Business
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Press Releases
Westinghouse Successfully Dismantles Reactor Vessels in Slovakia
Cranberry Township, PA (Dec. 16, 2021) – Westinghouse Electric Company announced it has recently completed dismantling the first of two reactor vessels at Bohunice V1 Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia. The annular water tanks that ensured bio-shield protection of the two reactor pressure vessels have also been dismantled. “As the leader in specialized nuclear decommissioning, […]
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Nuclear
DOE Begins Fleshing Out Availability of Advanced Nuclear Reactor Fuel
The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a request for information (RFI) on a planned temporary federal program to ensure enough high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) will be available to jumpstart deployment of a new fleet of advanced nuclear reactors. Comments received over the next month in response to the DOE’s Dec. 14–issued RFI will inform […]
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Nuclear
How Machine Learning Improves Visibility into Nuclear Power Plant Waste and Contamination Levels
Nuclear power remains one of the cleanest forms of energy available to us. Unfortunately, current challenges in measuring nuclear power plant waste and contamination levels make it difficult to manage. The inability to effectively measure these levels makes it difficult to validate nuclear power, and in some cases, is even causing some political tensions. Machine […]
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Coal
Ameren to Close 1.2-GW Coal Power Plant by March 2024, 15 Years Early
In a Dec. 14 filing with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Ameren Missouri announced its intent to retire two 600-MW units at the Rush Island Energy Center 15 years earlier than previously planned due to “changed circumstances since the Remedy Ruling.” The court’s remedy ruling, delivered on Sept. 30, 2019, […]
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Gas
Overcoming the Top Three Hurdles to Eliminate Flaring
Despite exacting a heavy environmental and financial toll, routine flaring remains a persistent practice in the oil and gas sector. This gas could be captured and used for productive purposes, but a lot of it simply isn’t. While flaring levels are down 5% from 2019, this is still a huge amount—142 billion m3/yr in fact. […]
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Connected Plant
The Benefits of Explosion-Protected Cameras in High-Risk Environments
Many critical infrastructure sites contain areas that are classified as hazardous due to a high risk of explosion. What makes most of these locations dangerous is the presence of flammable materials such as liquids, gases, vapors, and dust. In these areas, the use of network cameras can significantly improve the overall health and safety posture […]
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O&M
The Benefits of Synthetic Greases: Improved Efficiency, Reduced Maintenance
The optimal grease to use in power plant equipment is rarely contemplated by people other than truly dedicated operations and maintenance managers, and the workers on their teams who feel the pain when a piece of equipment breaks down due to inadequate lubrication. Yet, for those individuals, the choice of which grease to use in […]
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Press Releases
Emerson to Modernize Georgia Power Plant for Reliable, Affordable Energy
Digital transformation improves plant availability and enhances MEAG Power’s diverse generation fleet PITTSBURGH (Dec. 8, 2021) — The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power) has selected Emerson (NYSE:EMR), a global software, technology and engineering leader, to modernize and optimize operations at its Wansley Unit 9 combined cycle power plant. MEAG Power’s investment is critical […]
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Commentary
The Infrastructure Law Can Help America Catch China in the Clean Energy Race
President Biden’s signature infrastructure law aims to, among other objectives, propel America forward in transitioning to a clean energy economy. If its proposals are executed properly, I’m confident that it will succeed in that goal. The new law will help the U.S. catch up to countries like China, who have been beating America in the race […]
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Wind
Tapping the Power of Wind: The Opportunity of Offshore Wind Farms in Ireland
A modern-day gold rush has emerged off the Irish coast that is unlike other resource grabs in Earth’s history—for petroleum, minerals, coal, metals, etc.—because this particular resource is limitless. Harvesting wind energy is in its early days on this breeze-abundant island that boasts 900 miles of coastline and a sea area seven times larger than […]
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Press Releases
The Finnish Climate Fund invests in hydrogen turbine manufacturer Aurelia Turbines
The Finnish Climate Fund has granted a capital loan of €5 million to Aurelia Turbines. Aurelia Turbines produces the most efficient small gas turbines in the world. The turbines have been designed to use hydrogen, biogas and synthetic gas, as well as other renewable and non-standard fuels. According to Matti Malkamäki, CEO of Aurelia Turbines, […]
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Press Releases
Mitsubishi Power Upgrades Gas Turbines at Senoko Energy to Reduce 15,000 Tons of Carbon Emissions Annually
– Upgrade works for M701F gas turbine help enhance thermal efficiency with heat rate improvement – Close collaboration with Senoko Energy and other contractors enabled the project to be completed on schedule despite challenges due to COVID-19 TOKYO, Dec 2, 2021 – (JCN Newswire) – Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has completed […]
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Nuclear
Darlington Nuclear Plant Will Get a BWRX-300 SMR as GE Hitachi Bags Lucrative OPG Selection
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will build a GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at its Darlington Nuclear Station in Clarington, Ontario, marking a major triumph for the nuclear vendor in a stiff competition for the much-watched utility-scale project. OPG announced the selection of the GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR over competitors X-energy […]
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Nuclear
NRC Accepts Application for Kairos Pebble-Bed Reactor Construction Permit
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will review Kairos Power’s construction permit application (CPA) for its 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 begin operating by 2026. The NRC formally accepted the CPA for review on Nov. 30, noting […]
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Solar
Rooftop Solar and Energy Storage Are Not Republican or Democrat, They’re American
There is a common misperception that “green energy” appeals mostly to liberals. However, at least some of the facts don’t support that view. A case in point can be found in the rooftop solar sector. “It’s not Republican or Democratic. It’s really American. It’s free enterprise,” Jayson Waller, founder and CEO of POWERHOME SOLAR, said […]
