News
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Water
Understanding Amine Chemistry in Combined Cycle Power Plants
Many combined cycle power plants have established a pH guideline between 9.6 and 10.0 to minimize corrosion in heat recovery steam generators and condensers. Neutralizing amines are used to achieve these pH
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O&M
How Air Bearings Moved Tons of Nuclear Waste
Heavy loads must often be moved at power plants of all types. Air bearing-based vehicles can make the process safer, faster, and cheaper. Cask relocation at a nuclear waste facility offers one successful
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T&D
Adjusting Power Line Sag in Real-Time
Getting proper sag between power line towers can be time-consuming. However, a new surveying tool allows workers to make adjustments in real-time. The method saves time and money, while also providing
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News
EPA: Mercury Rules for Coal, Oil Power Units Not ‘Appropriate and Necessary’
Because compliance costs to coal- and oil-fired power plants for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) far exceed quantifiable benefits to regulating hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, the Trump administration has proposed it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate HAP emissions from power plants under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), […]
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News
Despite Financial Hurdles, Utility Capital Spending to Remain Elevated
Despite higher taxable income and pressure on balance sheets, capital spending by regulated utilities will remain elevated—and much of it will be dedicated to replacing aging infrastructure, hardening or efficiency-boosting measures, and on renewables and environmental projects, said Moody’s Investors Service in a recent sectoral briefing. The credit ratings agency for the first time this […]
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News
Tenaska Gas-Fired Plant Comes Online in Pennsylvania
The Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station began commercial operation on Dec. 21, the latest natural gas-fired facility to enter the PJM market. The 940-MW Tenaska plant, located near Smithton in South Huntingdon Township in Westmoreland County in southwest Pennsylvania, was built in just more than two years, though its planning and permitting process took several years […]
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News
Bipartisan Nuclear Modernization Bill Clears Congress
A bipartisan bill to modernize regulation of the nation’s nuclear power fleet passed in the U.S. Senate on Dec. 20 and the House on Dec. 21 without much opposition. It now heads to President Trump. S.512, better known as the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), seeks to provide a program to develop […]
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News
NV Energy Accelerates Retirement of One of Nevada’s Last Coal Units
NV Energy plans to retire a 254-MW coal-fired unit in a power-constrained region of Nevada at the end of 2021, four years ahead of schedule. The company will instead purchase 1,001 MW from new solar photovoltaic projects equipped with 100 MW of long-term battery storage, effectively doubling its total renewable generation from 14% in 2017 […]
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News
Finnish Nuclear Plant Start-up Delayed Again
Another nuclear power project has been delayed, as the Fennovoima consortium and Russia’s state-run nuclear company Rosatom said the Hanhikivi 1 power plant’s projected start-up date has been pushed to 2028, four years behind the original schedule and eight years later than the proposed start when Finland’s government supported the project in 2010. The announcement […]
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News
Tianwan Unit 4 Latest Chinese Reactor to Come Online
Unit 4 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in China entered commercial operation this past weekend after completing commissioning. It began supplying power to the country’s national grid on Dec. 22. Tianwan NPP is the largest facility built with a Russian-Chinese framework of economic cooperation, with Units 1 through 4 based on the VVER-1000 reactor […]
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Fuel
NERC: Accelerated Coal and Nuclear Retirements Pose Limited Reliability Risks
The accelerated retirement of coal-fired and nuclear generation by 2022 could adversely affect reliability in four regions, including in the East and over parts of the central U.S., the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) warned as it released findings from a “stress-test” scenario. But the entity tasked with ensuring reliability and security of the […]
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News
POWER’s Top 10 Most-Read Stories from 2018
There’s never a dull moment in the power industry, and like most years, 2018 was filled with many interesting developments. As it has been for more than 135 years, POWER was there to break the news. The following 10 articles were the most-read online stories of the year. #10: New York Denies Air Permit for […]
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Press Releases
ACCCE Shares NERC’s Concerns for Reliability if Retirements Accelerate
Washington, DC — Yesterday, NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) released a Special Reliability Assessment to evaluate the risks to the reliability and resilience of the electricity grid from the significant loss of fuel-secure baseload generation. While NERC’s review is not a forecast of expected future conditions, it does represent a credible stress-test of the […]
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Press Releases
NARUC Publishes New Study of Carbon Capture Technology and Policy
WASHINGTON—A new report from the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners examines the state of national carbon issues. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage: Technology and Policy Status and Opportunities is a valuable tool for state regulators and others to understand current CCUS policy and technology, learn about its successful applications nationally and internationally, and consider […]
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Press Releases
CORTIME Introduces SolidWorks Embedded Multi-Study Optimization Including Flow Simulation Support
Design Exploration, it’s not just for experts anymore! Copenhagen, Denmark. CORTIME, a pioneer in making powerful design exploration available to a broader audience, is proud to introduce SolidWorks embedded Multi-Study Optimization including Flow simulation support in the CORTIME software. CORTIME will be exhibited at SolidWorks World 2019 in Dallas, TX from Feb 10-13, 2019, in […]
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Press Releases
Small hydropower plant in Macedonia: Voith wins order to supply two StreamDivers
Heidenheim / Skopje. Technology group Voith has won an order for the manufacture, supply and commissioning of two StreamDivers for the small hydropower plant Gradiste in Macedonia. The company will also supervise installation and supply the gate valves. The power plant is set to go into operation early in 2020 and will supply clean power […]
