Gas
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News
POWER Digest [July 2021]
GE Will Supply Finnish Wind Farm. General Electric (GE) in late May said it will deliver 16 Cypress onshore wind turbines for the 88-MW Puskakorpi wind farm in Finland. Each 5.6-MW-158 turbine will be
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Climate change
Rolling Blackouts Triggered as Historic Heatwave Grips Pacific Northwest
Utilities across the Pacific Northwest are bracing for exceptional stress on the grid as record-breaking temperatures continue to fester across the region, and at least one utility—Avista Corp.—this week began rolling outages as a measure to alleviate strain on the electric system. Despite pleas to customers to reduce their power consumption, Avista, which supplies power […]
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Gas
New Gas-Fired Units Would Replace Coal at Indiana Plant
CenterPoint Energy could begin construction of two new natural gas-fired units to serve electricity customers in Indiana as soon as next year, if state regulators approve the utility’s plan that includes the closure of two units of a coal-fired power plant at a site along the Ohio River. CenterPoint’s $323-million proposal to the Indiana Utility […]
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News
Xcel Scrapping Plan to Build New 800-MW Gas-Fired Plant
Xcel Energy is pivoting from its plan to build a new 800-MW natural gas-fired power plant at the site of its Sherco coal-fired facility in Becker, Minnesota. Instead, Xcel plans to build two smaller gas-fired “peaker” plants, one in Minnesota and one in North Dakota, as part of a new initiative for the utility’s power […]
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Coal
Consumers Energy to Quit Coal by 2025, Speeding Closure of Five Units
Michigan’s largest energy provider Consumers Energy will stop using coal as a fuel source for power generation within the next four years—15 years earlier than previously planned. In an updated integrated resource plan (IRP) filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on June 23, the CMS Energy subsidiary said the effort would lead Michigan’s […]
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News
GE Hitachi: Nuclear Costs, Innovation Must Be a Pivotal Focus for Carbon-Free Future
Nuclear energy’s future as a critical pillar in a decarbonized world will depend on its adaptability to rapid change, but the sector must focus on costs, certainty of outcome, reliability, and experience to cement its role beyond the transition, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) President and CEO Jay Wileman told POWER in an exclusive interview. […]
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Nuclear
Despite South Carolina IRP Rejection, Duke Energy Seeks 80-Year Operation for Oconee Nuclear Units
Duke Energy has kicked off an effort to renew the operating licenses of all its 11 nuclear reactors for 20 more years, starting with Oconee Nuclear Station, its largest nuclear plant. The utility on June 21 filed an application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a subsequent license renewal (SLR) for the three-unit 2.5-GW […]
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News
World-First Test Production of Fossil-Free Hydrogen-Reduced Sponge Iron Completed
A pioneering pilot project in Lulea, Sweden, designed to produce “fossil-free” steel has successfully completed test production of sponge iron, demonstrating it is possible to use hydrogen made with fossil-free power to reduce iron ore, instead of coal and coke. Swedish energy company Vattenfall, mining company LKAB, and steel manufacturer SSAB—companies that are collaborating under […]
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Gas
GE Will Pilot F-Class Dual-Fuel Gas and Hydrogen Plant in Australia
GE will supply a 50-Hz F-class gas turbine that is capable of combusting natural gas and hydrogen-blended fuels at EnergyAustralia’s 316-MW Tallawarra B Power Station in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, in a project that will demonstrate how the coal-rich nation could accelerate its energy transition using gas. GE on June 16 said CLP Group […]
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News
Exec Calls for Action on New Texas Gas-Fired Plants
The chief executive of a Connecticut-based energy investment firm has called for action on his group’s proposal to build as many as 11 new natural gas-fired power plants in Texas. Himanshu Saxena, CEO of Starwood Energy Group, in a June 14 interview said, “We would like to see significant steps in countering, negotiating and material […]
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Press Releases
Finland’s largest Power-to-Gas plant – Wärtsilä and Vantaa Energy to continue planning towards an investment decision
JUNE 15, 2021 — The technology group Wärtsilä and Finnish utility, Vantaa Energy Ltd, have signed a co-operation agreement for pre-engineering and development of a Power-to-Gas (P2G) plant for Vantaa Energy. The plant planned to be commissioned in 2025 would be the largest in Finland and also the first to produce carbon-neutral, synthetic methane on […]
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News
PSEG Power Closes Last Coal Plant, Explores Divestiture of Other Fossil Assets
PSEG Power retired its Bridgeport Harbor Station Unit 3 (BHS 3, Figure 1) on May 31. The unit, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was the last remaining coal-fired power plant in the company’s fleet. “The retirement of Bridgeport Harbor Station Unit 3 marks the end of an era for the City of Bridgeport and the citizens […]
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Microgrid
How Commercial and Industrial Facilities Benefit from On-Site Power
Commercial and industrial companies can reap many rewards by taking a more hands-on approach in sourcing power. Incorporating solar, wind, and other forms of on-site generation—including combined heat and
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Connected Plant
In-Person Events and COVID: Are You Ready to Travel?
