International
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Nuclear
China Approves Commissioning of Thorium-Powered Reactor
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Aug. 2 gave Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) the green light to commission the experimental 2-MWth thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR-LF1) at
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Coal
Why Sulfur Oxides Are Bad and How Flue Gas Desulfurization Technology Works
Sulfur oxides (SO x ) have several harmful effects both to the environment, and to human and animal health. Much of the SO x in the atmosphere comes from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other
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News
Storage-as-Transmission Project Announced for Germany
A project known as Netzbooster, or Grid Booster, is being deployed in Germany, designed to improve the efficiency of the country’s existing power grid infrastructure. Fluence Energy GmbH, a subsidiary of
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Trends
European Energy Crisis Prompts Utility Takeovers in Germany, France
With winter fast approaching, and the dreaded effects of extreme natural gas price levels and volatility looming, together with unprecedented uncertainty of fuel supply, governments in Germany and France have
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Trends
POWER Digest [November 2022]
JX Nippon Acquires NRG’s Share of Petra Nova Carbon Capture Plant for $3.6 Million. ENEOS Group, a Japanese energy and non-ferrous metals business group that owns JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration, will
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O&M
Gas Engine Reliability: Understanding Engine Oil Consumption
This paper explains the mechanisms that affect lubricating oil consumption in stationary gas engines. It explains the positive and negative consequences of oil consumption. It discusses the importance of
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Commentary
The Future of Sustainable Energy Production Hinges on Hydrogen
A major lesson from the global energy price crisis has been the value of having a diversity of supplies—not relying on a small number of (sometimes unreliable or politically controlled) sources. With
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O&M
In-Service Testing of Pressure Relief Valves
Pressure relief valves (PRVs) are a critical line of defense for pressure vessel protection in the power industry. Generating facilities worldwide depend upon these devices to sense and quickly relieve
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Nuclear
Poland Picks Westinghouse to Build Country’s First Nuclear Reactors
Poland continues to move forward with its plan to deploy nuclear power, choosing U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. to build the country’s first large-scale nuclear power plant. The decision, announced late Oct. 28 by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is seen as a move by Poland to strengthen its relationship with the U.S. and continue moving […]
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Trends
U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing May Be Making a Comeback—Here’s Why
The Department of Energy (DOE) has ramped up efforts to explore recycling spent nuclear fuel (SNF), or used nuclear fuel (UNF), from the nation’s fleet of light water reactors (LWRs), doling out $38 million in federal awards to a dozen projects on Oct. 21. Teams will receive funding under the DOE’s March 2022–launched “Converting UNF […]
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Press Releases
Flowserve Valtek® TX3 Molten Salt Triple-offset Butterfly Valve
For use in concentrated solar power plants DALLAS, Oct. 26, 2022 – Flowserve Corporation (NYSE: FLS), a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, announced the Valtek® TX3 Molten Salt triple-offset butterfly valve. Flowserve designed the Valtek TX3 Molten Salt triple-offset butterfly valve to provide concentrated solar power (CSP) […]
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Press Releases
Edward Norton — Award-Winning Actor, Filmmaker, and Conservationist — Joins Aurora Solar’s Speaker Lineup for Empower 2022, a Premier Virtual Event for the Solar Community
Norton’s November 1, 2022 keynote will highlight the role of solar in creating resiliency and social equality; will touch upon the importance of distributed energy through his conservation work in Kenya. Free, virtual event on November 1-2, 2022 will feature sessions discussing innovations, ideas, and technologies influencing the digital future of the solar industry. October […]
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Press Releases
New SIMOTICS SD200 Frame Size 440 low-voltage, severe-duty AC motors now with 75-800 hp output
Cast-iron motors meet or exceed NEMA Premium® efficiency standards for oil-and-gas/petrochemical, pulp-and-paper, grain and rock processing, other harsh environments Siemens announced the immediate availability of the SIMOTICS SD200 severe-duty motor in frame size 440 as its latest offering in the low-voltage SIMOTICS motor family. Providing high productivity and energy-efficient operation in all torque ranges, these […]
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Press Releases
General Atomics Announces Plans for Fusion Pilot Plant
Innovative concept leverages decades of expertise in fusion research and development San Diego, Oct. 20, 2022 – Today, General Atomics (GA) announced a new concept for a fusion pilot plant (FPP) to deliver clean, safe, and economically viable fusion energy. GA’s FPP concept utilizes a steady-state, compact advanced tokamak design approach, where the fusion plasma […]
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Power
Inflation Reduction Act: Increased Electrification and Resulting Utility Implications
While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides steps in the right direction by expanding renewable energy development and electrification incentives, it may also lead to a worsening duck curve and a larger proportion of variable power sources in the generation mix—putting significant pressure on utilities’ ability to maintain reliability. U.S. utilities need to be proactive […]
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Energy Security
Shift to Specialty Fuels—A Driving Force to Build Supply Chain Resilience
Geopolitical tension, ongoing energy crisis, supply chain disruption, and destructive climate change effects have been altering energy needs and sourcing requirements. Global companies have been transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to specialty fossil fuels, such as industrial heating oil (IHO) and CO2-as-Energy. In addition to cost savings (25% to 30%), they offer relatively high heat […]
