Engineering
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O&M
The Role of Lubricants in Wind Turbine Gearbox Applications
As the renewable energy sector continues to grow, so does the complexity of technology and equipment such as wind turbines, solar arrays, and transmission infrastructure. Gear oils and lubricants are crucial for the reliable operation of gearboxes, enabling wind turbines to run smoothly and efficiently.
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Commentary
Data Is the New Diesel: Understanding the Role of Telematics in the EV Transition
The fleet industry is approaching a pivotal juncture, with electrification increasingly positioned as a potential path forward for businesses working to reduce emissions and operating costs. Yet, during this period with evolving expectations and uncertain environmental regulations, the direction and pace of this transition remain fluid. While momentum is building around the shift from traditional […]
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O&M
Outage and Grid Alerts Catalyst for Replacing Obsolete Valves, Actuators
When an electric utility with a power plant in the southwestern U.S. prepared for a planned, major outage on its two Siemens 501D turbines, the plant’s manager requested a repair quote for two directional control valves and two gas valves attached to each turbine. “We had a problem with one of our controllers that lead […]
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Nuclear
Understanding TerraPower’s Natrium Reactor Design and Demonstration Project Progress
In the proverbial shadow of the Naughton Power Plant, a station in Kemmerer, Wyoming, that will stop burning coal at the end of this year, TerraPower is constructing what it calls “the only advanced, non-light-water reactor in the Western Hemisphere being built today.” The project represents more than just a new power source—it’s a symbolic […]
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O&M
Eaton, TVA Turning Retired Bull Run Coal Plant into Critical Grid Asset
Intelligent power management company Eaton is working with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to repurpose the utility’s retired Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tennessee, into a critical asset supporting reliable and clean energy. The two groups on June 25 noted the importance of maintaining grid stability as more electricity comes from variable renewable energy […]
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Commentary
How Digital Modeling of Materials Will Make Next Generation Nuclear Possible
A revolution is underway in the nuclear energy sector. For the first time in decades, the field is brimming with urgency, ambition, and capital. Buoyed by growing energy demands, geopolitical recalibration, and climate pressures, nuclear power is undergoing a renaissance, one that will be driven not just by next-generation reactor designs, but by the materials […]
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Hydrogen
Delivering Decentralised Hydrogen Safely
By their very nature, all chemical fuels contain energy that needs to be released easily and are therefore inherently flammable. However, if that release is not sufficiently controlled, it presents a significant injury risk both to people and property through explosions and fires. Hydrogen, of course, is especially flammable. Counterintuitively, when it comes to safety, […]
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Nuclear
DOE Opens Door to Private-Sector Demonstrations at MARVEL Nuclear Microreactor Test Bed
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is inviting private-sector nuclear developers to submit proposals for experiments and demonstrations using its Microreactor Application Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) project. The first-of-its-kind operational test bed for advanced microreactor technologies is now 90% through its final design phase, with key components already under fabrication. Idaho National Laboratory (INL), […]
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Hydrogen
Improve Product Quality and Yield
Our state-of-the-art lab aims to replicate and optimize real operating conditions so that you can maximize the hydroprocessing component of your facility. Learn how today.
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Geothermal
XGS Energy, Meta Partner for 150-MW Advanced Geothermal Project
XGS Energy and Meta Platforms announced announced an agreement to support development of 150 MW of next-generation geothermal energy in New Mexico. The groups on June 12 said XGS Energy’s proprietary geothermal technology, which enables geothermal power production with zero operating water use, will be deployed to the state’s PNM electric grid and support Meta’s […]
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Trends
Out of Sync: The Infrastructure Misalignment Undermining the U.S. Grid
U.S. power infrastructure—the intricate physical fabric that laces together generation, transmission, and distribution—is under intensifying strain. Outdated and overextended, it must now absorb relentless growth from electrification and data centers or risk escalating reliability threats, surging costs, and a weakened global competitive edge. POWER examines the dysfunction and what it will actually take to future-proof […]
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Energy Storage
Energy Vault Brings Texas-Based BESS Online With New Strategy
Energy Vault Holdings, a company that provides sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, on June 11 announced the successful completion and start of commercial operation of the 57-MW, two-hour Cross Trails battery energy storage system (BESS) in Scurry County, Texas. The project, which marks the first fully executed asset under Energy Vault’s “Own & Operate” growth strategy, was completed ahead of schedule and will be supported by a 10-year offtake agreement with Gridmatic, a leading AI-enabled power marketer.
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Interview
The POWER Interview: Advanced Technologies Support Microgrid Movement
Microgrids have grown in importance as the need for a reliable and resilient supply of power has grown. The technology has proven itself for a variety of commercial and industrial (C&I) enterprises, in both urban and rural areas where a source of off-grid—or in some cases grid-connected—energy is needed, whether a backup power or as a primary source of electricity.
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Renewables
A First for India: GE Vernova Commissions Pumped Storage Unit at Hydro Complex
Energy equipment group GE Vernova said it has commissioned the first of four 250-MW variable speed units at THDC India Limited’s Tehri Pumped Storage Hydropower Plant, part of the Tehri Hydropower Complex. The 1-GW expansion will increase the facility’s power generation capacity to 2.4 GW, making it the country’s largest hydropower plant.