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Press Releases
Brentwood Introduces Two New Cooling Tower Fill Products: ShockWave™ & ThermaCross™
Revolutionizing Industry Standards for Balanced Thermal Performance & Fouling Resistance READING, Pa., Dec. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Brentwood proudly introduced two new fill media products earlier this month at POWER-GEN International: ShockWave & ThermaCross. Following extensive research and development, the company predicts these products will revolutionize their respective markets within the cooling tower industry. “We are […]
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Press Releases
Canada signs environmental cooperation agreement with the United States and Mexico
December 19, 2018, Ottawa, Ontario — Canadians expect their government to work with international partners to build a cleaner future. As the Government of Canada builds strong trade relationships, it is firmly committed to the principle that trade and environmental protection go hand in hand. Free-trade agreements that include commitments to protect the environment ensure a sustainable […]
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News
Key Power Industry Conferences and Trade Shows to Think About in 2019
Conferences and exhibitions are a valuable way for power professionals to share ideas and network, gain up-to-date training, further education, understand regulatory or policy changes, and access the latest products and technologies. POWER‘s editors compiled this helpful list of events in 2019 that cater to the power industry. FEBRUARY ARC Industry Forum February 4-7 Orlando, […]
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News
Regulators Back Dominion Takeover of SCANA
Dominion Energy’s bid to purchase SCANA Corp. and its South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) utility, approved by South Carolina regulators on Dec. 14, could bring some stability to SCANA. Shareholders hope that’s the case; they’re excited about swapping their devalued SCANA shares for more valuable Dominion stock. Workers, though, remain uncertain about their futures, […]
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News
Hitachi Acquires ABB Power Grids Business in $11 Billion Deal
Hitachi Ltd. and ABB on December 17 announced that Hitachi will acquire 80.1% of ABB’s Power Grids unit in an $11 billion deal. Reports of the possible acquisition surfaced December 16, with several media outlets including POWER discussing the agreement, citing sources familiar with the deal who asked not to be identified. Hitachi plans to […]
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News
World’s First EPR Nuclear Unit Begins Commercial Operation
Unit 1 of the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant completed its final regulatory test of continuous operation and full power for 168 hours on Dec. 13, marking the final milestone toward achievement of commercial operation, China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) and EDF announced at a joint press conference held in Beijing, China, on Dec. 14. […]
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Press Releases
CHARAH SOLUTIONS OFFERS INNOVATIVE THERMAL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY FOR FLY ASH BENEFICIATION – MP618 ™
Charah Solutions has launched MP618, a proprietary fly ash thermal beneficiation technology that improves the quality of fly ash produced at electric utilities and increases its supply of marketable fly ash to concrete producers nationwide. Our proven MP618 Multi-Process fly ash beneficiation technology allows for beneficiation of both wet and dry fly ash, reduces loss […]
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Press Releases
France’s first tidal energy plant gets smarter with QOS Energy’s data intelligence platform
Quimper, France, 17 December 2018. Sabella, a pioneering tidal and ocean stream turbine developer, has partnered with QOS Energy to improve the performance monitoring of its ground-breaking Ushant tidal energy project. The first 1MW tidal turbine of the plant, immersed 55 metres under water off the west coast of France, is equipped with more than […]
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Press Releases
Valmet to supply automation technology to Pori Energia’s new Aittaluoto biomass power plant in Pori, Finland
Valmet will supply automation technology to Pori Energia Oy’s Aittaluoto biomass power plant in Pori, Finland. The target of the company’s Aittaluoto 2020 project is to replace the outdated low-efficiency power plant processes, decrease the use of fossil fuels in energy production, and meet the operational requirements of the industry in the area. The modernization […]
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Press Releases
Competitive Power Ventures Sells Partial Stake in Towantic Energy Center
CPV and Osaka Gas USA solidify shared commitment to helping meet energy demands in the U.S. Silver Spring, MD, Dec. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) has finalized the sale of 25 percent of its ownership interests in the CPV Towantic Energy Center (CPV Towantic) to Osaka Gas USA (OGUSA). CPV and […]
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News
Ramboll has agreed to acquire US engineering and design consultancy OBG
The Ramboll Group has entered into an agreement to acquire the US engineering and design consultancy OBG, adding 900 experts within water, energy, environment and advanced manufacturing with effect of 1 January 2019. With the acquisition Ramboll now has 2,000 experts in the US and 15,000 globally. Copenhagen, 17. December 2018 The acquisition of OBG […]
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News
ABB Nears Sale of Power Grids Division to Hitachi in $11 Billion Deal
Hitachi Ltd. and ABB could announce an $11 billion deal as soon as December 17 in which Hitachi will acquire 80% of ABB’s power grids unit. Reports of the possible deal surfaced December 16, with Bloomberg and others citing sources familiar with the agreement who asked not to be identified. Neither ABB nor Hitachi commented […]
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Press Releases
Record-smashing auction dramatically expands Massachusetts’ offshore wind potential
Equinor, Mayflower Wind Energy, and Vineyard Wind placed winning bids totaling $405 million to begin planning wind farms WASHINGTON—A highly-competitive auction for three offshore wind lease areas off the coast of Massachusetts concluded today with winning bids totaling a record-breaking $405 million dollars from Equinor; Mayflower Wind Energy, a Royal Dutch Shell and EDP Renewables […]
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Press Releases
PG&E Proposes Critical Investments to Enhance Wildfire Safety and Help Reduce Wildfire Risk
Additional Diablo Canyon Power Plant Proposal Affirms PG&E’s Commitment to Meet California’s Renewable and Clean Energy Goals SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Reflecting the company’s commitment to address the growing threat of wildfires, PG&E is proposing a series of important additional safety investments as part of its 2020 General Rate Case (GRC) to help further protect the 16 […]