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Hydrogen
UAE Industrial Giant Will Explore Conversion of 5.2-GW GE Gas Turbine Fleet to Hydrogen, CCUS
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), an integrated aluminum producer that is also the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) third-largest power generator, will develop a roadmap to decarbonize its 33 GE natural gas–fired turbines via hydrogen-switching and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solutions. EGA and GE announced they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to pursue the […]
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Nuclear
Next AP1000 Nuclear Reactor Will Be Built in Ukraine
Ukraine is set to host its first Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor at state-owned Energoatom’s 2-GW Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in the western part of the country. Under a contract signed on Nov. 22 by Patrick Fragman, president and CEO of Westinghouse, and Petro Kotin, Energoatom’s acting president, the two companies will begin engineering and procurement for […]
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Hybrid Power
Why Thermal Energy Storage Offers Hot Prospects for Power
Thermal energy storage (TES) is gaining interest and traction as a crucial enabler of reliable, secure, and flexible energy systems. The array of in-front-of-the-meter TES technologies under development
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Hydrogen
Want Long-Term Energy Storage? Look to Hydrogen
The power industry has been all abuzz lately about the potential role hydrogen could play in decarbonizing the energy sector. POWER was quick to notice the excitement surrounding hydrogen, and launched
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Solar
Space-Based Solar Power May Be Closer Than You Think
The vision sounds far-fetched: If a kilometer-scale satellite could be outfitted with a hybrid array of photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) panels and launched into orbit 22,400 miles above
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Hydrogen
Power Event Attendees Welcome the In-Person Experience
POWER hosted Experience POWER, the Distributed Energy Conference, and HydrogeNext at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, October 18–21, 2021. The events were well-received by
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Connected Plant
Build for Today, Design for Tomorrow: Five Things to Look for in an Intelligent Remote Monitoring Solution
Today’s electric power grids are evolving at an alarming pace. Distributed energy resources are quickly taking the place of central power stations, making grid operators’ jobs of managing power flows in
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Nuclear
DOE Revives Consent-Based Siting Process for Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal
Potentially jumpstarting long-paralyzed efforts to address the federal management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Nov. 30 issued a request for information (RFI) that could determine where the agency will temporarily consolidate and store spent fuel from nuclear reactors across the nation. Under the RFI, the DOE is seeking […]
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Energy Storage
California 3,200-MWh CAES Project Proposed for Grid Stability After Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Retires
Hydrostor, developer of a 400-MW, 8-hour long-duration advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) facility, has filed an application for certification (AFC) with the California Energy Commission (CEC) for its first project in the state, envisioning its commercial operation as early as 2026. If the 3,200-MWh Pecho Energy Storage Center is built as planned in San […]
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Coal
Portugal’s Last Coal Power Plant Shuts Down, Fourth Country in Europe to Stop Burning Coal
The 628-MW Pego power station was shut down on Nov. 20, 10 days ahead of schedule, marking the end of coal-fired power generation in Portugal. The country joins Belgium, Austria, and Sweden, as the fourth European nation to discontinue the use of coal. “Portugal is the perfect example of how once a country commits to […]
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Press Releases
Micatu Completes New Offices, Launches Construction on One of the Nation’s Largest Optical Sensing Manufacturing Facilities for Grid Applications
Total expansion adds 40,000 square feet of space for additional staff, training, manufacturing, a clean room, and outdoor grid distribution testing lab CORNING, NEW YORK, (November 19, 2021) – Micatu Incorporated, a leader in cutting-edge optical sensing technology, finalized Phase I of its expansion with the completion of a new office and training space in upstate New York. The […]
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Press Releases
ExxonMobil Introduces Mobil™ Solvancer® Oil-Soluble Cleaner to Help Power Generation and Petrochemical Companies Improve Equipment Reliability and Performance
Developed in partnership with Fluitec®, Mobil™ Solvancer® is an oil-soluble cleaner designed for gas and steam turbine applications, compressors and hydraulic systems. Can be added to in-service oils to help quickly dissolve varnish and organic deposits, supporting oil conversions, alleviating varnish-related operational issues, and helping with oil life extension. Gentle on systems and compatible with […]
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Gas
Breakthrough: NET Power’s Allam Cycle Test Facility Delivers First Power to ERCOT Grid
NET Power, developer of the novel Allam-Fetvedt supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle, says its 50-MWth test facility in La Porte, Texas, delivered power to the grid overnight on Nov. 16. The achievement marks a major milestone for the potentially revolutionary technology for which several commercial power plants are already under development. NET Power, a business venture […]
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T&D
FPL and SDG&E Win Awards for Outstanding Reliability
PA Consulting recognized Florida Power & Light (FPL) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) as co-recipients of the global consultancy’s National Reliability Award. The prestigious award is presented to “the utility that showcases a focus on customer service, technology deployment, operational successes, and data and analytics.” It’s only the second time in the award’s […]
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Nuclear
Coal Plant Site Unveiled for 500-MW Natrium Advanced Nuclear Pilot
A site at PacifiCorp’s retiring 600-MW coal and gas–fired Naughton Power Plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, will house the Natrium demonstration, a pioneering commercial-scale 500-MW project that will pair a 345-MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. Project stakeholders on Nov. 16 unveiled the site for the federally backed demonstration, which will validate […]