News
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Nuclear
Conflict in Ukraine Threatens Nuclear Power Plants and Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities; Operations Continue
In its most recent update on the status of Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs), issued to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on March 2, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) said it maintained communications with the country’s NPPs and that all units “continued to operate as before.” Of Ukraine’s 15 reactors, more […]
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Legal & Regulatory
NRC Dramatically Reconsiders SLR Approvals, Sets New Conditions for Nuclear Life Extensions
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a dramatic reversal on Feb. 24 threw out a key environmental review that staff applied to subsequent license renewal (SLR) approvals for units at Turkey Point and Peach Bottom nuclear plants in 2019 and 2020, deeming their applications “incomplete.” In a series of orders, the federal regulatory agency’s three […]
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Solar
Kiewit Chosen as EPC Lead on Massive Nevada Solar Project
Equipment suppliers and construction partners have been chosen for the $1.2 billion Gemini solar-plus-storage installation in Nevada, which when complete will be among the largest solar projects in the U.S. Oakland, California-based Primergy Solar, part of Australia-based Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners and Gemini’s developer, owner, and operator, on March 3 said it has chosen Kiewit Power […]
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Hydrogen
The Hydrogen Rainbow Is So 2021—It’s Time to Get Over It
When it comes to hydrogen energy, the industry typically differentiates the final product in classes that correspond to the carbon intensity with a focus on “the colors of the rainbow,” such as gray, green, purple, and blue. According to The New York Times, the oil and gas industries are promoting blue hydrogen because (at the […]
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Nuclear
Xcel Energy Considering Nuclear Operator Role at Idaho NuScale SMR Plant
Xcel Energy is exploring a role as operator of the 462-MWe Carbon-Free Power Project (CFPP), potentially becoming a key member of the first-of-its-kind small modular reactor (SMR) power plant that is under development at an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site in Idaho Falls. The development is another sizable step for the six-module NuScale Power VOYGR project. […]
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Press Releases
Charah Solutions Places Final 20% of All Real Property Acreage at Former TMPA Gibbons Creek Steam Electric Station Under Contract
In Less than One Year Since Acquisition, Environmental Risk Transfer Services Leader Has Successfully Executed Contracts for the Sale of 100% of Real Property Acreage and Demolition of Power Plant; Remediation of Existing Ash Ponds and Landfills Underway Proven Environmental Risk Transfer Services Model Benefits Utility Partners, Shareholders, Local Communities and the Environment LOUISVILLE, KY […]
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Gas
New Realms for Gas Power Technology
Gas power technology developers are exploring new roles and applications to ensure gas power will remain relevant as power markets embrace decarbonization. At the end of 2020, about 1,600 GW of gas turbines
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News
Repowering Provides New Purpose for Existing Plants
The benefits of repowering—cost savings from upgraded performance, and utilizing existing infrastructure—make it an important part of the energy landscape. Repowering is occurring in both thermal and
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Workforce
Power Industry People: Finding Top Talent in the Military
Last month, POWER published an article written by Senior Associate Editor Darrell Proctor that detailed the challenges power companies have been facing when trying to attract high-quality recruits in the increasingly competitive labor market for engineers and other workers with technical backgrounds (see “Groups Grapple with Labor Logistics as Energy Evolves” in the February 2022 […]
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Nuclear
Sweden’s Government Approves Construction of Spent Nuclear Fuel Repository
Sweden’s government in late January gave radioactive waste management company Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) the green light to proceed with a deep geological repository (DGR) for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) at a site near Vattenfall’s 3.2-GW Forsmark nuclear power plant. The milestone, which wraps up a planning process that has taken more than 40 years, makes Sweden only the second country, after Finland, to take active steps on building a permanent SNF repository.
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Nuclear
Brazil Looks at Nuclear Power as Demand for Electricity Grows
A government agency that supports research into Brazil’s energy sector has forecast a significant jump in demand for electricity within the country over the next several years. Empresa de Pesquisa
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Nuclear
Accelerated Decommissioning of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station: A Progress Report
Holtec is decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The company has a fairly aggressive schedule that could see site restoration work completed in 2027. This article provides a current-day status
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Markets
Market Transitions: The MOPR Merry-Go-Round
The PJM Interconnection’s Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) was introduced in 2006 as a floor to bar new generators from artificially depressing capacity auction clearing prices through below-cost bids.
