Business

  • POWER Digest [July 2019]

    Taishan-2 EPR Achieves Criticality. A second EPR unit in China’s Guangdong province attained a sustained chain reaction on May 28, marking another major milestone for Framatome, EDF, and China General

  • Charah Solutions to Open Third Facility Using New Grinding Technologies for Natural Pozzolan

    Facility Will Expand Charah Solutions’ Byproduct Sales Footprint Throughout Southern California LOUISVILLE, KY (June 27, 2019) – Charah® Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: CHRA) (the “Company”), a leading provider of environmental and maintenance services to the power generation industry, today announced that it will open a third facility using new patented grinding technologies to create supplementary cementitious […]

  • Long-Delayed EPR Nuclear Plants Face Further Holdups

    Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO), owner of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR (European Pressurized Water Reactor) nuclear unit that is under construction in Finland, has said fuel will not be loaded in the reactor before the end of August, while it awaits completion of a schedule review being conducted by the construction consortium. Meanwhile, EDF, which is […]

  • As Renewables Surge Ahead of Coal, Lawmakers Introduce National Renewable Standard 

    A bill introduced by Senate Democrats on June 26 establishes a national electricity standard that would require large retail suppliers to source at least 1.5% of their power from renewables by 2020 and gradually grow that share through 2035.  The measure comes a day after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed monthly generation from renewable […]

  • BrandSafway introduces BrandTech™ Power Distribution

    Innovative, new PDU revolutionizes circuit breaker design and reduces equipment costs by up to 40 percent Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, June 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) –BrandSafway is introducing the new BrandTech™ Power Distribution Unit, an Underwriters Laboratories (UL)/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) International-listed power distribution unit (PDU) with circuit breaker (CB) and ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It […]

  • How to Monitor and Predict Operational Performance with Digital Analytics [PODCAST]

    Power plants are capturing operational data in ever-increasing amounts. However, analyzing all the data can be challenging. A number of tools are available that can help. In this episode of The POWER Podcast, two experts from one technology provider explain how big data can be analyzed to identify trends and create actionable information to solve […]

  • Flender and Wikov announce service cooperation

    • Joint service for gear units from other manufacturers • Fast and competent repair centers • Global presence and reach Flender GmbH, Bocholt and Wikov Industry a.s., Prague announce a comprehensive service cooperation for gear units from other manufacturers. Both companies look forward to this long-term and sustainable partnership. Plant operators will benefit from Flender’s […]

  • EPA Urges States to Submit CCR Programs Even as Coal Ash Regulatory Overhaul Continues

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 24 proposed to partially approve Georgia’s permit program for the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR). As it did so, it gave other states some advice: Follow Georgia’s lead and assume oversight of coal ash that power plants dispose within your borders. The preliminary approval marks another important […]

  • Wood continues growth in Norway with two new Equinor contracts

    Wood has secured two new contracts from Equinor for onshore and offshore facilities in Norway. The contracts continue Wood’s successful track record of delivering engineering and technical services to Equinor – both in-country and globally – for more than two decades. In the first of the new contracts, Wood will deliver FEED (front-end engineering design) […]

  • Deep Isolation Announces Memorandum of Agreement with Bechtel

    Deep Isolation, Inc. and Bechtel National, Inc. have announced a cooperative agreement on sales, product development, and the deployment of Deep Isolation’s patented technology. BERKELEY, Calif., June 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Deep Isolation, Inc., a leading innovator in nuclear waste disposal solutions, and Bechtel National, Inc., part of the largest engineering and construction company in the […]

  • Siemens Gamesa receives firm order for Ørsted’s 900 MW offshore wind power project in Taiwan

    • The company will install SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines at the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a project; Service agreement included • Siemens Gamesa will establish a nacelle assembly facility at Taichung Harbor for start of production in 2021, exceeding localization requirements • Local tower supply set-up through CS Wind and Chin Fong partnership […]

  • New Jersey’s First Offshore Wind Farm Will Be a Mammoth 1.1-GW Ørsted Project

    Danish renewables firm Ørsted’s 1.1-GW Ocean Wind project is the winner of New Jersey’s first award for offshore wind, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) said on June 21.  Ørsted, with support from Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG’s) non-utility affiliate, vied for the award with two other offshore wind developers that submitted bids […]

  • Energy Infrastructure on Tenuous Winning Streak in the Courts

    Federal courts have been pretty kind to energy infrastructure in recent weeks, particularly in cases involving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For starters, this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit removed one of the hurdles to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The court decided that a new presidential permit—issued […]

  • Nrby Announces New Features to Enhance and Drive Disaster Recovery Scenarios

    Nashua, NH, June 20, 2019 — Nrby, the only mobile workforce collaboration platform powered by SmartPins, today announced an upgrade designed to enable broadband service providers, telco’s and utility companies to get services back online in a faster and safer manner following a natural disaster, or related event. “When disasters occur, getting teams mobilized and organized […]

  • New Record for Solar PV Installations

    More than 2 million new solar PV installations were installed in the U.S. in the first three months of 2019—a new record for the first quarter of the year—according to the Wood Mackenzie/Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) U.S. Solar Market Insight report, which was released this week. Utilities led the way, installing 1.6 GWdc of […]

  • Apagón: A Blackout Sweeps South America

    Authorities have initiated a far-reaching investigation into an unprecedented blackout that on June 16 hit a wide swath of South America—most of Argentina and Uruguay, and parts of Paraguay—affecting tens of millions of people.  The massive blackout—apagón—is thought to have originated in a disturbance that affected two high-voltage lines, Colonia Elia Y Mercedes and Colonia […]

