News

  • Can Nuclear Power Stay Relevant in a World Filled with Renewables?

    I have long been a supporter of nuclear power. I’ll admit I’m biased, having spent 13 years in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program and having worked for several more years in the commercial nuclear

  • Canada Project Highlights Value of DERs

    Groups involved in the energy market in Ontario, Canada, have joined in a pilot project to simulate a local distribution energy trading market platform, designed to demonstrate improved customer participation

  • Ensuring Power Grid Health Through Better Asset Management

    The power sector has been evolving for years and technology has been instrumental in the change. Today, asset performance management and predictive maintenance tools can help power companies avoid outages

  • How Different Power Grid Operators Are Approaching Renewable-Storage Hybrid Participation

    Pairing renewable resources with energy storage systems makes a lot of sense. However, grid operators are still developing frameworks for handling these hybrid projects but they may need to be treated

  • Development of a Digital Twin for the Atikokan Station

    A digital twin designed for the Atikokan biomass power plant uses science-based Bayesian machine learning methods combined with surrogate models developed from a suite of validated, multi-physics simulations

  • Combating Varnish in Turbines: A Two-Step Solution

    As operational conditions continue to evolve and change with power generation, so does the degree of complexity within those systems, becoming a common pain point for plant managers that requires rigorous

  • Standardized Documents and Solid Partners Make Financing Less Stressful for Project Developers

    Many small- and medium-sized power projects are simply not large enough to gain the interest of highly sought-after institutional investors. The complexity and related costs of smaller projects means risks and

  • Hydropower: A Cost-Effective Source of Energy for Hydrogen Production

    With more countries announcing net-zero plans for 2050 or sooner, hydrogen’s time has come to play a major and integrated role in our energy infrastructure. The energy industry has shown an increased interest in understanding the opportunities, challenges, and economic realities in integrating hydrogen into their energy portfolios. The March 2020 BloombergNEF Hydrogen outlook estimates […]

  • POWER Digest [November 2021]

    Siemens’ Turbine Set for New Greece Gas-Fired Plant. Siemens Energy in September announced it will supply its HL-class gas turbine technology to Greece for the first time, at a new combined cycle power plant

  • Net-Zero Needs Nuclear: Why Following Science Is a Must to Meet Climate Targets

    Arguing whether or not climate change is “a thing” seems like it’s (thankfully) in our past. Climate change is part of our lexicon and our everyday habits are positively changing to reflect a new sense

  • 2021 POWER Top Plant Award Winners

    Coal-fired See our August 2021 issue for stories covering these plants: Grant Town Power Project, West Virginia Engro Powergen Thar Ltd. (EPTL) power station, Pakistan Taean Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plant, South Korea Renewables See our September 2021 issue for stories covering these plants: Florida Power & Light (FPL) Solar Program, Florida High […]

  • Ready for the Energy Transition: Hydrogen Considerations for Combined Cycle Power Plants

    Following the European Green Deal, the European Union has set the objective to become climate-neutral by 2050, much like the U.S. and many other countries that joined the Paris Agreement. To meet this goal, greenhouse gas emissions cannot exceed capture and storage, meaning that fossil fuels will unavoidably need to be phased out. In power […]

  • Mitsubishi Power Begins Operation of 500 MW Natural Gas-fired GTCC Power Generation System in Indonesia

    TOKYO, Oct 29, 2021 – (JCN Newswire) – Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has completed the installation and commissioning of a 500-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation system for the Muara Karang Power Plant, which has begun commercial operation. This new facility was […]

  • Cooperation Needed to Drive Energy Transition

    The decarbonization of our global economies is a must to arrest climate change and create a sustainable future for everyone. Yet, the transition off fossil fuels to a more sustainable economic foundation will be rocky. Recent events underscore both the need and the challenge. This year, Europe experienced its warmest summer in history, with almost twice as […]

  • Fluor to Collaborate with Bulgarian Energy Holding for Potential New Nuclear Power Units

    Companies to Focus on Decarbonization to Support Clean Energy Transition IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD for the consideration of new nuclear units in Bulgaria. Bulgarian Energy Holding is comprised of a group of companies engaged in the electricity generation, […]

  • Siemens Energy Pulls Out of Global Hydropower Joint Venture

    In another effort to streamline its business, Siemens Energy has moved to relinquish a 35% stake in Voith Hydro, a hydropower-focused joint venture it had long held with German technology company Voith Group. Munich-headquartered Siemens Energy and Heidenheim-headquartered Voith Group announced in separate releases on Oct. 22 that they had reached a mutual agreement to […]

  • Groups Say Nuclear Power Is Helping Achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals

    Nuclear power contributes greatly to achieving each of the 17 United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a 24-page report produced through a collaborative effort by a handful of organizations with ties to the nuclear power industry says. Among the issues addressed in the document are how the nuclear industry helps in eliminating hunger, improving […]