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Power
How Hydrogen Blends Will Impact HRSG Operation, Maintenance, and Performance
Environmental pressure is ramping up. Countries have issued targets to reduce or even eliminate the use of traditional fossil fuels in order to reduce emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. Gas turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are responding by investing in hydrogen (H2) combustion. They are spending heavily on the development of combustors and […]
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Power
How Satellite Connectivity Can Improve Visibility and Communication Throughout the Energy Sector
Amid an industry-wide labor shortage and global supply chain disruptions, the energy sector is under immense pressure to increase production. These issues, in addition to geopolitical tensions, are deeply complex and cannot be addressed on an individual scale. In addition, the energy industry faces major challenges pertaining to communication given that the workforce and equipment […]
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O&M
Ukraine Grid Operator Issues Call for Help, Needs Equipment to Keep Lights On
DTEK, a diversified energy company that generates and distributes electricity in Ukraine, issued a call to “Western partners” for the immediate supply of various pieces of electrical equipment to restore power in its service territory. Russian missile attacks on DTEK energy facilities on Oct. 18 killed at least one employee and injured at least seven […]
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Nuclear
Canada’s OPG and Czech Republic’s ČEZ Partner to Advance SMR and Other Nuclear Technology
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Czech Republic-based ČEZ are collaborating to advance deployment of nuclear technology, including small modular reactors (SMRs). The companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Oct. 11, with an aim to “reduce financial, technical and schedule risk to both parties on their respective future projects.” OPG is Ontario’s […]
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Nuclear
Nuclear Giant Westinghouse Acquired by Renewable Power Company and Uranium Fuel Supplier
A consortium comprised of Brookfield Renewable Partners, together with its institutional partners, and Cameco Corp. announced on Oct. 11 an agreement to acquire Westinghouse Electric Co. from Brookfield Business Partners (BBU). The deal has a total enterprise value of about $8 billion, including proceeds from the disposition of a non-core asset expected to be received […]
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Press Releases
Pilsen-based Doosan Škoda Power will Upgrade CHP at Opatovice Power Station; Plant Switching to Gas
Pilsen, Czech Republic (Oct. 10, 2022) – Pilsen-based steam turbine producer Doosan Škoda Power has signed a contract with the company Elektrárny Opatovice (EOP) to replace a TG3 steam turbine. The continuing upgrade is expected to improve the quality and reliability of heat and power supply and contribute to better environmental conditions. Doosan Škoda Power […]
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Press Releases
WFW advises Vattenfall on HVDC grid connection infrastructure delivery
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised long-standing client Vattenfall on its signing of a contract with Siemens and Aker Solutions to deliver grid connection infrastructure for the Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm off the east coast of the UK. Under the contract, Siemens and Aker Solutions will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction […]
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Hydrogen
How Green Hydrogen Can Solve Our Biggest Decarbonization Challenges
October 8th is National Hydrogen Day—chosen in a delightfully nerdy fashion as a nod to the atomic weight of hydrogen: 1.008. And while perhaps only the most devoted scientists are hosting parties, there is much to celebrate this year. Thanks to innovative industry partnerships and legislative action, green hydrogen projects all over the country are […]
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Nuclear
UK Picks Coal Power Plant as Site for Nuclear Fusion Energy Prototype
The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA’s) ground-breaking STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) prototype fusion energy plant will be built at the site of the West Burton power station, a 1-GW coal-fired plant owned by EDF in North Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands region of England, the UK government announced on Oct. 6. UKAEA, which carries out […]
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Energy Security
Switzerland Secures 250-MW GE Gas Power Temporary Power Plant For Crucial Winter Reserve
The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) will install 250 MW of temporary reserve power—via eight trailer-mounted GE Gas Power TM2500 mobile aeroderivative gas turbine units—to secure critical power supplies this winter. GE Gas Power said the units, which will be located at GE’s Manufacturing Center in Birr, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, near […]
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Nuclear
Ansaldo, Westinghouse Partner on Nuclear Plant Based on Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Design
Westinghouse and Ansaldo Energia’s Switzerland-based nuclear arm, Ansaldo Nucleare, will cooperate in developing a nuclear power plant based on lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology. The two companies, which have separately spearheaded the development of fast-reactor designs, said they will advance a common design “to maximize synergies, combine experience in design, testing and licensing, and align […]
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O&M
Rental Boilers Fill Process Steam Gaps During Crucial Production Periods
Whether you need to do maintenance or are having trouble with a permanently installed boiler at your plant, or you’re finding your regular equipment just can’t keep up with an increase in demand, a rental
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Trends
Can Power Plant Wastewater Be Valuable?
The rise and rapid adoption of the circular economy—a systems solution framework that seeks to keep materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible—is triggering an interesting
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News
Microgrids on the Moon: Discussing the Functionality of Remote Microgrids in Harsh Environments
Lunar microgrids, or remote microgrids detached from any utility grid, are fully capable of powering and monitoring many different infrastructures, even in space. NASA recently revealed plans to explore the