O&M

  • Cogeneration Facility Boosts Turbine Performance with Enhanced Lubricant and Fluid Management Service

    Ariege Biomasse Cogeneration, situated in Saint-Paul-de-Jarrat, Ariege, France, is a biomass cogeneration plant that derives electricity and heat from locally sourced wood. The facility was commissioned in

  • Managing Wet Steam to Maximize Plant Uptime

    Valves in production plants are exposed to incredibly hazardous operating conditions each day, which are further magnified by pressurized and erosive wet steam. Proper valve specification and maintenance are

  • Connect Without the Clutter: Building Neater, Tidier, Safer Electrical Enclosures

    In light of the widespread integration of renewable energy resources to the power grid, the imperative of ensuring optimally efficient, safe, and reliable energy storage infrastructure cannot be overstated

  • ACES Delta’s Hydrogen Electrolyzers Arrive in Big Boost for Hub’s Progress

    The much-watched Advanced Clean Energy Storage Hub (ACES Delta)—a project shaping up to be the largest renewable hydrogen energy hub in the U.S.—has received its first shipment of large-scale hydrogen electrolyzers and gas separators.  The shipment, unveiled on Oct. 25, marks the first equipment delivery for the Delta, Utah, project’s integrated Hydaptive package. Hydaptive is […]

  • Cold Weather: How to Maintain Power Plant Readiness and Reliable Operation

    Extreme temperature and weather events have become more prevalent in the past decade. The December 2022 Christmas freeze in the southeast U.S. saw many areas experiencing single-digit temperatures. The February 2021 Texas freeze saw temperatures in Dallas reach as low as –2F. Meanwhile, the January–February 2019 Midwest Arctic Polar Vortex saw temperatures plunge as low […]

  • Process Pumps in Power Generation: Choosing the Right Equipment for Optimal Performance

    Generating electrical power takes on many forms—hydroelectric, solar, fossil fuel, renewable, biofuel, nuclear, and geothermal, all of which are made up of many internal processes that together produce the power we rely upon. For those internal processes that handle fluids, pump performance is a major contributor to overall plant efficiency, making pump selection a critical […]

  • Lamons Introduces New Hydrogen Gasket

    The proven gasket focuses on reliability and safety of maintaining a tight seal for hydrogen applications  HOUSTON, TX (October 10, 2023) – Lamons® launched today the CorrLock™ gasket to address the need for reliable and safe sealing solutions for the hydrogen market. The PFAS-free solution is based on the field-proven CorruKamm gasket and made with […]

  • Corrosion Research Leads to Material Improvements and More Reliable Systems

    Fossil-fueled power plants are billion-pound investments that businesses (as well as whole nations themselves) around the world can’t afford to simply discard. Yet, the combinations of old plant, new fuels, and new operating conditions lead to corrosion, faults, downtime, and inefficiencies for plant operators and manufacturers. But these kinds of bridging technologies—between the “black” and […]

  • Filling Vital Power and Industrial Process Steam Needs with Temporary Boilers

    There are many reasons why a temporary boiler might be needed at a power generating or industrial facility. For example, Nationwide Boiler Inc., a supplier of temporary and permanent boiler equipment, custom

  • The Added Value of Corrosion Protection for Pump and Valve Maintenance

    Power plants depend on hundreds of valves and many different pumps to carry out operations 24/7. Good maintenance procedures—including routine tasks and predictive maintenance—are critical to keeping these

  • How Power Companies Benefit from Accurate Weather Forecasts

    It’s pretty easy to understand how the weather affects certain forms of power generation and infrastructure. Sunlight is obviously needed to generate solar power, wind is required to produce wind energy, and extreme storms of all kinds can wreak havoc on transmission and distribution lines, and other energy-related assets. Therefore, having accurate and constantly updated […]

