International
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Press Releases
Magnashear™ Motor Brakes Eliminate Pitch Drive Maintenance
Fairfield, OH – Maintaining yaw and pitch drives is a challenge because of the inherent time that it takes for maintenance personnel to ascend to the nacelle. But foregoing maintenance can lead to costly failures and even more downtime. The Magnashear™ motor brake from Force Control Industries eliminate pitch drive maintenance by eliminating the root […]
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Connected Plant
The Future of the Utilities Workforce: Building Capabilities in the Digital Era
The utility industry is facing a major challenge as it navigates the constantly evolving landscape of the electric grid. Managing the transformation brought about by the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the rise of remote and hybrid work, and the growing reliance on renewable energy sources has become central to the industry. Operators must adapt […]
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Renewables
Emerging Risks in Renewable Energy: A Brief Overview of Solar, Wind, BESS, and Hydro Trends in Latin America
Renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydro, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), are at the forefront of the global energy transition. The U.S. and Latin America (LATAM) are witnessing significant advancements in these technologies, driven by geopolitical and economic trends. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects a growth of electricity demand from 1,295 TWh […]
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Gas
Mitsubishi Turbines Will Power New 1.6-GW Uzbekistan Gas-Fired Plant
A new 1,600-MW natural gas-fired power plant project in Uzbekistan reached another milestone, with Mitsubishi Power announcing it received an order for two of the company’s M701JAC gas turbines for the combined cycle facility. The Syrdarya 2 plant is being developed in the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan. Mitsubishi Power on July 10 said it has […]
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Press Releases
Watertight AUMA actuators for underwater hydro turbine control
An AUMA electric actuation solution ensures high-precision guide vane adjustment for a fully-submersible hydro turbine from Natel Energy at the Sauerbrunn hydropower plant near Graz, Austria, thus helping to boost green energy. California-based turbine manufacturer Natel Energy required an actuator that could operate continuously underwater, provide accurate positioning to optimally control the water supply to […]
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Gas
POWER’s 2023 Plant of the Year: Estrella del Mar III
For more than four decades, POWER magazine has honored the top performers in the electricity-generating industry with annual power plant awards. Award winners are selected by the editors of POWER based on nominations submitted by industry insiders, including suppliers, designers, constructors, and operators of power plants. Winning POWER’s Plant of the Year in 2023 is […]
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Power
Italy Set to Scale Back Remaining Coal-Fired Fleet
Italy could retire most of its remaining coal-fired power plants in the next two years, as government officials work to meet the European Union’s 2030 goal for lower emissions of carbon from the electricity and industrial sectors. Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, commenting on a government document released July 3, said Italy would end the […]
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O&M
Developing Coatings for Use in Harsh Biomass Combustion Environments
Corrosion is a constant battle for infrastructure of all kinds—the natural response of materials like metals to their environment, causing damage to everything from turbines to oil pipelines and vehicles. The costs are vast. A National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) IMPACT study published in 2013 claims that corrosion causes damage valued at $2.5 trillion […]
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Commentary
Three Solutions to Fire Safety Challenges: Lessons from the Energy Storage Industry
The world’s energy landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for resilient, cost-effective, and net-zero sources of energy. Policymakers and regulators now can’t ignore the fundamental role that the energy storage industry is playing in the clean energy transition—stabilizing the grid as more renewable energy assets come online. This recognition is creating huge […]
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Coal
UK Won’t Keep Contingency Coal-Fired Units Online
The UK’s national grid operator has said that the country will not utilize coal-fired power generation even if needed this coming winter, issuing a statement on June 28 that said operators of possible contingency plants will not have them ready for service. The National Grid Electricity Systems Operator (ESO) earlier this month in its early […]
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Nuclear
Finnish Group Touts Nuclear Reactor for District Heating
A Finnish group announced construction of a reactor-based heating plant that would provide residential and district heating, saying the project would advance the district energy model and support decarbonization and electrification in Europe as more countries move away from the use of fossil fuels for energy. Steady Energy, a company spun out of the VTT […]
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Cybersecurity
Siemens Energy Investigating Dark Web Ransomware Claim
Siemens Energy and Schneider Electric, two industrial control system (ICS) vendors for critical infrastructure industries, have been reportedly listed as ransomware victims by cybercrime gang CL0P, though any targeted attacks are yet unconfirmed. The ransomware gang, also known as TA505, began exploiting a vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer, an internet-facing automated file transfer web application, starting […]
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Press Releases
eschbach AI Team Garners Connected Plant 2023 Game Changer Award
Shiftconnector Smart Search Accelerates Plant Floor Search Capabilities with AI Boston, MA – June 26, 2023 – Global software developer eschbach, provider of the Shiftconnector® enterprise software platform for process manufacturing, announces that its AI development team was awarded a 2023 Game Changer Award for its new Shiftconnector Smart Search functionality. The eschbach team was […]
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Hybrid Power
First Phase of 100-GW China Hydro/Solar Project Enters Service
Chinese officials on June 25 said the first phase of what is considered the world’s largest combined hydro and solar power plant has entered commercial operation. The Kela hydro/solar plant, part of an ambitious project anchored by the Lianghekou Hydropower Station on the Yalong River, is located in Yaijiang County in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. […]
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Hydrogen
Driving Decarbonization: Lessons Learned from Europe That Can Help Unlock the U.S. Clean Hydrogen Economy
