International

  • Indonesia’s PT PLN Cancels 22 GW of Planned Capacity, Citing Lax Demand

    Slack power demand in 2017 has prompted Indonesia’s state-owned utility PT PLN to cancel 22 GW it planned to procure from independent power producers (IPPs) through 2026, the bulk of which are combined cycle gas turbine and renewable projects. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on March 13 told reporters he endorsed changes to […]

  • Ansaldo Energia Awarded Contracts for Turbines, Generators for Serbia Plant

    Ansaldo Energia has been awarded a contract by Shanghai Electric Group, worth approximately €40 million, to supply Gas Turbines and Generators for Pancevo Combined Cycle Power Plant in Serbia.  The 200 MW Pancevo combined cycle power plant is owned by TE-TO Pancevo, and Shanghai Electric Group will be responsible for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) […]

  • Wärtsilä Signs Contract for 105-MW Power Plant in Bangladesh

    March 15, 2018 — The technology group Wärtsilä this week is celebrating 20 years of supporting the development of Bangladesh by providing important added capacity to the country’s electricity grid. The latest contract signed this week is an equipment delivery for a 105-MW power plant being built by Baraka Shikalbaha Power Ltd, a private sector […]

  • Increase of Electricity in Pakistan: First Unit of Tarbela IV Hydro Plant Connects to Grid

    Voith delivers complete electromechanical equipment for hydropower plant extension project Voith’s asset management solution OnCare AM in use for the first time at a hydropower plant Expansion of hydropower potential to increase Pakistan’s independence from fuel imports Islamabad (March 14, 2018) — In the presence of numerous guests from the areas of politics, industry, and […]

  • Germany’s New Coalition Government Agrees to Phase Out Coal, but Will Miss 2020 Emissions Targets

    Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) members agreed to join their longtime rival and governing partner, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and reluctantly entered into a third grand coalition government on March 4. While this ended months of anxious handwringing following September’s national elections, the entire process was mired in frustration as the prospect of yet […]

  • Test Your Knowledge: Boiler Chemical Cleaning

    Most engineers and operators know (or should know) that boiler tubes containing deposits create long-term reliability problems for the boiler. Long-term overheating of the metal will result from prolonged operation with heavy tube deposits. The tubes will first bulge and then fail. Because the deposits tend to be widespread, this generally means that large sections of […]

  • MEM Delivers Development Expertise for 240 MW of Wind and Solar Projects in Southeast Asia

    SINGAPORE (March 6, 2018) — Modern Energy Management (MEM), a specialist in sourcing, developing, building and operating renewable energy projects in the emerging markets has announced it has been appointed to provide development support at two project sites, totalling 290 MW, in the Philippines and Thailand respectively.  MEM will act as technical and commercial advisor […]

  • Wärtsilä Signs EPC Contract in Australia with AGL Energy Limited for Smart Power Generation Plant

    HELSINKI, FINLAND (March 6, 2018) — The technology group Wärtsilä and AGL Energy Limited, one of Australia’s leading integrated energy companies, have signed a contract for a new 211-MW power plant. The deal for the new facility, known as the Barker Inlet Power Station located on Torrens Island near Adelaide, was earlier announced by Wärtsilä […]

  • King Coal Is Alive and Kicking in Poland

    Running counter to the overwhelming trend in Europe, coal remains the king in Poland. The country’s governing party unabashedly champions the industry as the foundation of its energy sector—a footing it doesn’t want to abandon. In December 2018, as ministers and delegates from all over the world attend the United Nations-sponsored climate conference (COP24) in […]

  • POWER Digest [March 2018]

    ABB Receives Contract to Upgrade, Expand Combined Cycle Plant. A consortium including Doosan Heavy Industries and state-owned construction company PT Hutama Karya has awarded a $40 million contract to ABB to

  • As Nuclear Giant AREVA Reforms, Framatome Is Resurrected

    Reforging its core business to return to competitiveness after record losses of €4.83 billion in 2014, French nuclear firm AREVA has split its five operational business units and rebranded them—again. All

