Instrumentation & Controls

  • The Virtual Nuclear Reactor

    The current fleet of nuclear reactors are based in huge imposing facilities generally located in isolated locations away from population centers.  This need not be the case. In the near future nuclear reactors will be regarded as portable, modular sources of safe and clean energy. Rather than being located in remote facilities hundreds of miles […]

  • How Hybrid Cloud and Edge Computing are Transforming the Energy Sector

    The energy industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advancements in digital technology and the ever-growing need for real-time data analytics. As energy companies look to modernize their operations, they face unique challenges that demand innovative solutions. Some of the most pressing concerns for energy professionals today include: Increased risk of downtime and the […]

  • How Virtual Power Plants Enhance Grid Operations and Resilience

    A virtual power plant (VPP) is a network of decentralized, small- to medium-scale power generating units, flexible power consumers, and storage systems that are aggregated and operated as a single entity through sophisticated software and control systems. Unlike a traditional power plant that exists in a single physical location, a VPP is distributed across multiple […]

  • The POWER Interview: Upgrading the Grid Key to Support Electrification

    As buildings, EVs, and industrial processes are increasingly electrified, utilities are seeing grid demand rapidly growing. While this shift is necessary to reduce emissions, it also introduces new challenges for grid stability, capacity, and long-term reliability.

  • Software and DLRs Key to Unlocking Power Grid’s Potential

    Imagine unlocking 30% more power from our existing grid overnight. That’s the potential we’re ignoring, and it’s costing us billions. The demand for energy is rising, and utilities are struggling to serve this growth. In the U.S., congestion costs have increased from $8 billion in 2021 to more than $11 billion in 2023 despite record […]

  • Generative AI at the Edge: Revolutionizing the Power Industry’s Control Layer

    Localized intelligence will reshape energy operations, enabling edge-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) models to deliver precision, agility, and control at every layer of power operations. For

  • Fighting Corrosion, Scale, and Salt Buildup in Critical Turbines

    Turbines play an integral role in power production, turning steam into mechanical energy that generates electricity. Though large and powerful, these dynamic pieces of equipment are also vulnerable and must be

  • Curtiss-Wright Secures TerraPower Contracts for Natrium Nuclear Reactor Simulation and Control Systems

    Curtiss-Wright Corp. said it has been awarded two contracts from TerraPower to design and supply plant simulation and digital control solutions for the Natrium advanced nuclear reactor design. Under the contracts, Curtiss-Wright will design and deliver the training simulator (TSN) and distributed control systems (DCS) for the Natrium plant. The TSN is a full-scope simulator that […]

  • Eaton Increasing Transformer Manufacturing with South Carolina Investment

    Power management company Eaton said it is helping address the critical shortage of transformers, along with record demand for its solutions from utility, large commercial, industrial and data center customers, with a $340 million investment to increase U.S. production of its three-phase transformers essential to reliable electrical power. Production and hiring at Eaton’s new Jonesville, […]

  • Generate a Cleaner Future with Air Products

    Let Air Products be your decarbonization partner through the transition to sustainable energy. We can help you utilize oxygen to improve your natural gas efficiency, find a potential carbon capture and sequestration solution, or introduce hydrogen to your process to reduce emissions. Download to read our latest content to learn more and take the first […]

  • How Utilities Can Activate Data to Improve Asset Management

    Nearly every utility in the world has embarked on their own journey of digital transformation, using data to help make processes faster and more efficient. Traditionally, utility data has been collected in silos to support individual functions, and utilities have been hard at work to break down these silos so data can be shared among […]

  • ERCOT and CAISO market trends and successful bid optimization

    Battery energy storage systems (BESS) play an essential role in balancing grids with high renewable energy. They can charge during low price hours and discharge during high price hours in the wholesale markets, or support grid stability participating in the ancillary markets. It is important for BESS owners to maximise their profit by deciding how […]

  • Software, Hardware, Innovation All Needed to Upgrade the Power Grid

    Enhancing the transmission and distribution of electricity is a priority to ensure a reliable and resilient power supply, as demand increases and grid challenges mount. Providing more electricity to meet

  • The POWER Interview: Emerson Exec Discusses Grid Enhancements

    There are many ways to enhance power grid and power plant reliability, including the implementation of advanced control strategies, proactive maintenance programs, and modern technologies for early detection

  • Building Better Ways to Keep the Lights On

    Utilities and power grid operators walk a fine line when it comes to providing reliable and resilient power while also protecting valuable assets in the electricity transmission and distribution system. Power

