Business
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Commentary
Why Solar Parks Are in Desperate Need of Good Publicity
Americans have much to gain from having a solar project installed in their local community, but their relationship with solar energy is hardly a love affair. The infamous NIMBY (not in my backyard) phenomenon
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Microgrid
Microgrids Can Provide Resiliency During Extreme Weather Events
Microgrids are small, self-sustaining local power systems that provide big benefits to the communities they serve. As extreme weather events become more common, microgrids will become more important not only
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Press Releases
Spirit Energy launches plan to transform depleted natural gas fields into international carbon storage cluster
Spirit Energy, the joint venture energy company of Centrica plc and Stadtwerke München GmbH (SWM), has today (Tuesday 31st January) confirmed its plan to convert its depleted South Morecambe and North Morecambe gas fields and Barrow Terminals into a world-class carbon storage cluster. If granted a licence by the North Sea Transition Authority and subject […]
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Power
Is Delivering 100% Renewable Energy on an Hourly Basis at Cost-Competitive Rates Achievable?
Cynics might argue that it’s impossible to operate the power grid economically with 100% renewable energy on an hourly basis, but a model developed by Peninsula Clean Energy, a community choice aggregation agency that serves San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos, California, suggests it’s possible—at least in its little slice of the […]
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T&D
Ukrainian Workers Fight to Keep Power Available for Critical Infrastructure and War-Stricken Communities
With Russian forces having damaged many power plants and power lines in parts of Ukraine, linemen and plant workers have persevered, repairing and rebuilding equipment and systems needed to keep the lights on and critical facilities in operation. But the job is not easy, and much of the country’s power generation capacity is currently unavailable. […]
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Legal & Regulatory
EPA Moves to Deny Coal Ash Disposal at Six Massive Coal Power Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed barring six coal-fired power plants in various states—a combined 11 GW—from disposing coal ash into unlined surface impoundments. The agency, however, also proposed to provide disposal extensions if the coal plants are needed to maintain grid reliability. The EPA’s proposed determinations, issued on Jan. 25, fall under its […]
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Management
FPL CEO Retiring Amid Probe Into Utility’s Political Actions
The president and CEO of Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced he will step down from his role as leader of the utility. Eric Silagy, who became FPL’s president in 2011 and was named CEO in 2014, on Jan. 25 said he will move into a transitional role with the utility next month. Silagy, 57, […]
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Nuclear
Oklo Readying to Deploy Commercial-Scale Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facility
Oklo has kicked off regulatory activities for a first-of-its-kind nuclear fuel recycling facility that could produce commercial material from used light water reactor (LWR) fuel before the decade’s end. The advanced nuclear technology firm in December submitted a licensing project plan (LPP) to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Fuel Recycling Technologies facility. The […]
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Press Releases
Wärtsilä to provide flexible engines to U.S. power cooperative, yielding 108 MW of balancing capacity to ensure reliable, affordable, and responsible electricity
HOUSTON, Texas – The technology group Wärtsilä will supply the generating capacity for a new balancing power plant being built in the U.S.A. The Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV power plant project is located in North Dakota and will provide Basin Electric Power Cooperative with the flexible gas generation needed to balance the inherent variability […]
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Coal
Texas Utility Will Close Remaining Coal-Fired Units
The largest municipally-owned electric and gas utility in the U.S. will close its remaining coal-fired power units by 2030. The board of trustees for San Antonio, Texas-based CPS Energy on Jan. 23 voted 4-1 to approve a plan to shutter the last two coal-burning units at the J.K. Spruce power plant. The plan, known as […]
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Solar
Power for the People: Community Solar Project Achieves High Efficiency and Good Return on Investment
A 6.2-MW solar farm in Foster, Rhode Island, provides 3.35 GWh per year of clean, renewable energy for more than 700 community solar subscribers. The state of Rhode Island has ambitious targets for renewable energy production, including from solar. Many residents—especially those with the most to gain from cost-savings linked to solar power—are unable to […]
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Coal
140 Workers Cut Permanently with Sammis Coal Plant Closure
Workers at the W.H. Sammis coal-fired power plant have been notified that a mass layoff will begin “sometime between March 14, 2023, and April 14, 2023.” The announcement was made public through a letter Energy Harbor Corp., owner of the plant, sent to the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, as required under the […]
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News
Third North Carolina Power Substation Targeted by Gunfire as BPS Physical Security Concerns Mount
A third power substation has been damaged by gunfire in North Carolina, prompting an FBI investigation. The incident on Jan. 17 is part of a spate of gunfire vandalism that has renewed physical security concerns at a federal level. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office in Thomasville, central North Carolina, said the latest incident, believed to […]
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Hydrogen
Japan’s Largest Power Generator Signs Deals in Pursuit of Ammonia for Coal Power Plant Co-Firing Project
JERA Co. Inc., Japan’s largest power generation company, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) “for potential collaboration for the joint project development and sales & purchase of clean ammonia” with CF Industries Holdings Inc., the world’s largest producer of ammonia. Under the MOU, JERA and CF Industries have agreed “to jointly study […]
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Offshore Wind
Ørsted Buys PSEG Stake in Offshore Wind Project, Announces Major Texas Solar Farm
Danish energy developer Ørsted continues to expand its presence in the U.S. market, with the company on Jan. 18 announcing it has signed a deal to acquire Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG’s) 25% stake in the 1.1-GW Ocean Wind 1 project about 15 miles off the coast of New Jersey. The move will give Ørsted […]
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Press Releases
GE and IHI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Develop Gas Turbines that Can Operate on 100% Ammonia
