Gas

  • Growth in Renewables Matching U.S. Nuclear Generation

    A business group geared toward sustainable energy says renewable sources of energy for the first time are generating nearly as much power as the entire fleet of U.S. nuclear reactors. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), along with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, on February 15 released the sixth edition of its Sustainable Energy in […]

  • MHPS Announces First Brazilian Win for JAC Gas Turbine

    LAKE MARY, Florida (February 14, 2018) — Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) celebrated its first win in Brazil for the technical selection of its M501 JAC Gas Turbine for the Vale Azul II Project. The plant, which will have a contracted output of 466MW in combined cycle, was selected in the A-6 Brazilian Electricity Auction […]

  • DiSTI Delivers Siemens Energy’s First 3D Virtual Maintenance Trainer

    Siemens Energy Implements 3D Virtual Maintenance Trainers for Large-Scale Gas Turbine Power Plant Technology Orlando, FL (February 14, 2018) – The DiSTI Corporation, the world’s leading provider of 3D virtual training solutions, announces delivery of its first 3D Virtual Maintenance Training (VMT) solution for Siemens Energy, Inc. that was developed using DiSTI’s VE Studio Development […]

  • EthosEnergy awarded rotor exchange contract in Germany

    Mulheim, Germany – EthosEnergy has been awarded a rotor exchange contract at a combined cycle power plant in Germany. The contract is for the supply of one fully refurbished GE Frame 6B rotor which will be installed at the next scheduled major inspection. Ulrich Zumbusch, VP of Gas Turbines Europe at EthosEnergy, said “We utilised […]

  • GE & Marinus Energy to build first-of-its-kind Waste Gas to Power plant in Ghana

    25 MW pilot power plant will utilize Isopentane gas as a fuel source New plant will add equivalent power needed to supply more than 100.000 Ghanaian homes TM2500 proven technology will provide secure, flexible and reliable power New TM2500 order will further expand existing fleet of 10 units in the country ACCRA, GHANA — February […]

  • Trump’s Broken Promises, and His War on Clean Energy

    Commentary The clean energy industry was hit hard by two decisions coming out of the Trump administration these past few weeks. First, a 30% tariff was imposed on imported solar panels. Then earlier this week, the Trump administration proposed plans to cut the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office budgets by 65%, all while […]

  • Trump Budget Backs Nuclear, Coal; Cuts Funding for Renewables

    The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request released February 12 asks for more money to support fossil fuel-based power systems, but seeks funding below current levels for other energy initiatives, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. The energy funding is part of a $4.4 trillion budget that features large increases in military spending, along […]

  • Nuclear Power, Carbon Capture Winners in New Budget Deal

    The budget bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in the early hours of February 9 extends a host of tax credits for energy technologies, including provisions to help the Vogtle nuclear expansion in Georgia as well as U.S. carbon-capture projects. The legislation also provides support for renewable energy, including for small wind […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Gas Turbine Failure Modes

    The number of gas turbines operating around the world is growing steadily. In this environment, the number of power sector workers new to gas turbines is also expanding, and a review of what can go wrong with this equipment is useful. Although gas turbines vary, all have a common set of operational challenges. Knowing what […]

  • Direct-Use Power Generation to Outpace Retail Sales Through 2050

    After decades of lethargic power demand—and negative growth in 2017—U.S. electricity use is expected to grow steadily through 2050, driven by a healthy economy and increasing efficiency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects in its Annual Electricity Outlook 2018 (AEO2018). However, during that period, direct-use generation will outpace growth in retail sales as more […]

  • NRG Sells Renewables Assets, 3.6 GW of Louisiana Coal and Gas Power Plants

    NRG Energy, in a bid to shed $7 billion in consolidated debt, is selling the bulk of its renewable assets and development platforms along with several coal and natural gas power plants worth 3.6 GW tied to its South Central Generating business. The independent power producer, which recently relinquished bankrupt wholesale generator GenOn Energy to […]

  • Regulators Back Settlement for Costs of Failed Kemper IGCC Project

    Shareholders of Mississippi Power will have to absorb the majority of outstanding costs resulting from the scuttled Kemper County coal gasification project, as the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) on February 6 approved a settlement for the remaining liabilities associated with the much-touted “clean coal” plant. Mississippi Power in a statement said it “is pleased […]

  • Virginia Considers New Utility Regulatory Rules

    Virginia lawmakers are weighing legislation that would give the state more control over utilities, with some of the measures developed in concert with power companies. State legislators are discussing the proposals, some of which are designed to lift a freeze on utility rates, which could bring refunds for ratepayers—although others warn it could cause rates […]