  • AEP Will Shed Kentucky Operations in $2.9B Sale 

    American Electric Power (AEP) is shedding its Kentucky-based assets—including its longstanding regulated utility Kentucky Power and transmission business AEP Kentucky Transco—to better position itself to invest in projects that will support a resilient, cleaner energy system. The Columbus, Ohio, headquartered company on Oct. 26 announced it has entered into an agreement for the sale of […]

  • Implement Cost-Effective, Zero-Trust Remote Operations to Mitigate Cyber Risks and Maintain Operational Resilience

    In January 2021, a hacker accessed the digital infrastructure controlling the water supply for Oldsmar, a Florida city of 15,000 people. The bad actor attempted to manipulate the city’s water supply, exploiting a vulnerability in the company’s IT-grade remote access software to alter levels of sodium hydroxide in the water supply, raising its concentration to […]

  • New York Officials Deny Permits for Proposed NRG Gas-Fired Plant

    New York officials have denied permits for NRG Energy’s proposed natural gas-fired power plant upgrade project in Astoria, a decision made after an environmental agency said the plan was “inconsistent” with a state measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Oct. 27 said the proposed new power plant […]

  • Carbon Capture and Hydrogen: The ‘Most Exciting’ Things in Energy Sector’s Future

    Insiders have long been talking about the energy transition taking place within the power industry. Most of the chatter has revolved around renewable energy, specifically wind and solar power, and the shift from coal- to gas-fired generation in the U.S. However, one expert from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) told POWER that carbon capture […]

  • The POWER Interview: Pioneering STEP Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Demonstration Readying for 2022 Commissioning

    Construction of the 10-MWe Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) pilot plant, a public-private collaboration to demonstrate and test supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power generating technology, is making marked progress toward a mid-2022 startup date.  Attendees from Experience POWER, HydrogeNext, and the Distributed Energy Conference, three of POWER’s annual in-person events, which took place last week in […]

  • Uplight Acquires Agentis to Support Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency for Businesses

    A software company that helps businesses with their decarbonization efforts is acquiring a competitor focused on supporting businesses in their engagement with utilities. Uplight, a technology partner for energy providers, on Oct. 27 announced it is acquiring Agentis, which provides digital energy analytics for non-residential power consumers, primarily focused on energy efficiency. The companies on […]

  • Vogtle Start Dates Pushed Back Again

    Georgia Power has again pushed back the in-service dates for two new reactors at the Vogtle nuclear power plant, with Units 3 and 4 now projected to come online in the third quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2023, respectively. Georgia Power in an Oct. 21 news release said its needs more time […]

  • DOE Envisions Future Grid’s Transformation into a ‘Network’

    The grid must accommodate more inverter-based generation and adequately handle the bi-directional flow of electricity, but it must also apply alternative grid configurations and coordinate planning and operations across multiple participants and jurisdictions. That’s the vision Michael Pesin, deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Grid Research and Development division, outlined in […]

  • From POWER’s New Editors’ Studio: Business Trends Driving Opportunities, Challenges

    At the Experience POWER conference, held in San Antonio, Texas, this week, POWER’s editorial team conducted several live interviews with industry leaders at its new Editors’ Studio. Here’s a recap of what you might have missed.  Executive Editor Aaron Larson talked to Paul Browning, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas (a company that sponsored the new video offering), […]

  • Voith Group strengthens hydropower core business and acquires Siemens Energy’s complete stake in Voith Hydro

    Voith acquires remaining 35 percent stake in Voith Hydro from joint venture partner Siemens Energy With the acquisition, Voith is continuing its expansion of the core business in the field of sustainable technologies Great potential for sustainable profitable growth through rising importance of hydropower for achieving global climate targets HEIDENHEIM, GERMANY: In the future, Voith […]

  • Charah Solutions Awarded Multiple Contracts by Long-Term Southeastern Utility Partner for Construction and Ash Pond Closure Projects

    Scope of Projects Includes Site Clearing, Road Construction, Ash Stabilization, Ash Excavation and Ash Relocation LOUISVILLE, KY (October 21, 2021) – Charah® Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: CHRA) (the “Company”), a leading provider of mission-critical environmental services and byproduct sales to the power generation industry, today announced that it has been awarded two ash pond closure contracts […]

  • Texas-Based Utility Teams Up with Mitsubishi Power to Explore Carbon Reduction Opportunities

    El Paso Electric (EPE) and Mitsubishi Power have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) “creating a collaboration framework to jointly develop projects that will enable EPE to achieve its clean energy goals.” EPE is a regional electric utility providing generation, transmission, and distribution service to approximately 444,300 retail and wholesale customers in a 10,000-square-mile area […]

  • Biomass Pellets Offer a Carbon-Neutral Alternative to Coal

    An innovative European Union–funded Arbaflame project is aiming to produce 70,000 tonnes of biomass-based combustibles per year to enable clean power generation. The biomass pellets are made of wood and can be used as a 100% sustainable alternative to coal in power plants to produce carbon-neutral power. Sulzer Chemtech’s separation equipment will play a key […]