Business

  • Minimize Unscheduled Downtime Due to Filtration Deficiencies

    Traditional plants are turning to automatic self-cleaning strainers to provide more reliable cooling, reduce required maintenance, and improve uptime. With greater intrusion into the market from renewables, traditional power generation plants are under pressure to produce more efficiently and cost-effectively. Consequently, more than ever, there is no room for any unscheduled downtime. While not the […]

  • GE’s synchronous condensers help Terna provide reliable electricity for Italy

    GE Steam Power receives new order for two synchronous condensers and flywheel units for the Brindisi Terna substation in southern Italy Will supply a combined 500 MVAr reactive power and 3500 MWs inertia to help stabilize Italy’s grid and support the integration of more renewable energy Powered by GE’s portfolio of renewable steam power offerings, […]

  • Texas Electric Cooperatives and Exelon Clearsight Form Alliance to Provide UAS Inspection Services to Electric Utilities in Texas

    Cutting-edge technology will help electric utilities in Texas maintain electrical assets AUSTIN, Texas, May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (TEC) and Exelon Clearsight, LLC (Exelon Clearsight) announced they have formed a partnership to bring advanced UAS (drone), robot, and software enabled inspections to utilities in Texas. Under the agreement, TEC will […]

  • Nuclear Reactor with 3D-Printed Core Slated for Operation in 2023

    A first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor that will use a 3D-printed core, advanced materials, and integrated sensors and controls is on track for completion by 2023. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, work is ramping up to demonstrate the Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR), an innovative micro-reactor program spearheaded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and project partners, to include […]

  • Voith and Moog successfully established a strategic business alliance

    BOEBLINGEN/HEIDENHEIM. The global technology company Voith Group and Moog Inc., both developers, manufacturers and suppliers of electric, hydraulic and hybrid drive solutions, have signed the contracts to form the joint venture HMS – Hybrid Motion Solutions GmbH based in Rutesheim on 29 April 2020. The joint venture provides for a strategic partnership to expand the […]

  • Trump Ban on Foreign Bulk Power Equipment Triggers New Uncertainty

    Declaring a national emergency over threats to the U.S. bulk power system (BPS), President Trump in an executive order (EO) on May 1 issued a sweeping ban on transactions by U.S. persons for electric equipment sourced abroad if the U.S. government determines they pose undue security risks. Because foreign adversaries are “increasingly creating and exploiting […]

  • Wärtsilä Gas Engines Will Burn 100% Hydrogen

    May 5, 2020 — The technology group Wärtsilä is developing the combustion process in its gas engines to enable them to burn 100% hydrogen fuel.Wärtsilä has researched hydrogen as a fuel for 20 years, and has tested its engines with blends of up to 60% hydrogen and 40% natural gas. This development is part of […]

  • Framatome and the Technical University of Munich to develop new fuel for research reactor

    May 4, 2020 – Framatome and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) recently began the commercial development of uranium-molybdenum fuel (UMo) for nuclear research reactors. Framatome and TUM will design and install the fuel manufacturing production line, and develop, produce and irradiate new fuel prototypes. The project will take place at the CERCA Research and Innovation […]

  • Peoples Natural Gas Adopts SAP S/4HANA® as the Foundation for Future Transformation as Part of Essential Utilities

    May 4, 2020 – SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) announced that Peoples Natural Gas has completed its conversion to SAP S/4HANA®, laying the technical groundwork for ongoing innovation and business transformation. Acquired by Essentials Utilities in March, Peoples provides natural gas to about 740,000 homes and businesses in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. The company has been […]

  • Dominion Energy Virginia Quadruples Renewable Energy and Energy Storage in Long-Term Integrated Resource Plan

    More than 300% increase in projected solar and wind generation development as compared to last year’s integrated resource plan update filing; Energy storage grows by more than 700% Reflects targets mandated in Virginia Clean Economy Act Diverse fuel mix provides reliability, affordability and regional emissions reductions Expansion of renewable and energy storage resources will put […]

  • Nautilus Solar Energy Closes Debt Financing With National Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada

    SUMMIT, N.J., April 29, 2020 — Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC (“Nautilus”), a leading owner-operator of distributed generation and community solar projects located throughout North America closed a $90 million debt financing agreement led by National Bank of Canada “NBC” and including Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) as lender. The financing consists of a $75 million […]

  • Offshore Wind Finding Direction in U.S.