  • Spain’s Market Regulator Rejects Attempt to Save Coal Plants

    Spanish market and competition regulator CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) in a report published on January 24 said a draft government decree to block power plant closures if they

  • How the Offshore Wind Energy Industry Can Overcome the Jones Act

    Europe’s decade-long economic and regulatory commitment to the offshore wind industry has paid off. With approximately 14 GW of power installed as of June 2017, the continent now boasts more than 90% of

  • Ansaldo Energy Presents First GT36 Gas Turbine Produced in Genoa

    GENOA, Italy (February 23, 2018) — The first GT36-S5 model gas turbine produced at Ansaldo Energia’s Genoa production facility was presented to an audience including Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti, Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci, and Edoardo Rixi, Liguria Regional Administration Economic Development Councillor. Also in attendance was the Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco. Ansaldo […]

  • Westinghouse Electric Company Signs Cooperation Agreement for Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Development

    CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a Cooperation Agreement for lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology development with the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and Ansaldo Nucleare. The agreement demonstrates each party’s commitment to collaborating toward the development of a next-generation nuclear plant based on LFR technology, […]

  • Saft, European Partners Developing New Battery Technology

    PARIS (February 22, 2018) — Saft is building an alliance with other European partners to launch an ambitious program of research, development and industrialization for new generations of batteries focusing on advanced high-density Li-ion and Solid-State technology. The program addresses all market segments, such as electro-mobility (EV, e-Bus, Railway, Marine, Aviation), energy storage (ESS) and […]

  • VIBSCANNER 2 The high-speed data collector sets new standards

    ISMANING – February 21th 2018 – VIBSCANNER 2, the new high-speed data collector, increases the efficiency of vibration-based condition monitoring of machines and plants. PRUFTECHNIK, the Bavarian manufacturer, has developed and produced the new device according to the motto “keep it smart and simple”. The result is a vibration measurement instrument on the pulse of […]

  • KSB Pumps Limited wins Euros 55 million order to supply primary coolant pumps to NPCIL as a part of the “Make in India” initiative

    With the Indian Government’s ambitious growth plans in the energy sector, and the aim to raise contribution in indigenous manufacturing under “Make in India” initiative, M/s Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has awarded an order worth Euros 55 million (Rupees 4130 million) to KSB Pumps Limited for the supply of eight primary coolant pumps […]

  • Indian Provincial Government Will Close Older Coal Plants

    The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP) province in India has announced an agenda to reform the region’s energy sector, starting with the phase-out of older state-owned thermal power plants, as Indian provinces work toward a goal of providing reliable electricity on a consistent basis to more of the country’s population. Shrikant Sharma, the UP […]

  • Cybersecurity Tips for Power Plant Operators [PODCAST]

    Cybersecurity threats have increased dramatically as sophisticated, nation-state developed hacking programs have been leaked to the general public. Now, common criminals have high-tech tools at their disposal with the capability to cause serious damage. As such, the power industry must take precautions and upgrade security to keep systems safe. While regulations provide a minimum security […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • Valmet signs Value-Added Reseller agreement with RR Projects in Ireland

    Valmet has signed a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) partnership agreement for power and process industry automation with RR Projects in Tullamore, Ireland, to go into effect immediately. Together, the two companies will be targeting Irish process industries in the utility sector, particularly power and water. Valmet will benefit from the capabilities of RR Projects to provide […]

  • ACWA Power Wins First Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Project in Saudi Arabia

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (February 6, 2018) – ACWA Power, the Saudi, global leader in developing, constructing and operating power generation and desalination water plants in 11 countries, has won the Skaka IPP PV solar project, the first utility-scale renewable energy plant at the oil capital, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This plant is the first […]

  • Major Players in World Nuclear Market Merge

    China’s State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission reorganized and transferred China Nuclear Engineering & Construction Corp. (CNEC) to China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) on January 31, forming a new giant in the nuclear power industry. The combined company is estimated to have nearly $100 billion in combined assets and almost 150,000 employees, according to data […]

  • 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

  • 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