In my job, I typically do a fair amount of traveling. Of course, that all changed last year due to COVID-19. I didn’t go anywhere for work-related events or meetings. It was kind of nice—at first—but
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Press Releases
Qatalum Signs Agreement with GE to Generate More Sustainable & Secure Power in Support of Qatar National Vision 2030
GE to provide five Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrade units, maintenance services for 15 years, and cybersecurity solutions for 5 years to Qatalum. Agreement marks the first time that the AGP solution will be deployed in Qatar. Solutions and services provided will help Qatalum to enhance operational performance and sustainability, in line with the goal […]
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Press Releases
Xcel Energy, Crestone Peak Resources and Project Canary Form Certified Low-Emission Intensity Natural Gas Partnership Program
MINNEAPOLIS & DENVER (May 12, 2021) – Xcel Energy announced today that it will purchase certified low-emission intensity natural gas produced by Crestone Peak Resources for use in its Colorado operations. The partnership between Colorado’s largest energy provider and a leading energy producer in Colorado, comes amid growing interest in using environment, social and governance […]
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News
Carbon Capture Eyed for New Scottish Gas-Fired Plant
Two major European energy companies said they will jointly develop a new natural gas-fired power plant that features carbon capture technology. The 900-MW Peterhead CCS Power Station would be built as part of Scotland’s Net Zero Infrastructure program. SSE, a British utility, and Norwegian energy firm Equinor announced the new plant on May 11. The […]
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News
ERCOT Program Cut Natural Gas Supply During Winter Storm
A program designed to save power during periods of high electricity demand actually cut off some of Texas’ natural gas supply to customers during the severe winter storm that caused massive blackouts across the state in February. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the power grid for much of the state, has […]
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News
POWER Digest [May 2021]
Uzbekistan Wind Farm Project Expanding. Masdar, a global renewable energy company, has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan’s government to extend the capacity of its utility-scale wind farm project in the
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Press Releases
GE Successfully Executed Services Works during COVID-19 Pandemic, Helping Secure Power Availability at Songas Ltd.’s Ubungo Power Plant in Tanzania
GE successfully completed service works on four LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbines at the Songas Ubungo Power Plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania The works were executed on time with the highest standard of safety and quality, ensuring the continued supply of up to 150 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid The project boosted […]
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Press Releases
Siemens Energy to supply F-class gas turbine to new power plant in Côte d’Ivoire
New combined cycle power plant will have a generation capacity of 390 megawatt (MW) Supports the region’s vision of clean, high-quality, and affordable energy SGT5-4000F will be first F-class turbine in Sub-Saharan Africa Siemens Energy has signed an agreement with Spanish EPC contractor TSK to provide the company’s highly efficient energy technology and services to […]
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News
$8 Billion Proposals Could Bring New Gas-Fired Plants to Texas
An energy investment group told Texas regulators the company has a plan to help solve some of that state’s electricity reliability issues, proposing a plan similar to one put forth by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy in March. Starwood Energy Group on April 23 sent the state’s Public Utility Commission a proposal to build […]
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News
More Coal Cuts—AEP, Mississippi Power Detail Closures
American Electric Power (AEP), which in 2019 reached an agreement to close Unit 1 of the two-unit, 2.6-GW coal-fired Rockport power plant in Indiana, has now announced a plan to close Unit 2 of the facility. Both units at Rockport are now expected to be shuttered by year-end 2028. AEP, the parent of Indiana Michigan […]
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News
Reprieve for Nuclear, Gas in EU’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Rules
The European Union’s (EU’s) much-watched Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act—the world’s first “green list”—unveiled by the European Commission (EC) on April 21 qualifies several power-producing sectors in its technical screening criteria for sustainable investment decisions. However, it delays controversial decisions on gas and nuclear. The EC adopted the Delegated Act as part of an ambitious package […]
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Gas
8 Rivers Unveils 560 MW of Allam Cycle Gas-Fired Projects for Colorado, Illinois
8 Rivers Capital, inventor of a novel supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) cycle, plans to begin operating a 280-MW NET Power natural gas–fired plant within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in southwest Colorado by 2025. The company on April 15 also said it will team with agricultural and processing firm Archer-Daniels-Midlands Co. (ADM) to locate a […]
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Technology
Self-Tuning Artificial Intelligence Improves Plant Efficiency and Flexibility
Flexible plant operations are highly desirable in today’s power generation industry. Every plant owner desires increased ramp rates and the ability to operate at lower loads so their plants will remain “in the money” longer in today’s competitive power markets. This goal, while laudable, remains elusive. The ADEX self-tuning artificial intelligence (AI) system allows plants […]
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Gas
How Natural Gas Utilities Play a Role in the Future of Our Energy System
With a global pandemic and unprecedented extreme weather, we have seen how essential our energy delivery system is to our way of life. Through collaboration and innovation, we will make the system more resilient and fulfill our commitment to reducing emissions. American Gas Association members are already leading in these areas—providing customers with reliable and […]
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News
Power Infrastructure Prominent in Biden’s $2.25 Trillion Blueprint
A major chunk of President Joe Biden’s $2.25 trillion transformational plan to overhaul the nation’s infrastructure is dedicated to re-energizing America’s power infrastructure. The initiatives garnered the industry’s approval—with notable exceptions. The “American Jobs Plan,” released on March 31, strives to jumpstart the U.S. economy, which drooped under burdens posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But […]
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News
The Natural Gas Flame Continues to Burn Bright
The natural gas sector is well aware of the challenges facing the fossil fuel industry, but analysts say gas has attributes that will keep it a big part of the U.S. and global energy mix. Natural gas has moved