Full Coverage
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Nuclear
War and Nuclear Energy: Risks Are Enormous for Power Industry and World
Nuclear power can be a highly important component of a country’s energy security strategy. This is true for several reasons. Nuclear plants provide consistent baseload power that is not dependent on weather
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Full Coverage
The Solid-State Shift: Reinventing the Transformer for Modern Grids
Transformers have been the backbone of power grids for over a century, but today’s demands for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and smarter grids are exposing their limits. Enter solid-state transformers—compact, efficient, and intelligent power solutions poised to revolutionize how electricity is distributed and managed. The push to modernize the grid is exposing critical shortcomings of […]
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Sustainability
Passive Heat from City Sewer Used to Heat and Cool Museum
Through a cutting-edge heat exchange system, the Museum of Bavarian History in Regensburg, Germany, efficiently heats and cools its building, showcasing a promising solution for urban decarbonization and clean
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Commentary
The Critical Role Engineers and STEM Educators Play in Addressing Climate Change Challenges
Even with the end of hurricane season, America was once again reminded of the tragic and devastating impact that extreme weather and hurricanes can have on our communities. This hurricane season brought
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Connected Plant
How Mobile Solutions Are Transforming Utility Network Operations
The electric power sector is undergoing a digital transformation with mobile applications playing a crucial role by enabling real-time data sharing and more efficient grid management. Innovative technology is
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O&M
How to Prevent Oxygen Pitting in Boilers: A Safer Alternative to Hydrazine
Experienced boiler operators know that oxygen can cause localized, severe corrosion in steam boiler systems through a process called oxygen pitting. This occurs when dissolved oxygen in the water comes into
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News
POWER Magazine January 2025 Issue Preview
POWER is the one brand that addresses all electric power generation and related technologies and fuels across North America and around the world, providing insight into this increasingly complex industry. Established in 1882, it is dedicated to providing its global audience with exclusive analysis of the latest trends, best practices, and power generation and related […]
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Nuclear
Pakistan Will Build Another Chinese-Designed Nuclear Power Unit
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) issued a construction license to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5), on Dec. 26. PAEC applied for the construction license in April this year, along with the preliminary safety assessment report (PSAR) and other licensing submissions covering design and operational aspects of […]
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Renewables
Texas Coal Plant Will Convert to Solar Plus Storage with Help of Fed Funding
San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. (SMECI), a not-for-profit generation and transmission rural electric cooperative located in Atascosa County, Texas, was awarded more than $1.4 billion through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program. With the money, SMECI, which operates a mine-mouth lignite-fired power plant, said it will convert its lignite […]
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International
Russia Hits Ukrainian Power Stations with Christmas Day Attacks
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, reported power outages across large areas of the country after Russia fired missiles against DTEK power stations in strikes on Christmas day. DTEK said it was the 13th massive attack on Ukrainian energy systems this year, and the 10th to target DTEK power stations. At least one long-time power […]
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Connected Plant
How Successful SCADA Implementation Improves Efficiency, Uptime, and Safety
Boiler systems play a crucial role across industrial, institutional, commercial, and other large-scale facilities. The systems are often complex and require meticulous oversight to ensure optimal performance and safety. This is where supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are vital in supporting the management of boiler rooms. SCADA platforms are advanced systems used to […]
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T&D
GE Vernova Wins Major HVDC Contract for South Korea’s Largest Power Grid Infrastructure Project
GE Vernova said it has been chosen through its joint venture, KAPES, by Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) to deliver its advanced high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) system, based on line commutated converter (LCC) technology, for the 500-kV Donghaean #2 to Dong-Seoul HVDC converter station project (EP2). This project, part of a larger 4-GW HVDC transmission link, […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Five Critical Insights from NERC’s 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment
Well over half of North America faces a potential shortage of electricity supplies in the coming years, compounded by surging demand growth, accelerating generator retirements, and delays in resource development, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has warned in its latest 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment (LTRA). The designated electric reliability organization’s (ERO’s) annual 10-year […]
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Data Centers
Understanding Uptime Institute’s Tier III Standard: A Guide to Data Center Electrical System Design
The Uptime Institute’s Tier standard is a globally recognized framework that classifies data centers into four tiers based on their infrastructure’s reliability, redundancy, and fault tolerance. These tiers—Tier I through Tier IV—provide a benchmark for data center performance, ranging from basic infrastructure (Tier I) to fully fault-tolerant systems (Tier IV). Each tier reflects specific design […]
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Partner Content
Future Electric Power Communication Networks Must Be Robust and Flexible: fgOTN Is the Best Choice
Fine grain Optical Transport Network (fgOTN) technology is optimal for future electric power communication networks. Developed under highly regarded international standards, fgOTN addresses limitations in traditional communication network systems by efficiently handling small-bandwidth services while providing high reliability and low latency. The global electric power industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation through the deployment of […]
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Gas
Why LVOE May Be a Better Decision-Making Tool Than LCOE for Power Companies
Most POWER readers are probably familiar with levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and levelized value of energy (LVOE) as metrics used to help evaluate potential power plant investment options. LCOE measures the average net present cost of electricity generation over a facility’s lifetime. It includes capital costs, fuel costs, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, financing […]