  • Cisco, Gridspertise Join to Support Grid Digitization

    Cisco, a global technology company, and Gridspertise have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and deploy new solutions for the digital innovation in electricity grids. The companies announced the deal on Jan. 28. The MoU is a collaborative framework that leverages both Cisco and Gridspertise’s technological and business expertise. The companies on Tuesday […]

  • Building the Largest Clean Energy Microgrid in Puerto Rico

    Analysis of the levelized cost of energy shows how renewables have become more cost-efficient every year. Today, the least-expensive way to meet energy needs is with renewable resources. For industries at risk of power outages or those requiring always-on power, clean energy projects can offer a lifeline. Fundamentally, distributed energy resources (DERs) can give organizations […]

  • Technology Has Transformed Energy Deployment; O&M Is Next

    Deployment operations management (DOM) systems were born of necessity to help telecom, renewable energy, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and other critical-infrastructure developers tackle the simultaneous

  • 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 […]

  • Digital Sensor Provides Greater Asset Management Capability for Transformers

    ABB Electrification Service recently launched a digital monitoring solution for power and distribution transformers that it says will enhance performance, reliability, and availability of equipment. The transformer sensor is reportedly quick and easy to fit, requiring no screws or tooling for installation. Instead, the sensor, called TRAFCOM, can be mounted magnetically to the transformer within […]

  • Replacing Duct Burners in Combined Cycle Power Plants

    Many combined cycle power plants (CCPP) and cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) plants utilize supplemental firing systems, or duct burners, inside the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) boilers

  • Enhancing Nuclear Plant Safety, Efficiency, and Compliance Through Video Borescope Inspections

    This article explores the role video borescopes play in nuclear plant inspections, emphasizing the value they bring in terms of safety, efficiency, and long-term plant integrity. Nuclear power plants operate

  • Lessen Risk for Battery Energy Storage with Analytics Software

    Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have emerged as a crucial technology for storing and dispatching energy when needed. However, the rapid expansion of BESS has been accompanied by safety and risk management challenges. Most BESS units use lithium-ion batteries, which require particular care to avoid fire concerns. Though lithium-ion BESS is overall a safe and […]

  • Wärtsilä Among Groups in New Consortium to Explore Hydrogen-Argon for Net-Zero Power

    Technology group Wärtsilä is part of a new research project exploring innovative technology for cleaner, more energy-efficient engines utilizing a closed-loop combustion cycle. The research, announced on Nov. 26, will focus on the use of argo, a non-toxic ideal gas present in the atmosphere, to increase efficiency of balancing engines. The co-innovation project is run […]

  • Is a Modular Data Center the Answer to Tech Industry’s Land and Energy Crisis?

    The digital age is fundamentally dependent on data centers, which serve as the backbone of our technological infrastructure. Without them, the digital world as we know it would not exist. However, the rapid expansion of data centers has put unprecedented stress on the electric grid, leading to increased energy consumption and heightened demand for power. […]

  • EVLO Will Provide Dominion Energy With Safety-Enhanced Energy Storage Systems

    EVLO Energy Storage, a fully integrated battery energy storage systems (BESS) provider and wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, on Nov. 20 announced a major achievement in its relationship with investor-owned utility Dominion Energy. EVLO will develop a BESS with enhanced fire and safety features that meet and exceed Dominion’s unique safety specifications. The augmented version […]

  • Mobility, Flexibility, Scalability: SMRs Forging Nuclear’s Future

    The need for emissions-free power generation, along with the ability to provide more power when and where it’s needed, is driving research and development of smaller nuclear reactors. Energy industry

  • Continued Excellent Nuclear Power Plant Performance Bodes Well for Future Prospects

    The carbon-free attributes and consistently high fleet performance have led to increasing momentum behind nuclear power. With ambitious plans to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, the nuclear industry is

  • Residential Electrification Gets Boost from Eaton, Treehouse Collaboration

    A global power management company known for its technology advancements is collaborating with a software-enabled installation platform for electrification in a joint effort designed to support the U.S. residential market. Eaton on Nov. 14 announced it will work with Chicago, Illinois-based Treehouse to enable residential electrification projects, including electric vehicle (EV) charging. The groups on […]

  • New Command Center Supporting African Power Grid Will Use GE Vernova Software

    An initiative aimed at connecting more of Africa’s population to the continent’s power grids will use GE Vernova’s GridOS orchestration software. A newly completed Information and Coordination Centre (ICC) in Abomey-Calavi, Benin, designed for the West African Power Pool (WAPP), is considered “a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the region’s energy landscape,” according to an […]