Ammonia as a fuel can be a crucial pathway to lowering carbon emissions from power generation to near-zero levels Under the MOU, GE and IHI will cooperate to develop a retrofittable, 100% ammonia capable combustion system compatible with GE’s 6F.03, 7F and 9F gas turbines As the second decarbonization MOU exploring synergies to reduce carbon […]
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Press Releases
Former power station equipment to be sold to support circular economy
New owners of the former Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Warrington look to repurpose plant, equipment and inventory Large sale of transformers, pumps, motors, machinery, water processing plant and other equipment a boost for circular economy across several industries The redevelopment of Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station in Warrington will not only provide new much-needed homes […]
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Press Releases
Burns & McDonnell Completes 250 MWac of Solar Projects for Alliant Energy in Wisconsin
Company Now Mobilized on Six Additional Wisconsin Solar Sites Totaling 414 MWac of Capacity KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Burns & McDonnell has completed engineer-procure-construct (EPC) services for three Alliant Energy solar projects in Wisconsin. The projects are part of Alliant Energy’s Clean Energy Blueprint. These projects are now energized: Bear Creek — 50-MWac North Rock — 50-MWac […]
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Nuclear
South Korean President: Country Needs More Nuclear Power
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his country’s push to be carbon-neutral by 2050 must include construction of more nuclear power generation, in a reversal of his predecessor’s call to move away from the technology. Yoon, speaking Jan. 16 at an event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said his country would renew its […]
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Press Releases
AUMUND Brazil: The first Samson® Material Feeders for biomass in South America
The two Samson® Material Feeders ordered from AUMUND Ltda in São Paulo, Brazil, by first-time customer ComBio Energia S.A. are also the first machines of their kind to be operated for biomass handling in energy generation in South America. ComBio develops projects using biomass for generation of steam and cogeneration of electrical energy for customers […]
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Ocean/Marine
Pioneering U.S. Wave Energy Power Plant Unveiled
One of the first U.S.-based wave energy power plants is set to be deployed at AltaSea’s 35-acre campus located at the Port of Los Angeles. Israeli firm Eco Wave Power, which unveiled the project on Jan. 12, said the AltaSea pilot would help the company make inroads in the U.S. Eco Wave’s onshore wave energy […]
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Press Releases
Alleviating Control Valve Erosion Crucial to Power Plant Uptime
Ongoing process steam leakage in power plant control valves due to erosion from wet steam must be addressed to maximise uptime at a critical time for industry, says a power industry expert. Continually rising gas prices caused by geopolitical events have put pressure on facilities to ensure continued, uninterrupted performance, and further heightened the impact […]
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Press Releases
Duke Energy begins operating 207-MW Ledyard Windpower, its first wind project in Iowa
Verizon Communications has entered into a 180-megawatt virtual power purchase agreement Company awards $60,000 grant to support the Ledyard Fire Department CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions (DESS), a nonregulated commercial brand of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), today announced it has placed into commercial operation the 207-megawatt (MW) Ledyard Windpower project in Kossuth County, […]
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Press Releases
Tokamak Energy and Furukawa Electric Group strengthen relationship to progress commercial fusion energy
Tokamak Energy has signed an agreement with leading Japanese and United States companies to supply specialist high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape for its new advanced prototype fusion device, ST80-HTS. Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan and SuperPower Inc, New York, USA of Furukawa Electric Group, are expected to deliver more than several hundred kilometres of […]
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Press Releases
German flow battery manufacturer CMBlu Energy enters the US market
Critical advances in the company’s carbon-based energy storage systems aim to accelerate long duration energy storage commercial deployments and US domestic production. Alzenau, Germany, January 10, 2023 – CMBlu Energy, a Frankfurt-area designer and manufacturer of long-duration Organic Solid-FlowT battery energy storage systems, announced plans today to work with electric utility and industrial customers to […]
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Gas
TVA Will Build Gas-Fired Plant to Replace Coal-Fired Units
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has approved retirement of the Cumberland coal-fired power plant, with officials on Jan. 10 saying the utility will replace one of the plant’s two units with a 1,450-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle facility at the site. The TVA has held public meetings over the past few years amid much discussion […]
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Gas
Renewable Natural Gas Projects Announced for South Dakota, Florida
More projects to increase the supply of renewable natural gas (RNG) have been announced in Florida and South Dakota, as investments continue in technologies to produce a low-carbon fuel that could replace diesel and other fossil fuels. OPAL Fuels, headquartered in White Plains, New York, on Jan. 5 announced it has completed the ramp-up period […]
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Technology
NuScale Submits Standard Design Approval Application to NRC for Uprated SMR Design
NuScale Power has submitted a standard design approval (SDA) application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) based on its six-module VOYGR-6 configuration, which will use uprated 250-MWth (77-MWe) modules. The step is crucial for the proposed construction of the 462-MWe Carbon Free Power Plant at an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. NuScale’s SDA application submitted […]
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Press Releases
PG&E Teams With Energy Vault to Build and Operate the Largest Green Hydrogen Long-Duration Energy Storage System in the U.S.
Hybrid system will be capable of powering approximately 2,000 electric customers within PG&E’s Calistoga microgrid for up to 48 hours (293 MWh of carbon-free energy) during a planned outage This Long-Duration Energy Storage System is the first-of-its-kind and integrates a short duration battery system, for grid forming and black start capabilities, with a long duration fuel […]
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Management
Womack Named CEO of Southern Company, Other Leadership Changes Announced
Southern Company’s Board of Directors announced on Jan. 5 that Chris Womack, who has served as president of its largest subsidiary, Georgia Power, since 2020, and as Georgia Power’s chairman, president, and CEO since 2021, has been appointed CEO of Southern Company effective immediately following the conclusion of the company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. […]