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Hydrogen
Advancements in Electrolyzer Technology Could Make Green Hydrogen Viable Sooner Than You Think
Historically, the mass production of green hydrogen has not been viewed as a viable alternative energy solution for our climate crisis. But recent technological advancements in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers offer new avenues for long-term viability and present an intriguing opportunity for manufacturers. Experts have long deemed electrolyzers as a central technology for meeting […]
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Legal & Regulatory
DOE Advances Three Potential NIETCs—High-Priority National Electric Transmission Corridors
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has advanced three potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) into Phase 3 of its designation process, focusing on areas with critical transmission constraints to enhance grid reliability and reduce consumer costs. The measure is historic—given no NIETCs currently exist despite a decades-long effort to establish them—and it marks […]
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Offshore Wind
2-GW Offshore Grid Connection Takes Shape in the German Baltic Sea
50Hertz, the transmission system operator (TSO) for eastern Germany, has awarded its Ostwind 4 project to GE Vernova, in consortium with Drydocks World, a DP World company that provides marine and offshore services to the renewable energy sector, among others. The project involves the design, construction, and commissioning of a 2-GW high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) electric […]
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O&M
Explosion at Coal Power Plant in South Africa Injures Nine
A transformer explosion at Eskom’s coal-fired 3.6-GW Matla Power Station in Mpumalanga, South Africa, on Dec. 12 injured nine employees, including one critically. The incident, caused by a ruptured high-pressure steam pipe, has underscored challenges faced by Eskom’s generating fleet, even as the state-owned maintains its suspension of load-shedding. The incident, reported at 5 p.m. […]
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Hydrogen
Siemens Energy Joins Forces for Bold 100% Hydrogen HL Gas Turbine Leap
Siemens Energy is teaming with UK power giant SSE to develop a combustion system that will allow its flagship SGT5-9000HL gas turbine to run 100% on hydrogen while maintaining the flexibility to operate with natural gas and blends of the two. The two companies on Dec. 9 launched “Mission H2 Power,” a project that will […]
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Nuclear
How Nuclear Power Could Help Decarbonize Industrial Steam Needs
Steam is used for a wide variety of critical processes across many industrial sectors. For example, the food and beverage industry uses steam for sterilization of food processing equipment; cooking, pasteurization, and sterilization of food products; cleaning and sanitizing production lines; and providing heat for various food preparation processes. Pulp and paper facilities use steam […]
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Gas
NET Power and CRC Team to Deploy 1 GW of Carbon-Free Gas Power Plants in California
NET Power, developer of a novel gas-fired power plant that captures all atmospheric emissions, will explore deploying up to 1 GW of power capacity in Northern California with partner California Resources Corp. (CRC), California’s largest oil and gas producer. CRC’s carbon management subsidiary, Carbon TerraVault (CTV), and NET Power signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) […]
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Nuclear
Six Companies Tapped for $2.7 Billion LEU Push to Boost Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has named six companies that will compete for 10-year contracts totaling $2.7 billion for the supply of low-enriched uranium (LEU) to support the nation’s nuclear power fleet. The initiative seeks to reduce reliance on Russian imports and foster strong commercial sector investment to build out a resilient fuel supply […]
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Solar
Best Practices for Mitigating Hail Damage to Solar Projects
Mitigating against the risk of hail for solar projects is both extremely complicated and more straightforward than you may think. Natural catastrophes (NatCat), particularly hail, pose a significant risk for solar projects and can lead to severe damage with cost impacts for projects and insurers. In this article, we look at the risk that hail […]
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Connected Plant
Why Power Companies Are Turning to Refurbished Parts for Plant System Upgrades
Amid growing pressure to optimize costs, dependability, and green initiatives, some power companies are beginning to reconsider their approaches to upgrading dated equipment. Refurbished elements provide a viable option to realize these objectives, enabling companies to address the challenges of power plant maintenance and upgrade. All plants need to be updated at some point in […]
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T&D
GE Vernova to Provide Grid-Stabilizing Technology for German Transmission System Operator
GE Vernova secured a contract with 50Hertz Transmission GmbH to deliver advanced STATCOM technology, supporting Germany’s transition to a renewable energy future The 300 Mvar FACTSFLEX GFM solution, with Grid Forming Control, will enhance grid stability and resilience as Germany integrates more renewable energy sources STATCOM units will be deployed at key substations in Germany, […]
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Engineering
EPRI Develops Power System Generic Models to Plan for an Increasingly Net-Zero Grid
Planning and operating a power system requires detailed grid studies to guide investment decisions and prepare for how the system may evolve over time. Long-term planning can identify the policy, regulatory, infrastructure, and operational updates that may be needed to achieve desired outcomes. Also, comprehensive planning can identify operating limits, determine performance improvements, assess mitigation […]
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Renewables
Study Finds 21 Regions with High Potential for the Development of Wind Farms in Cuba
Cuban researchers have identified 21 areas in the country with favorable conditions for the installation of wind farms. These areas are mainly located on the north-central-eastern coast, from the provinces of Camagüey to Holguín, in the south of the eastern region and in the westernmost southern portion of Pinar del Río province. Alfredo Rodríguez, coordinator […]
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Nuclear
Russia Advances REMIX Fuel Trials in Boost for Closed Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Russia has launched its third cycle of testing innovative uranium-plutonium REMIX fuel at the Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant in Saratov Oblast, a key step that advances the closed nuclear fuel cycle technology. Designed to recycle spent nuclear fuel (SNF), the REMIX assemblies could significantly expand the raw material base for nuclear energy while reducing radioactive […]