O&M

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed an operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement with an outcome-based performance model, covering three power plants owned by Brazilian Âmbar Energia, the energy company of J&F Group. The five-year agreement announced October 23 combines Wärtsilä’s services with clearly defined performance targets to establish a framework that enables the power plants to […]

In this paper, Air Products’ representatives explain the basics of nitrogen blanketing, how to elucidate its various value propositions to maximize safety and efficiency, as well as how to practice it effectively and efficiently across a variety of industrial settings. Download the full white paper to learn more.

Today’s demand for energy is extraordinary and expected to continue rising. The rapid growth of data centers, reshoring manufacturing operations and electrification of transportation has accelerated the market demands for electricity. Rethinking how industries use, and re-use materials is central to both the future of the electrified world and the work of Nucor, North America’s […]

Boilers are all around us. From home water heating to massive industrial applications, they are everywhere. This article covers boiler basics, including the basic types of packaged boilers and their thermal configurations.

Utilities are confronting a convergence of challenges, including aging infrastructure, rising energy demand and the accelerating shift to renewable energy sources. The electric grid, much of which is decades old, is increasingly exposed to risks like extreme weather and cyber threats. Digital transformation can offer a practical path forward, helping utilities modernize operations, improve visibility […]

Framatome has signed a contract for the maintenance and modernization of electrical systems at the two VVER-1000 reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. The maintenance work will be coordinated by Framatome EOOD, the Bulgarian subsidiary of Framatome.

Vegetation is a much-needed part of the natural world and is essential for life to thrive on Earth. Yet, when unmanaged, it’s also one of the greatest threats to the grid and a leading culprit for causing outages. Fallen branches topple powerlines, roots damage underground cables, and overgrown trees close to energized wires are known […]

In the early 2010s, the “build-to-sell” model dominated the commercial and industrial (C&I) real estate solar market. Building owners, especially REITs (real estate investment trusts), with an understanding and comfortableness in investing in long-term assets, would pay solar developers to build arrays on their roof or parking lot. Owners reaped the benefits associated with solar, […]

Utility-scale solar farms are essential players in the energy transition. But with growth comes more exposure, and large solar arrays are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, especially hailstorms. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, utility executives, plant managers, engineers, and energy policymakers need proven, scalable methods for assessing and repairing solar farm damage quickly and effectively.

Selecting the best fuel gas compressor technology is critical for plant performance and economics. This comprehensive comparison examines three compressor types to help power plant designers choose the optimal

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a vital water purification technology used in various applications such as boiler feedwater treatment, cooling water systems, and wastewater recycling. The feedwater for RO can

The stakes have never been higher for power generation facilities when it comes to extreme cold weather. Severe winter events exposed critical vulnerabilities across the U.S. power grid, leading to widespread outages and cascading failures. These events underscored a harsh reality: cold weather preparation is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. To meet this […]

Carbon seal rings are silently revolutionizing industries—from oil rigs to rocket engines. Carbon seal rings can have significant effects. Take a recent upgrade by ExxonMobil. By switching to advanced carbon seals in refineries, the company cut fugitive emissions by almost 30% and saved millions of dollars in downtime. Or SpaceX, which relies on ultra-durable carbon-graphite […]

As commercial and industrial facilities face growing pressure to reduce emissions, lower costs, and build resilience into their operations, the spotlight has shifted to power. At Hutchinson Aerospace and

Inspecting and monitoring long-distance transmission lines has always been both costly and dangerous for utilities. Networks that stretch across remote, rugged terrain make traditional methods like climbing towers, deploying helicopters, or sending out ground crews resource-intensive and risky for workers. Today, autonomous drones are changing this process by offering a faster, safer, and more cost-effective […]

A transformer fire at Heathrow Airport earlier this year triggered cascading power outages, cutting electricity to more than 66,000 homes, grounding more than 1,300 flights, and causing losses of up to £100 million. According to a recent report, the fire started because of a fault in a 50-year-old asset that subsequently led to short circuiting […]

Visual inspections of the power grid have traditionally relied on manual methods and reactive responses. These inspections, whether performed on foot, by helicopter or drone, often involve fragmented data systems and delayed reporting cycles. The approach worked for decades, but it is no longer sufficient. Utilities are now facing intensified pressure on several fronts. Infrastructure […]

This white paper explores how using a holistic, application-driven approach can help minimize drivetrain failures, reduce Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), enable predictive maintenance, and deliver long-term cost savings via lower total cost of ownership (TCO). It explains how an integrated approach to drive system design ensures maximum efficiency, reliability, and performance.

The Trump administration has proposed new drone regulations that will eliminate case-by-case approval processes for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)  operations, while Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy confirmed accelerated plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and […]

The convergence of artificial intelligence and digital twin technology is emerging as a transformative solution, enabling power producers to shift from static control systems to dynamic, self-optimizing

When you’re managing 400-plus solar sites scattered across multiple states, a single transformer failure can cost thousands of dollars per day in lost revenue.

As electricity demand soars during summer heat waves, many power plants find themselves constrained by their ability to cool water efficiently for reuse. Innovative floating cooling technology is enabling

With artificial intelligence (AI) causing a surge in electricity demand across the world, power capacity and availability are more vital than ever. The race is on to build more generation assets. In the

Ensuring compliance in power generation projects is non-negotiable—and it’s no longer a box to tick at the end of a project. It now demands continuous oversight, code alignment, and documentation from the very first planning meeting to final handover. For project teams in the energy sector, this shift comes at a time of tighter National […]

Extreme weather and aging grid infrastructure are causing longer, more frequent power outages—making energy resilience a growing priority for utilities and communities. This new resource features a range of strategies for strengthening local energy systems, with a focus on how strategic partnerships between municipalities and utilities are driving positive results. You’ll explore five case studies […]

Utilities operate in high-stakes environments where operational resilience, infrastructure reliability, and workforce efficiency are essential for maintaining uninterrupted service. Cutting-edge field service management technology enhances field operations, improves safety, and streamlines emergency response with scalable automation, seamless geographic information system (GIS) integration, and predictive field service intelligence, ensuring efficiency and reliability in even the most […]

There is no room for missteps, miscommunication, or misunderstandings when it comes to nuclear maintenance. It demands precision, speed, and accountability. The tools and systems used during outages must function flawlessly, because when they don’t, the cost is more than money—it’s exposure, downtime, and slipping maintenance schedules. Some nuclear plants use a segmented model for […]

As aging infrastructure meets rising demand, hydro plants are embracing modern control systems to unlock data, streamline operations, and power a more resilient, connected future. Hydro generation has been a

An air gap is the distance between the rotor and stator of a large-scale hydroelectric generator. This gap is a very small distance in relation to the size of the rotor. Its measurement to tight tolerances is critical to prevent damage to and maintain efficiency of the generator. Static measurement of the air gap (Figure […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a huge role in heat rate optimization. In some cases, AI-driven models have analyzed operational data to recommend control settings that reduce heat rates by 1.5% to