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Gas
Low-Cost Long-Duration Energy Storage at a Natural Gas Pipeline
An energy storage project based on Compressed Natural Gas Energy Storage (CNGES) technology is being studied at the Abbott Power Plant in Illinois. This article presents an overview of CNGES technology
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Nuclear
District Heating Supply from Nuclear Power Plants: Technical and Economic Aspects
In the February 2022 issue of POWER, an overview of existing district heating systems that utilize nuclear power for their energy source was presented and best practices of successful installations were
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T&D
Composite Insulator Application and Design for a Growing and Evolving Transmission Grid
The need to integrate renewable energy resources, and prepare for increased demand for power as electrification takes hold in transportation and other sectors, creates challenges for an aging grid. Some
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Gas
2022 CTOTF Innovation Excellence Award Winners Announced
The Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum (CTOTF), in association with POWER, is excited to announce the recipients of its annual Innovation Excellence Awards. Winners were selected through a judging process performed by an independent panel of recognized utility industry experts. Selections were made in five categories: maintenance, environmental stewardship, safety process, operational, and management and […]
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Energy Storage
Harnessing the Benefits of Energy Storage to Reshape Sustainable Operations
In today’s challenging business environment, it is paramount for organizations of all disciplines to reduce operating expenses while creating processes to meet strict greenhouse gas emissions standards. There is a worldwide focus on utilizing the full power of renewable energy and distributed assets to help organizations become more sustainable and decarbonized. Energy consumers, producers, utilities, […]
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Environmental
SCOTUS Hears Arguments on EPA’s Purview Over Power Plant GHG Emissions
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on a landmark case that could determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to broadly interpret the Clean Air Act (CAA) to establish carbon emission standards for coal, oil, and gas-fired power plants. Arguments in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (No. 20-1530) presented to […]
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Geothermal
Well-Constructed Solution: Geothermal to Power Bitcoin Mining
The mining of cryptocurrency, or bitcoin, is an energy-intensive process, and entrepreneurs are looking at several technologies—including innovative geothermal energy techniques—to power their operations. Among the latest is a service from a California-based renewable energy group, RenewaBit, which has joined with CeraPhi Energy, a Houston, Texas-based company, to produce geothermal energy with integrated crypto mining […]
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Press Releases
Transmission & Distribution Summit Will Be Held in Boston, Massachusetts, April 4–6, 2022
We are thrilled to announce that the 21st Transmission & Distribution Summit returns this April 4-6 in Boston, MA, USA and brings leading transmission & distribution executives and innovative suppliers and solution providers together at an exquisite location, Encore Boston Harbor. The summit focuses on key topics that have occupied the discussion by industry stakeholders […]
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Press Releases
GE Digital’s CIMPLICITY 2022 Monitors and Controls Industrial Operations with Centralized, Remote, and Mobile Innovation
SAN RAMON, Calif. – FEBRUARY 24, 2022 — GE Digital today announced the availability of the latest version of its industry-leading CIMPLICITY 2022 HMI/SCADA software. A proven, secure-by-design automation platform, CIMPLICITY® provides true client/server visualization and control – from single machines to plant locations spanning the world – helping industrial companies manage operations, enable the connected worker, and achieve […]
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Hybrid Power
Solar Developer Has Plan to Turn Oil Wells Into Energy Storage
A California developer of concentrated solar power (CSP) systems has announced an innovation that it says combines the company’s technologies to turn existing oil wells into energy storage sites that can provide clean energy. Hyperlight Energy on Feb. 24 said it was launching Tectonic Sun, an electricity generation technology that when paired with the company’s […]
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O&M
The Economics of Reliability: U.S. Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
The U.S. power network received attention for tragic reasons in 2021. From February 10 through 20, Texas suffered a severe power crisis due to a confluence of catastrophic winter storms. Failures occurred across all types of electricity generation facilities—natural gas, coal, and nuclear plants shut down, and wind turbines froze. Problems cascaded, as the compressors […]
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Press Releases
Abloy unveils keyless padlock with removable shackle
The new version of the keyless ABLOY BEAT padlock, designed especially for critical infrastructure, features a removable shackle. The highly weatherproof lock is operated with a mobile app and connects to both ASSA ABLOY’s and third-party management and operational systems. JOENSUU, Finland, February 24, 2022 – Abloy Oy today unveiled a digital, keyless padlock with […]
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Press Releases
Bilfinger supports VERBUND with the construction of a pumped storage power plant
Bilfinger will deliver pressure piping and draft tube gates for new Limberg III pumped storage power plant in Austria Order volume of more than €20 million Bilfinger impresses with innovative, time-saving assembly technique Bilfinger is supporting Austria’s leading energy company VERBUND Hydro Power with the construction of the new Limberg III pumped storage power plant […]
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Hydrogen
Decarbonizing the World: Hydrogen Technology Is the Next Big Thing
Many experts believe hydrogen holds great promise as a clean energy resource that can help nations achieve carbon-free goals. Green hydrogen, which is made from water through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, could be used to decarbonize a wide range of hard-to-abate industries, including petrochemical, cement, and steel, which often require high temperatures and combustion […]
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Interview
The ‘Weakest Link’ in Supply Chain Security
The energy transition will bring with it a new generation of cybersecurity challenges for the power sector. While information-sharing has been valuable, strategies to address issues related to vendor security, cyber talent, and lagging investment will also be critical, a former utility supply chain executive who led the development of an industry-wide cybersecurity risk exchange […]
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Press Releases
Houston Dynamo and Dash Exclusive Energy Provider
Shell Energy will become the exclusive energy provider beginning with the 2022 soccer season, working to integrate energy solutions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint at their stadium by an estimated 50% by 2026. NEED TO KNOW: Shell Energy has signed a letter of intent to become the exclusive energy provider of the Houston Dynamo […]
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Hydro
Ethiopia Produces First Power at GERD Mega-Dam
Ethiopia began delivering power from a 375-MW turbine at its flagship 5.15-GW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on Feb. 20, marking a significant milestone for the project that could become Africa’s largest hydropower producer. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed inaugurated the project in a celebration broadcast widely in the East African nation on Sunday. Officials […]