Business
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News
Fund Manager to Banks: Stop Financing Coal Plants
A UK-based hedge fund billionaire is urging large central banks to end their funding of coal-fired power plant projects. Chris Hohn, founder of TCI Fund Management and a champion of causes to combat climate change, expressed his concerns in letters published March 1 to the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, Barclays, HSBC, and […]
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News
Economics Hamper Power Improvements in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has been battered by natural disasters in recent years, with hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and a series of earthquakes in late December 2019 and early January 2020, causing widespread damage
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Solar
Novel Stellio Heliostat Solar Project Goes Online in China
One of the world’s first molten salt tower concentrated solar power (CSP) projects that uses a “Stellio” heliostat was grid-connected at the end of December in China’s Xinjiang province near the
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O&M
Changes in Boiler Operations Bring Innovations in Erosion and Corrosion Protection
Metal loss of the pressurized tubes inside the boiler is a big concern for boiler designers and operators. Changing fuel composition and other service parameters can lead to accelerated erosion and corrosion
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Nuclear
A New Frontier for Nuclear Fuels
Though much attention has been focused on the exciting realm of nuclear reactor technology innovation, major efforts to improve nuclear fuels—and boost power generation safety and economics—are underway
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News
Driving Change on the Grid—The Impact of EV Adoption
Utilities and other power generators need to prepare now for increased loads as the electrification of transportation grows. As with any challenge, opportunities exist for those willing to invest in electric
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O&M
Novel System Uses Condenser Water for District Heating
Conventional district heating systems are generally designed around the load. However, an alternate approach would be to design around potential heat sources, including the waste heat from power plants. Many
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O&M
New Technology Improves Refractory Maintenance and Shutdown Planning
Power plants require regular maintenance outages to stay in top condition, but shutdown periods can be stressful. New tools are available that can save time, reduce labor costs, and improve safety. The
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Water
Types of Filtration Systems Used for Wastewater Applications
The liquid filtration process is an important step in various applications that reuse water within systems. This article provides details on the types of filtration systems available and the benefits of each
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POWER Podcasts
The POWER Podcast Archive Vol. 2
The POWER Podcast is available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, iHeart, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and some other podcast apps. Follow the links below to subscribe via your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube YouTube Music Amazon Music iHeart TuneIn SoundCloud The POWER Podcast Archive (March 9, 2019 – Feb. 28, 2020) Are […]
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Interview
Georgia Commissioner: EVs Help Utilities and Ratepayers
There’s general agreement among industry analysts that sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will continue to grow. Those same analysts, though, may not agree on the pace of growth. BloombergNEF (BNEF) in its “Electric Vehicle Outlook 2019” report said it expects yearly passenger EV sales will hit 10 million in 2025, up from just more than […]
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News
Fast Fixes to California’s ‘New Normal’ of Power Outages
Experts say the solution is simple: increase the role of distributed renewables and deploy energy storage-based microgrids throughout the state. As California continues to cope with looming scheduled blackouts, the harsh reality is that not only is this the new normal for citizens and businesses on the West Coast, but it could remain that way […]
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Connected Plant
15 Digitalization Game Changers in Power, Chemical Processing
Each year, the Connected Plant Conference, presented by POWER and Chemical Engineering, recognizes people who are in the front line of implementing digital technologies in the power and chemical process industries. This year, we congratulate the following winners of the “Game Changer” awards, who will be honored at the Connected Plant Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, […]
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News
Research Group: Energy Storage Market Will Hit $546 Billion by 2035
A new report from a global research, data, and analytics firm says the total market for energy storage will reach $546 billion in annual revenue over the next 15 years, led by the continued electrification of the transportation sector. Lux Research, a Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered group, in its “Global Energy Storage Market 2019” report, estimates the […]
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Press Releases
Doosan Skoda Power Will Modernize Turbines in Slovak Nuclear Plant
Pilsen\Bratislava (2/25/2020) – Doosan Škoda Power, a Pilsen-based manufacturer and supplier of steam turbines and components for power-generating operations, has won a contract to modernize two turbine sets with a total capacity of 440 MW at Unit 1 of the Mochovce nuclear power plant (NPP), owned and operated by Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. Combined, the two […]
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News
The POWER Interview: Vicinity CEO Discusses District Energy
The rise of distributed, or decentralized, power generation has been supported by district energy, the generation from facilities and associated distribution networks supplying steam or hot water, chilled water, and electricity for heating and cooling to millions of square feet of building space across the U.S. and around the globe. District energy is among several […]
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Press Releases
Duke Energy Florida announces installation of one-millionth solar panel in state
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (February 24, 2020) — One million solar panels and counting… Duke Energy Florida today announced the installation of its one-millionth solar panel in the state at the company’s Columbia Solar Power Plant in Fort White, Fla. Duke Energy Florida plans to install a significant amount of additional solar energy over the next […]
