News

  • 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 […]

  • National Grid and LineVision Deploy Largest Dynamic Line Rating Project in the United States

    Latest project will Save Consumers Transmission Line Rebuild Costs and Reduce Curtailment of Renewable Energy Projects by 350MW, while expanding overall grid capacity SOMERVILLE, Mass., Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — National Grid, one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the world, and LineVision, the world’s only provider of non-contact overhead power line monitoring systems, announced today that LineVision’s sensors […]

  • Blue Ammonia Production Efforts for Fuel Supply, Exports in High Gear Along U.S. Gulf Coast

    Energy giants Chevron and Uniper are pairing with chemical technology companies Air Liquide and LyondellBasell to explore a hydrogen and ammonia production facility along the U.S. Gulf Coast that could support industrial decarbonization and mobility applications in the region and expand clean ammonia exports. The companies, in a joint statement on Oct. 19, said they […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • U.S. Announces First Sale of Rights for California Offshore Wind Development

    The U.S. government has announced the first-ever sale of offshore wind development rights off the California coast. The Dept. of Interior (DOI) on Oct. 18 said it would hold the event on Dec. 6, in an effort to spur industry growth in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The agency said the sale will include […]

  • Evolving Extreme Weather Risks Posing Unprecedented Insurance Woes for Renewables

    Unexpectedly steep financial losses suffered by the U.S. renewables market owing to a barrage of extreme weather events over the past summer suggest that project hardening strategies aren’t going far enough, a major renewables insurer is warning. GCube, an international insurer for wind, solar, wave, hydro, and tidal projects around the world in an update […]

  • BP Buying Leading RNG Production Group in $4.1 Billion Deal

    British oil major BP is continuing to diversify its energy portfolio, announcing a deal to acquire a company considered an industry leader in production of renewable natural gas (RNG). BP on Oct. 17 said it was buying Houston, Texas-based Archaea Energy for $3.3 billion in cash, or $26 a share, along with $800 million for […]

  • Gigaton Scale Required for Carbon Sequestration in North America

    The United States and Canada are in a leadership position with carbon capture, utilization, and storage projects. The industry is developing rapidly due net zero goals and 45Q tax incentives, but companies face challenges with project staffing, equipment constraints, and regulatory permitting. Carbon capture and sequestration must reach gigaton scale in order to achieve net […]

  • The IRA Puts Us on a Path to Net Zero—What’s the Catch?

    In mid-August, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law, marking this country’s most ambitious climate legislation to date. I applaud Congress and the President for working to pass the IRA and taking an important step toward net zero. The passage of this bill is a monumental achievement for everyone who cares about […]

  • Con Edison’s Investments and Climate Research Prevent Outages, Protect Customers

    NEW YORK – Nearly 10 years after Superstorm Sandy took lives, wrecked homes and caused widespread power outages, Con Edison has fortified its energy systems and is planning for the hotter, stormier weather that climate change will continue to bring. The company’s investments in its electric delivery system over the past decade have prevented 1.1 […]

  • 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 […]

  • China Will Add Two More AP1000 Nuclear Reactors

    China’s State Council has approved two AP1000 nuclear reactor units for State Power Investment Corp.’s (SPIC’s) Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, reactor technology supplier Westinghouse said on Oct. 12. If built, the units will become ninth and tenth reactors based on Westinghouse’s Generation III+ advanced reactor technology in China. Four AP1000 units are […]

  • Keeping the Lights on During the Grid Transition

    California seems to face the prospect of electricity shortages almost every summer. For example, Californians were asked to voluntarily reduce their electricity consumption for 10 days in a row in August. A few weeks later, the state’s grid operator issued another emergency alert: “Conserve energy now to protect public health and safety … Power interruptions […]

  • Landmark Emissions-Reduction Project in Louisiana Announced; CF Industries, ExxonMobil, EnLink Midstream to Collaborate

    CF Industries to capture up to 2 million metric tons of CO2 from operations ExxonMobil to develop 125K-acre CO2 storage location in Vermilion Parish ExxonMobil agreement with EnLink Midstream to transport CO2 through pipeline network IRVING, Texas – CF Industries, a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products, has entered into the largest-of-its-kind commercial […]

  • 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 […]

  • Emerson’s New I/O Interface Software Helps Future-Proof Operations, Reduce Modernization Costs up to 40%

    DeltaV IO.CONNECT enables manufacturers to keep existing I/O infrastructure, shorten downtime, accelerate ROI and increase flexibility of capital expenditures AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 12, 2022) – Emerson, a global software and engineering leader, has released DeltaV™ IO.CONNECT, a new subscription software service designed to help plants simplify modernization with an open architecture pathway that makes it […]

  • Massive Projects Move Forward as Groups Celebrate Global Hydropower Day

    A new 16-GW hydropower project in China and a 9-GW plant in Indonesia are among several projects being highlighted as part of Global Hydropower Day, being celebrated Oct. 11 as the hydro sector notes the importance of the technology to the world’s power generation. The Baihetan Hydropower Station in China is being developed by Jinsha […]

  • Cummins drives domestic green hydrogen economy forward with first U.S. electrolyzer manufacturing facility

    Columbus, Ind. – Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) will begin producing electrolyzers in the United States, underscoring the company’s continued dedication to advancing the nation’s green hydrogen economy. Electrolyzer production will take place in Fridley, Minnesota, starting at 500 megawatts (MW) of manufacturing capacity annually, scalable to 1 gigawatt (GW) in the future. “Expanding Cummins’ electrolyzer […]

  • 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 […]

  • 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 […]

  • GE Will Cut 20% of U.S. Onshore Wind Workforce

    General Electric (GE) has notified staff that it plans to lay off about 20% of the workforce in its U.S. onshore wind business. A report from NASDAQ this week said the cuts are part of a plan to restructure and resize the onshore wind division, as the group “is grappling with weak demand and rising […]

  • 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 […]

  • Netherlands Commissions Country’s Largest Energy Storage System

    An energy storage system (ESS) co-located with solar and wind power assets is now online at a research center in the Netherlands. The project, commissioned in a ceremony on Oct. 6, is a 24-MW/48-MWh that includes equipment from the Wärtsilä technology group. The GIGA Buffalo battery installation is at the Wageningen University & Research test […]

  • 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 […]

  • Balancing the Scales: Disparities in Decommissioning Practices for Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

    There have been historic initiatives within the U.S. to create a sustainable energy economy and to address major environmental concerns created by fossil fuels. The Inflation Reduction Act contains $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, which will have a meaningful impact on climate change. Meanwhile, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law seeks to remedy environmental issues […]

  • Thailand Starts Up First of Two Giant 2.7-GW Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plants

    Mitsubishi Power has declared complete a 2,650-MW natural gas–fired power plant in Chonburi province, Thailand, delivering its four M701JAC power trains to the plant’s joint owners Gulf Energy Development PCL, one of the largest independent power producers (IPPs) in Thailand, and Tokyo-based conglomerate Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The Gulf SRC (GSRC) power plant, located about 130 […]