News
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Management
Illuminating Your Path to Operational Excellence, Part 1
Operational excellence (OpEx) is a holistic approach to business change that requires small, ongoing modifications capable of producing significant effects. Within power operations, this approach can be used to improve crucial day-to-day procedures, such as shift handover, and address deviations from the norm, for example, market conditions. It is important to acknowledge that OpEx is […]
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Business
How Unitil Is Building a Customer Experience That Meets Evolving Energy Needs
We live in a constantly evolving energy landscape. With increased emphasis on future sustainability and environmental awareness, many consumers are becoming more cognizant of their energy usage, and many utilities are perusing renewable energy initiatives themselves. With change on both sides, the relationship between utility companies and their customers is becoming more and more of […]
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News
Ohio Utility Says Two Coal Plants Could Close Next Year
An Ohio-based utility said it plans to deactivate or sell the remaining coal-fired units at two of its power plants in 2023, five years earlier than previously expected. Akron-based Energy Harbor made the announcement March 14. The company in a news release said it wants to be a carbon-free power generator by the end of […]
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Press Releases
Parker’s clearcurrent Filtration Solution Reaches 10-Year Milestone as Installed Base Continues to Expand
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., March 14, 2022 – The Gas Turbine Filtration Division of Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its clearcurrent® filtration solution. Since it was first introduced one decade ago, clearcurrent continues to provide customers in the power generation industry with improved gas […]
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Wind
GE Exec Expects Rebound for Renewables
The leader of General Electric’s (GE’s) global energy business said the company expects its power and renewable energy units should be profitable in 2023, and experience even more success in 2024, after it weathers market headwinds that present challenges this year. Scott Strazik, speaking at the company’s March 10 investor day event, said GE is […]
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Press Releases
ANDRITZ to supply hydro- and electro-mechanical equipment for Upper Trishuli 1, Nepal
International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Co. Ltd. to supply the hydro- and electromechanical equipment for the 216-MW Upper Trishuli 1 hydropower plant, a run-of-river plant in Nepal owned by Nepal Water & Energy Development Company Pvt. Ltd. Upon completion, which is scheduled for 2026, Upper Trishuli […]
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Nuclear
Pressure on U.S. Nuclear Power Could Mount if Sanctions Imposed on Russian Uranium
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensuing sanctions may have a limited immediate impact on the U.S. nuclear industry, despite its reliance on uranium imports. Potential implications over the longer term, however, require urgent action, officials from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) said. NEI CEO and President Maria Korsnick told reporters at the ongoing CERAWeek by […]
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Nuclear
Women Are an Important Piece of UAE Nuclear Power Program
Tuesday, March 8, was International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The idea of an International Women’s Day (IWD) was first proposed in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, during a conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The […]
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Hydro
CPS Energy Exploring Novel Geomechanical Pumped Storage Technology
Texas-based CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned electric and natural gas company in the U.S., has entered into a 15-year commercial agreement to explore installing up to 15 MW of geomechanical pumped storage (GPS). The agreement will kick off with a pioneering 1-MW project that will pump water into drilled wells and store it under […]
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Coal
Coal Use Rises, Prices Soar as War Impacts Energy Markets
The war in Ukraine is having a global impact on energy prices, not only driving the cost of oil higher, but also sending coal prices to record levels as demand for the fuel grows during a period of diminished supply. The Newcastle (Australia) futures price of thermal coal for power generation hit $435/ton on March […]
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Connected Plant
How Data—with Context—Will Drive a More Secure Energy Future
I’ve come to depend on the navigation system in my car. It predicts traffic jams, gives me the fastest route, informs me of store hours, and even tells me where to get a burger. To give me this experience, the navigation system draws on multiple data sources, puts it into context, and presents it through […]
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Gas
GE Turbines Will Power New 2-GW Gas-Fired Plant in China
A new 2-GW natural gas-fired power plant in China, being built to support the coming retirement of a large regional coal-fired complex, will feature three GE 9HA.01 gas turbines. GE Gas Power and Harbin Electric on March 7 announced that Chinese state-owned power utility Shenzhen Energy Group Corporation Co. has ordered the equipment for its Guangming […]
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Coal
Ban on Russian Energy Imports Gains Bipartisan, Bicameral Steam in Congress
Eighteen bipartisan U.S. Senators are backing a bill that would direct the president to declare a national emergency and prohibit imports of Russian energy commodities, including crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and coal. While the measure does not include Russian uranium, a senior Department of Energy official said addressing U.S. reliance on […]
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Press Releases
The Connected Plant Conference Announces Southern Company as Host Utility Partner
HOUSTON, TX, March 4, 2022 – The 6th Annual Connected Plant Conference is proud to announce Southern Company as the Host Utility Partner. The 2022 event will convene in-person at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, from May 23 to 26. Hosted by POWER and Chemical Engineering, the Connected Plant Conference will provide attendees with the […]
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Nuclear
Ukraine’s Largest Nuclear Power Plant Taken by Russian Forces
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on March 4 that Russian forces had taken control of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site, but that the reactors continued to be operated by the plant’s regular staff and there had been no release of radioactive material. “What we are telling you is confirmed information that […]
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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