  • AEP, American Power Giant, Sets Goal to Slash Carbon Emissions 80% by 2050

    American Electric Power (AEP), one of the nation’s largest power generators, will pursue a strategy to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60% from 2000 levels by 2030, and 80% from 2000 levels by 2050. AEP expects to achieve carbon reductions through a variety of actions, including investments in renewable generation and advanced technologies […]

  • Pipeline Project Prompts Plan for Nigeria Power Plants

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) in December 2017 announced a plan to build three natural gas-fired power plants in the country, thanks to a $2.8 billion pipeline project that would bring natural gas from the southern part of the African nation to its northern region. The plants, sited in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, would […]

  • Six Forces Disrupting the Power Sector

    Multiple disparate trends could forcefully reshape power systems around the world. As electricity markets transform, technologies advance, industries converge, consumption patterns change, environmental

  • Power Plant Construction and Upgrade Best Practices

    Schedule delays and cost overruns can pose problems for complex power plant construction and retrofit projects. Sound planning, accurate modeling, and good communication can lead to successful projects for all

  • What Tax Reform Means for the Energy Industry

    One of the most important items on President Trump’s first-year agenda was the implementation of tax reform in the U.S. Republican lawmakers worked tirelessly as the calendar year drew to an end to get a new

  • Modernize Gas Turbine Controls with an Eye on the Future

    Although it may seem as if gas turbines have only recently become the technology of choice for new U.S. power plants, a lot of gas turbine units have been in service for decades. Control systems have evolved

  • Battery-Gas Turbine Combination Provides Power Plant Flexibility

    With a broadening portfolio of generation technologies and rapidly changing demands, effectively combining and integrating diverse technologies is important to a reliable power grid. Siemens’ SIESTART

  • Turbophase Dry Air Injection Optimizes Aero-derivative Combustion Turbines

    Turbophase enables combustion turbine owners and power grids to increase flexibility, power, and efficiency, which is critical at a time when dispatch of renewable energy is growing. Combustion turbines

  • Energy Transitions Begin to Leave Out Natural Gas Power

    The world’s energy transition took an interesting turn at the end of 2017 as global power firm Engie announced it would switch all its gas operations to biogas and renewable hydrogen, the UK slashed its

  • POWER Digest [February 2018]

    Polish Energy Company Puts Large Coal-Fired Unit Online. Enea , the Polish state-owned energy company, in December inaugurated what it calls the largest coal-fired power generation unit in Europe. The company

  • Changing the Power Industry Culture

    The news has been filled with high-profile sexual harassment cases recently. Although more women seem to be coming forward lately to tell their stories and bring misconduct to light, it’s far from a new

  • What’s Next for the Clean Power Plan?

    “The Trump administration is listening to the people of Wyoming,” remarked Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. His comment referenced a

  • Steps for Solving Combined Cycle Project Delays

    A recent article in The Wall Street Journal heralded the following: “Power Plants Bloom Even as Electricity Prices Wilt.” Understandably, the WSJ editors are excited about the current spate of combined cycle construction projects. I’m also pleased about the growth in our sector (Figure 1). But I’m less sanguine about our ability to execute all […]

  • GE Power’s 6F.01 Gas Turbines Achieve Commercial Operation at Huaneng Guilin Gas Distributed Energy Project

    Three 6F.01 gas turbines have started commercial operation at Huaneng Guilin Gas Distributed Energy Project as of Dec. 9, 2017 200+ 6F turbines have been sold worldwide in 42 countries, with more than 30 in China, and Guilin will be the first use of 6F.01 6F.01 is an ideal choice for gas distributed energy thanks […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Improving Plant Efficiency

    Power plants are designed to operate at their highest efficiency. However, once a plant goes into operation, real life takes over and design outcomes are not always realized, which can seriously hurt a plant’s profitability. That’s why improving plant performance and getting back to design conditions should be every operator’s objective. This quiz is designed to test […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Power History

    The history of power generation is long and convoluted, marked by myriad technological milestones—conceptual and technical—from hundreds of contributors. Many accounts begin power’s story at the demonstration of electric conduction by Englishman Stephen Gray, which led to the 1740 invention of glass friction generators in Leyden, Germany. This quiz is designed to test your knowledge […]

  • Report: Clean Energy Investments Hit $333.5 Billion in 2017

    Though some countries, including the U.S., have moved to support coal-fired power generation over the past year, investments in renewable energy continued to rise, according to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The research group on January 16 said global investment in clean energy such as wind and solar reached about $333.5 […]