    Europe has a big head start globally when it comes to generating power from offshore wind installations. The U.S. has lagged due to a variety of factors, including the need to work through regulatory issues

  • A Nuclear Power Side Venture: Medical Isotope Production

    Earlier this year, nuclear technology giant Framatome and power sector lifecycle management service company Kinectrics launched an Ontario-based joint venture, Isogen, whose mission is to enable the use of

  • Innovative Distributed Generation Projects Provide Power to Remote Areas

    Remote communities have become testing grounds for innovative power projects. These areas traditionally have been powered by fossil fuel generation, usually diesel fuel or oil and sometimes natural gas, and

  • Coal Plant Conversion to Non-Recyclable Plastic Waste Combustion Advances

    A hundred metric tons of innovative fuel pellets derived entirely from biogenic and plastic waste material—which would otherwise be bound for a landfill—have been successfully produced, marking a

  • Is Geothermal Power on the Brink of a Boom?

    After several years of stagnancy, prospects for the geothermal power industry are heating up. Over the past year, it has seen a flurry of legislative boosts, an uptick of power purchase agreements, and

  • THE BIG PICTURE (Infographic): Capital Costs

    The Energy Information Administration (EIA) in February 2020 published capital costs and performance characteristic estimates for 25 new electric power generating technologies. These estimates come from global engineering and design firm Sargent & Lundy (S&L), which the EIA commissioned to help accurately reflect the changing cost of new power generation technologies for the Annual Energy […]

  • POWER Digest [May 2020]

    OPG Reaches First Criticality at Darlington 2, Delays Work at Unit 3. Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) Darlington Unit 2 reactor, the first of four reactors the company is overhauling at the Darlington

  • A Protocol for Making Renewable Energy Sizing and Selection Decisions

    Much has been written about renewable energy, but few stories have focused on the complexity of determining the optimal mix of solar and wind generation, and the kind and amount of energy storage, that

  • Electric Vehicle Fleets and Load Demand: Are You Ready for the Surge?

    Electric vehicle adoption is expected to continue growing, especially in delivery and service company fleets. That means load demand could surge, particularly around charging depots, and utilities must plan

  • Benefits of Battery Storage-Based Black-Start Capability

    Maintaining grid reliability and stability is increasingly challenging as renewable energy resources are added to the power mix. Combining battery storage systems with gas turbine units can improve overall

  • Rethinking Redundancy Design Guidelines in the Power Industry

    The power industry is undergoing massive transformational change with the emergence of renewables, battery storage, smart grids, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, and more. Perhaps the timing is right to

  • Technology in Construction: Predicting and Adapting to Change

    This is Part I in a series that identifies technology trends in the construction industry, and offers expert advice on how companies can prepare for changes that lie ahead. Predicting how technology will

  • How to Effectively Minimize Power Plant Water Usage

    Power plants across the U.S. are working to minimize water use in order to comply with regulatory requirements and offset the growing cost of water. This article offers some important recommendations to manage

  • POWER Nuclear Notebook: Centrus Deal for Commercial HALEU Supply, Potential Advanced Reactor Demonstration in Ohio

    Several industry-led developments and a possible new advanced nuclear demonstration have been announced since the White House working group laid out a national strategy to revive the nuclear industry last week. Centrus Energy on April 28 signed a letter of intent with Advanced Reactor Concepts (ARC), developer of a 100-MWe sodium-cooled fast-reactor design, that potentially […]

  • Regulator Conducts Skype Inspection for Nuclear Power Project

    Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), which regulates the nation’s nuclear power industry, completed a scheduled inspection of RAOS Project via Skype due to quarantine and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. RAOS Project is a subsidiary of Rusatom Energo International, a division of Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom. RAOS Project is […]

  • Industry Seeks Clarity on White House Nuclear Strategy

    Propelled in part by the White House Nuclear Fuel Working Group’s (NFWG’s) recent roadmap to strengthen the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle, the nation’s nuclear industry this week blazed ahead on efforts to energize a U.S. commercial fuel supply that it says will be crucial for the widespread development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.  At […]

  • What’s the Cheapest New-Build Power Technology?

    Onshore wind and photovoltaic (PV) solar power are the cheapest forms of new-build power generation for at least two-thirds of the world’s population, according to analysis published by research company BloombergNEF (BNEF). Meanwhile, battery storage has become the lowest-cost new-build technology for peaking purposes in gas-importing regions, such as Europe, China, and Japan. BNEF reported […]

  • Competitive Power Ventures Helps Avoid More Than 15 Million Tons of Carbon Dioxide

    Braintree, MA — Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) celebrates Earth Day by announcing that more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been avoided since 2011 because of the company’s new, highly-efficient electric generation facilities, which is the equivalent of removing more than 3 million cars from the road for a year. CPV […]

  • GE Reports $1 Billion Hit to Cash Flow

    General Electric (GE) on April 29 reported a steep drop in first-quarter revenue, with the industrial giant—like many companies—taking a major hit from the coronavirus pandemic. The company reported a year-over-year revenue decline of 8%, with posted revenue of $20.524 billion, and noted a $1 billion negative impact to cash flow during the quarter. The […]