Environmental experts consider decarbonization to be among the most important keys to minimizing the effects of climate change. While the transition to a low-carbon economy may present challenges, it also offers opportunities for innovation, the creation of new jobs, and sustainable economic growth. Accordingly, the U.S., like Europe and other parts of the world, has […]
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Distributed Energy
New Technologies Driving Electric Grid Modernization
Over the past couple of decades, the expected growth in electricity usage unexpectedly flatlined, leaving utilities with stagnant revenue, but aging infrastructure in need of capital investment. Then came the technology revolution of the last five years, with electric vehicles (EVs) becoming more popular as governments worldwide mandate lower emissions, and microgeneration of electricity via […]
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Offshore Wind
Swedish Offshore Wind Farm Could Use 30-MW Turbines
A Sweden-based company that develops deepwater wind power projects has joined with a global renewable energy group in a partnership to develop an offshore wind farm that could feature turbines as large as 30 MW. Freja Offshore, a joint venture (JV) between Sweden’s Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power, part of Norway’s Akers Horizon group, on […]
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Wind
China, Saudi Arabia Team on Wind Projects in Uzbekistan
China’s Envision Energy said it will supply 1 GW of generation capacity for wind projects designed by Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power in Uzbekistan. Envision, headquartered in Shanghai and China’s second-largest wind turbine manufacturer, made the June 20 announcement on the heels of several other large wind turbine deals in recent months, in Egypt, India, and […]
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Sustainability
Supercharging Decarbonization: How Engineered Solutions Can Accelerate the Transition
As pressure mounts, energy leaders must build a more-resilient, lower-carbon energy system. Technical, digital, and engineered solutions will play a critical role in this transition, but which options are most viable? Driving the Transition Through Diversification: The Role of Hydrogen According to SHOCKED, one of the largest global studies conducted among the energy sector C-suite, […]
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Nuclear
Pakistan Expanding Nuclear Plant With New Hualong One Reactor
China continues to be a world leader in exporting its nuclear power technology. Chinese officials in Pakistan on June 20 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a $4.8 billion deal with Pakistan’s nuclear energy agency for construction of a new 1,200-MW reactor at the Chashma power complex. The new unit will be China’s Hualong […]
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Press Releases
Honeywell Introduces Honeywell Ionic™, a Modular Battery Energy Storage System with Improved Energy Density and Reduced Installation Costs
Scalable system provides efficient, flexible, and intelligent solution for commercial and industrial users ORLANDO, FL, June 19, 2023 – Honeywell today announced Honeywell IonicTM, a compact, end-to-end modular battery energy storage system (BESS) and energy management tool that offers improved energy density compared to what’s currently available on the market, while delivering a significant reduction […]
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Coal
German Group Plans ‘Green Baseload’ Installation at Major Coal Generation Complex
A leading German energy group has announced plans to create a clean energy hub at what today is an area of coal mines and coal-fired power stations in the eastern part of the country. The strategy from LEAG (Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG) envisions what the company calls a “pure green baseload” complex. LEAG on June […]
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Offshore Wind
Recyclable Blades Featured at New RWE Offshore Wind Farm Near Denmark
Recycling of components used in the renewable energy sector is a growing industry. Several companies have entered the market to make wind and solar power more sustainable, including some of the largest players in renewables. RWE, the Germany-based global energy provider, on June 14 announced that 40 of the wind turbines at its Thor offshore […]
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Connected Plant
Four Ways to Protect the Energy Sector from Cybersecurity Threats
It’s been two years since the historic Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack shut down one of the largest and most vital oil pipelines in the U.S. While this hasn’t been the nation’s only attack on power infrastructure, it’s the largest publicly disclosed and, at $4.4 million, it was also the most-costly. Since then, we’ve learned that […]
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Coal
UK Restarts Coal-Fired Units as Temperatures, Power Demand Rise
Temperatures in the UK recently soared into the high 80s, increasing demand for cooling across Britain and prompting energy company National Grid to call for a restart of a coal-fired power station. Uniper, the German-based energy group, on June 12 said National Grid called for Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire to begin supplying […]
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Gas
Iberdrola Finalizes $6 Billion Deal to Sell Mexico Gas-Fired Plants
Spanish energy giant Iberdrola announced it has finalized an agreement to sell much of its power generation portfolio in Mexico to that country’s government. The $6 billion deal, first announced in April and completed June 12, will see Mexico take state control and operation of several power plants, including a dozen natural gas-fired facilities that […]
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Energy Security
Devastating Ukraine Dam Breach Raises Concerns for Nearby Nuclear Plant
A breach at the Nova Kakhovka Dam stemming from the destruction of the 351-MW hydroelectric power plant in southern Ukraine on June 6 has triggered massive flooding, prompted an environmental crisis, and raised new perils for a nearby nuclear plant on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war. Completed in 1956, the Kakhovka hydropower power plant […]
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Nuclear
The POWER Interview: European Group Building Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors
Advancements in nuclear power technology have brought several new companies into the sector, many of them working on innovative reactor designs and fuels to move the industry forward. One of those groups is newcleo, a company based in the UK with additional operations in Italy and France. The company began operating in 2021, and in […]
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Nuclear
Dutch Officials Set Funding for Nuclear Power Program
Government officials in the Netherlands have earmarked more than $350 million to fund further development of nuclear energy in the country, including extending the operating license of the 485-MW Borssele
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Nuclear
POWER Digest [June 2023]
KEPCO Wants to Extend Operations of Two Reactors. Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) in April asked Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for permission to extend the lifespan of Units 3