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Trends
Meet the Tools Helping Power Companies Separate Threats from Noise
As threats to power companies rise—from cyberattacks to theft and vandalism—many utilities are rethinking how to secure facilities and critical infrastructure. Outdated systems that constantly trigger false alarms from wind, weather, or wildlife are draining resources—making it imperative for utilities to modernize their security to improve response, cut costs and reduce reliance on armed personnel. […]
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T&D
Hitachi, Southwest Power Pool Join to Develop AI-Based Grid Solution
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) regional transmission organization (RTO) is joining with energy technology company Hitachi on development of what the groups say is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution to support power transmission reliability and flexibility challenges.
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Data Centers
UK’s National Grid Investing Billions for Substation Site to Power Data Centers
National Grid in the UK has begun construction of a new Uxbridge Moor substation complex in Buckinghamshire, a project designed to connect more than one dozen new data centers to the electricity provider’s network.
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Data Centers
Natural Gas, Energy Storage at Heart of New Group’s Data Center Power Concept
A startup company led by former executives with major technology and energy groups is betting on the use of natural gas and battery energy storage to provide data centers with on-site power, freeing those sites from reliance on the traditional power grid.
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T&D
Why Grid Hardening Needs to Be Smarter, Not Just Stronger
While many utilities are hardening power grid infrastructure by upgrading poles and wires—a necessary step—brute force solutions alone won’t be enough. To truly future-proof the grid, resilience must be rooted in intelligence via systems that anticipate, adapt, and respond dynamically.
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Research and Development
Tackling Weld Failures in Thermal Energy Storage Tanks
Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants with thermal energy storage (TES) systems face significant material challenges. Specifically, industry-standard 347H austenitic stainless steel used in the manufacture of molten salt tanks can be subject to severe stress relaxation cracking (SRC). The results of a consortium project could have an answer for the problem. The findings suggest that […]
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T&D
How Grid Edge Computing Is Revolutionizing Real-Time Power Management
The speed of decision-making at the grid edge has become critical for maintaining stability, preventing cascading failures, optimizing efficiency and integrating intermittent renewable resources. With the proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs), electric vehicles and smart loads, grid edge intelligence has moved from a luxury to a necessity.
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Commentary
Microgrids with Hydrogen: Supporting Energy Systems for the 21st Century
Why microgrids with hydrogen for backup power will create significant benefits for consumers and utilities. The energy grid in the U.S., particularly in regions like California, Texas, and the Northeast, is overstretched and increasingly unable to meet modern demands. California’s grid, for instance, is facing unprecedented strain with the sale of more electric vehicles (EVs), […]
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O&M
Benefits, Challenges of Integrating Smart Boiler Systems at Modern Power Plants
Modern power plants have many critical demands, including the need for more efficient energy management, enhanced safety and security, and reduced power consumption. Integrating a smart boiler system is essential to meeting these challenges. These advanced systems enable precise temperature control, optimize energy usage, and offer unparalleled operational convenience that transforms how power facilities manage […]
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Commentary
Rethinking Emergency Power: Hydrogen and the Future of Disaster Resilience
Today’s energy resilience toolkit includes a growing array of technologies, including diesel generators, natural gas systems, lithium-ion battery storage, solar-plus-battery microgrids—and now, a new class of hydrogen-based solutions that generate clean electricity from moisture in the air. No single option is universally ideal, but understanding their strengths and applications can help communities build more robust and flexible emergency energy strategies.
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Electrification
Sonnen, Energy Groups Join for Major Texas VPP Project
Abundance Energy, sonnen, and Energywell Technology Licensing on May 6 said they will work together on development of behind-the-meter, battery-enabled VPPs. The program is designed to support retail energy customers of Texas-based Abundance Energy, while also providing support for the state’s power grid.
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Fiction
Marnie Surfaceblow: The Scrubber Corrosion Case: How Manganese Disrupted Operations
Plant wastewater is not only an increasing environmental concern, but improper monitoring and treatment may lead to unexpected operations and maintenance problems as well. “I have a question Mrs
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Power
How Super Crystalline Nanomaterial Applied to Solar Power Cables and Connectors Can Improve System Efficiency
In 2025, as the Paris Agreement marks its tenth year since its signing, the global energy structure has entered a critical transformation phase. While solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have become an important pillar that supports the goal of net-zero emissions, challenges in terms of power losses from generation remain. It is imperative to effectively minimize […]
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Solar
The Solar Industry Is Getting Smarter About Storm Defense
Stowing capabilities, tougher modules, and real-time data are the new frontline in solar’s fight against extreme weather. Alex Roedel and Jyoti Jain, Nextracker The global climate crisis is reshaping the way we think about energy resilience. As extreme weather increases, utility-scale solar projects face a new era of challenges. Advanced solar tracker systems, control and […]
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Data Centers
Aggreko Expands Data Center Solutions with Liquid-Cooled Load Bank
Aggreko said it has launched a 500-kW liquid-cooled resistive load bank, purpose-built for liquid-to-liquid data center commissioning and testing for North American customers. The energy solutions group said the load bank enables the testing of data center liquid cooling systems to ensure they will keep server racks within their optimal operating parameters, a key part […]
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Solar
Solar and Steel Offer Resilience Against Breakage, Tariffs, Supply Chain Woes
The commercial solar industry, now more than 50 years old, is facing a pivotal moment. Years of rapid growth—driven by exponentially falling costs and rising demand—are running up against global supply chain instability, geopolitical tensions, and structural vulnerabilities in the latest module designs.