power technology. Chinese officials in Pakistan on June 20 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a $4.8 billion deal with Pakistan’s nuclear energy agency for construction of a new 1,200-MW reactor at the Chashma power complex. The new unit will be China’s Hualong […]

  • Boulden and Gulf Coast Bearing & Seal Release Integrated Portfolio of Products for the Power Generation Industry

    CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – As part of its merger with Gulf Coast Bearing & Seal (GCBS), Boulden Company has announced the formation of a family of products and technologies aimed at the aftermarket power industry. Inclusive of material solutions such as DuPont™ Vespel® CR-6100, Boulden B-Series composites, and bearing & seal repairs and upgrades from GCBS, […]

  • The Global Energy Challenge Makes a Strong Case for Battery Energy Storage

    The value of electricity has increased dramatically as a product of the global energy challenge—and this trend is unlikely to diminish. Energy providers are actively seeking ways to reduce their reliance on natural gas while also avoiding curtailment of energy from renewables. Using batteries to store abundant energy at low prices, then selling it when […]

  • Honeywell Introduces Honeywell Ionic™, a Modular Battery Energy Storage System with Improved Energy Density and Reduced Installation Costs

    Scalable system provides efficient, flexible, and intelligent solution for commercial and industrial users ORLANDO, FL, June 19, 2023 – Honeywell today announced Honeywell IonicTM, a compact, end-to-end modular battery energy storage system (BESS) and energy management tool that offers improved energy density compared to what’s currently available on the market, while delivering a significant reduction […]

  • Subsequent License Renewal: Extending Nuclear Power Reactors to 80 Years of Operation (and Maybe More)

    The Atomic Energy Act authorizes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue licenses for commercial power reactors to operate for up to 40 years. These licenses can be renewed for an additional 20 years at a time. The period after the initial licensing term is known as the period of extended operation. The decision to […]

  • Duke Energy to Shed 3.4-GW Unregulated Renewable Business Segment in $2.8B Deal

    In a bid to transition to a fully regulated business, Duke Energy will sell its unregulated utility-scale solar and wind group—a portfolio of 3.4 GW—for an enterprise value of $2.8 billion to pure-play renewable power platform Brookfield Renewable. The companies announced the transaction for a portion of Duke Energy’s Commercial Renewables business segment on June […]

  • Four Ways to Protect the Energy Sector from Cybersecurity Threats

    It’s been two years since the historic Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack shut down one of the largest and most vital oil pipelines in the U.S. While this hasn’t been the nation’s only attack on power infrastructure, it’s the largest publicly disclosed and, at $4.4 million, it was also the most-costly. Since then, we’ve learned that […]

  • Strategies for Operating Safely within Power Construction Zones

    Temporary work zones are often required when constructing or rehabilitating power generation facilities and infrastructure. Safety is the essential factor in any industrial setting, and this is especially true when it comes to activities that disrupt normal operations. The introduction of vehicles, equipment, materials, and personnel to any environment can necessitate new strategies for keeping […]

  • Iberdrola Finalizes $6 Billion Deal to Sell Mexico Gas-Fired Plants

    Spanish energy giant Iberdrola announced it has finalized an agreement to sell much of its power generation portfolio in Mexico to that country’s government. The $6 billion deal, first announced in April and completed June 12, will see Mexico take state control and operation of several power plants, including a dozen natural gas-fired facilities that […]

  • Hydrogen Blending Project Commissioned on New Jersey Gas Turbine Unit

    A unique hydrogen blending project has entered commercial operation at the Linden Cogeneration Facility (Linden Cogen) in Linden, New Jersey. The project allows Linden Cogen’s Unit 6 gas turbine to operate on a blend of natural gas and refinery off gas containing hydrogen produced by the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery, which is located adjacent to […]