  • How Energy Companies Can Attract (and Keep) the Best Tech Professionals

    The digital revolution is transforming the way that many sectors work and the energy industry is on its way to becoming one of the biggest benefactors of this change. Although there’s no doubt it’s yet to be exploited to its full potential, new innovations and improved processes will see a far greater take-up as organizations […]

  • EPA Finalizes ACE Rule, Replaces Clean Power Plan

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule to formally replace the Obama administration’s controversial Clean Power Plan (CPP).  Like the CPP, the June 19–issued final ACE rule will regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs), and it will be founded firmly on the agency’s 2009 Endangerment Finding. However, the ACE rule focuses […]

  • Simec Atlantis and GE Power Build Strategic Partnership to Develop Tidal Stream Application at Commercial Scale

    GE’s Power Conversion business will provide the full electrical system integrated into Atlantis tidal stream turbine for significant potential to create new, cleaner power generation capacity RUGBY, ENGLAND— 19 June 2019—GE’s Power Conversion business is recently chosen by SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited (Atlantis) as their preferred supplier to deliver the electrical systems that will power […]

  • McDermott Announces Substantial Completion of Entergy Louisiana’s St. Charles Power Station

    HOUSTON, June 19, 2019 – McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) announced today it successfully achieved substantial completion of Entergy Louisiana’s St. Charles Power Station, a combined-cycle gas power station in Montz, Louisiana. This milestone means the plant has now been turned over to the owner and has begun commercial operations. “McDermott is pleased to announce […]

  • Portland General Electric: New law will boost zero-emission vehicles in Oregon, reducing state’s impact on climate change

    PORTLAND, Ore., June 19, 2019 — Oregon took a major step forward toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector thanks to Senate Bill 1044, passed in the Legislature Tuesday and headed to Gov. Kate Brown for her signature. “With the passage of Senate Bill 1044, Oregon is helping lead the nation on how to transition to a cleaner, modern transportation […]

  • Siemens Will Cut Another 2,700 Jobs; GE Announces Cuts in Switzerland

    Siemens on June 18 said it would cut 2,700 jobs from its Gas and Power division, on top of 10,400 positions the German engineering firm last month said it would jettison as part of cost-cutting measures. The Siemens’ announcement comes one day after U.S.-based rival GE said it would cut 450 jobs at two of […]

  • Voith supplies water to wire solution for small hydropower plant in Burundi

    Project is of high national importance since it will support the economic and social development for the local population Works on the East African small hydropower plant Kabu 16 started in March 2019 Significant small hydropower potential in Africa HEIDENHEIM/CIBITOKE PROVINCE. The technology group Voith has won an order to design, manufacture and supply the […]

  • Siemens Gamesa conditionally awarded order for 376 MW Formosa 2 offshore wind project in Taiwan

    • 47 SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines to be provided • 20-year full Service agreement included • Offshore construction to begin in 2020 • Firm order subject to final investment decision by consortium partners Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has conditionally received an order for the supply of offshore wind turbines including a 20-year […]

  • The POWER Interview: Navigant Navigates Changing Energy Landscape

    The rapid evolution of the world’s power generation landscape is creating challenges for utilities and others in the energy space, as power plant owners and operators adapt to new technologies and changing business models. Jan Vrins, managing director and segment leader for Navigant’s global Energy practice, is immersed in this change. Vrins, who joined Navigant […]

  • Cummins Supplies Natural Gas Generators for Major Distributed Generation Project with UK Power Reserve

    26 sites combine to offer more than 500 Megawatts of Power to the UK National Grid, supporting the UK’s Goals of Decarbonization and Higher Renewable Penetration RAMSGATE, KENT– Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), as supplier of natural gas generators, has helped UK Power Reserve (UKPR), part of the Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries group, to provide additional 500 […]

  • Russelectric Announces Distributed Energy Controller

    Integrated microgrid control solution improves power quality and decreases energy costs Hingham, MA – Russelectric, a leading manufacturer of automatic transfer switches and power control systems and solutions, announces its new Russelectric Distributed Energy Controller (RDEC™). RDEC is a fully integrated controller for complex, mission critical distributed energy systems, ranging from back-up generation and demand […]

  • Wärtsilä and Summit sign Bangladesh’s biggest-ever service agreement to maintain Summit’s 464-MW power plants

    The technology group Wärtsilä has signed two major maintenance management and operational advisory agreements with Summit Group, the largest independent power producer (IPP) in Bangladesh and longstanding partner. The seven-year agreements represent the biggest ever signed service deals, in terms of MW generation, in the Bangladesh energy sector. The orders were booked by Wärtsilä in Q2, […]

  • The POWER Interview: Technology Helps Integrate Renewables to the Grid

    Patrick Lee, who founded and leads PXiSE Energy Solutions, a subsidiary of San Diego, California-based Sempra Energy, is a proponent of energy sharing. His company builds enhanced grid management systems, using data, insights, and algorithms “to maximize efficiency and reliability of all DERs [distributed energy resources] as one system.” In other words, a PXiSE-supported microgrid […]

  • TRITON/TRISIS Cyberattacker Has a New Target: Power Sector

    XENOTIME, a cyberthreat activity group thought responsible for TRISIS/TRITON malware attacks on safety instrumented systems (SIS) at an oil and gas Middle Eastern facility in 2017, has been probing power company networks in the U.S. and elsewhere, new intelligence from industrial control systems (ICS) security firm Dragos shows.  “In February 2019, Dragos identified a change in […]