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News
The New Due Diligence: Understanding the Climate-Related Vulnerabilities of Our Infrastructure
Rich Sorkin, CEO of Jupiter Intelligence As the reality of climate change begins to soak in, enterprises, organizations and governments around the globe are trying to get a handle on the economic and social implications of rising temperatures and sea levels. One area most immediately threatened by climate change—and one that hasn’t received nearly enough […]
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Press Releases
State Fund Launches Next Phase of Sustainability Plan with Comprehensive Energy Program Designed by ENGIE and JLL
PLEASANTON, California (Feb. 20, 2020) — State Compensation Insurance Fund (State Fund) and ENGIE North America today announced an agreement to build solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, energy storage systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across seven different State Fund locations throughout California. ENGIE and JLL jointly designed this comprehensive program to help State Fund […]
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News
TECO Announces $800-Million Investment in New Solar
Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) on Feb. 19 said it plans to invest about $800 million to add another 600 MW of solar power generation capacity by year-end 2023. TECO on Wednesday said the expansion will increase its solar portfolio to more than 1.25 GW of solar generation, or about 14% of its total generation mix. […]
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IIOT
GE Research Leverages DOE’s Summit Supercomputer to Boost Jet Engine and Power Generation Equipment Efficiency
NISKAYUNA, N.Y., Feb. 19, 2020 – GE Research, the central technology development arm for GE, has been awarded access to the world’s #1-ranked supercomputer to discover new ways to optimize the efficiency of jet engines and power generation equipment. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the GE project among 47 winners in the 15th year of its Innovative […]
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Nuclear
Exclusive: Why Oklo’s Demonstration of HALEU Could Be Groundbreaking for New Nuclear
In an exclusive interview, executives from Silicon Valley–based Oklo, a company Idaho National Laboratory (INL) chose this week to demonstrate the first-of-its-kind use of recycled high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel in its full-size Aurora micro-reactor, told POWER that the project could have broad implications for the future of nuclear power. Marking a significant boost for […]
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Press Releases
Framatome signs service contracts with Finnish utility TVO to support long-term operation of Olkiluoto 3 EPR
Feb. 19, 2020 – Framatome signed a series of service contracts with Finnish utility TVO for the long-term operation of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR. These contracts cover nuclear plant outage and maintenance scopes, including engineering, I&C and non-destructive testing services over an extended period of time. “These contracts mark an important step as we work […]
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Nuclear
France Announces Fessenheim Nuclear Power Plant Closure
France, which has long relied on reactors to supply the bulk of the country’s electricity, on Feb. 19 announced the imminent closure of the Fessenheim nuclear plant, located on the country’s border with Germany. One of the plant’s two 920-MW pressurized water reactors will shut down within days, with the second taken offline by the […]
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News
UAE’s First Reactor Gets Go-Ahead
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to begin commercial operation of the Middle East’s first nuclear power plant, after the country’s regulatory agency on Feb. 17 gave its approval for the start-up of the first reactor at the Barakah site. The plant can now begin loading fuel, and Unit 1 is expected to come […]
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Nuclear
Oklo Microreactor Is INL’s Pick for First-of-a Kind HALEU-Fueled Nuclear Demonstration
Oklo, developer of a 1.5-MW passive compact fast reactor, will be the first to receive high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) nuclear fuel from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to aid a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its Aurora microreactor, which could begin in 2024. Marking a significant boost for advanced nuclear innovation, which industry experts are banking on to […]
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Press Releases
Minesto signs PPA with electric utility SEV for utility-scale tidal energy installations
February 19, 2020 — Leading marine energy developer Minesto has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Faroese electric utility company SEV, advancing the parties’ collaboration to integrate tidal energy in the Faroe Island’s electricity mix. The PPA comprises both the planned installations of two 100kW systems of Minesto’s subsea kite technology and an […]
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Interview
Report: Global Transformer Market Will Exceed $90 Billion by 2026
A recent study from Global Market Insights, a global market research and management consulting company, shows the value of the global transformer market will exceed $90 billion by 2026. The company has a market report dedicated to the global transformers market. Ankit Gupta, a research manager at Global Market Insights, recently answered some questions from POWER […]
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Fuel
ITC Probing Economic Impact of Renewable Goals, Imports to New England
Responding to a request from a Democrat-led U.S. House committee, the federal International Trade Commission (ITC) is investigating how New England’s increasing renewable targets are economically affecting the region, and what role renewable imports play in meeting those commitments. The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan and quasi-judicial federal agency that also provides fact-finding as it relates […]
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News
Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Top Wind Turbine Growth
An energy and finance research group on Feb. 18 said Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s (SGRE’s) offshore wind installations make it far and away the market leader in that category, while Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas continues to lead the onshore and overall wind turbine market. The report published Tuesday from BloombergNEF (BNEF) said Vestas took […]