  • Navigating Remote Partnerships for Power Generation Success

    Power generation represents a varied and evolving landscape, both globally and within the U.S., with numerous technology types contributing to the energy mix. From traditional simple cycle gas and turbine peaking plants to modern photovoltaic (PV) solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), wind, hydro and distributed generation facilities, the energy sector continues to experience dynamic […]

  • Elevating Wind Energy: ‘Intelligent Inspection’ Transforms Turbine Operations

    A successful clean energy transition depends on maximizing output and minimizing the costs of renewable investments.In particular, wind turbines are highly effective assets but require frequent detailed inspections and maintenance to ensure they are fully operational and maximize their energy production. This can be ‘easier said than done’ for many wind turbine owners and operations […]

  • AusNet Embraces Data-Driven Storm Impact Modeling

    Power companies must respond to outages caused by extreme weather events. Having accurate predictions concerning the severity of impending storms can ensure companies are prepared with the right resources on

  • Ester Transformer Fluids Bring Innovation to Clean Energy Systems

    Clean, green, renewable energy deployments continue to grow each year. A recent statement from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) noted, “By the end of 2022, global renewable generation

  • Self-Tuning AI Strengthens Plant and Grid Reliability on Islands

    Energy transition is progressively being adopted globally, pushing combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) to embrace flexible operation also on islands. CCGTs are, or will be, ramping loads up and down to accommodate intermittent renewable power inputs into the grid. These maneuvers compromise operational stability and jeopardize plant availability. Plant trips on small to mid-size islands […]

  • How Do Power Companies Safeguard Against Winter Weather Challenges?

    In February 2021, more than 4 million people lost power for days on end throughout Texas. The now-infamous outage resulted from extreme winter weather the state’s power grid wasn’t prepared to handle. This incident is spurring power companies nationwide to get proactive about preparing for increasingly severe winters. What steps are they taking to safeguard […]

  • Generator Maintenance: Preparing for the Bubble

    If you were paying attention to the power industry during the early 2000s, you may remember a large spike in the U.S. gas turbine fleet at the time. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that

  • Using ASME PTC 6 Testing to Improve Steam Turbine Performance

    When a power plant experiences issues with performance, the obvious indicators are usually a loss in load capacity or an increase in fuel consumption. However, other issues exist that can be costly, such as

  • Spider Power for Turbomachinery Operators

    Slowly, a blue spider crawls across its spider web. When it reaches the center, it stretches, solidifying the self-woven structures. We are in the middle of a video scene. Only when the camera opens up and moves away from the scenery does it become clear. This is not a real spider, but a model from […]

  • Transmission for Transition: Solving the South African Energy Crisis Through Logistics

    South Africa is in the midst of an energy crisis characterized by electricity shortages, blackouts, and lack of new infrastructure investment. Eskom, the state-owned utility supplying more than 90% of the nation’s electricity, has suffered from operational failures, maintenance issues, and breakdowns at aging, poorly maintained power stations, leading to steady declines in the energy […]

  • Lamons® and Modumetal Announce Partnership

    History and Innovation Come Together for Advancement in Corrosion Protection for Bolting  HOUSTON, TX (July 24, 2023) – Lamons, a global leader in safety sealing and attachment solutions, announced a new partnership with Modumetal, a state-of-the-art research and development company focused on a new class of metals known as nanolaminated metals. Combining the 75-year history […]

  • Hot Weather: How to Maintain Power Plant Readiness and Reliable Operation

    Extreme temperature and weather events have become more prevalent in the past decade. In fact, July 2023 is shaping up to be “the hottest single month on Earth on record, and possibly in more than 100,000 years,” according to an article published by The Washington Post. The article, published on July 20, says, “Every day […]

  • How Utilities Can Achieve Automated, Condition-Based Grid Maintenance to Boost Safety and Grid Reliability

    Site safety, equipment reliability, and a balanced budget from smooth operations are the cornerstones of a successful power grid. Today’s utility companies face immense challenges with current equipment monitoring practices, such as failures from aging electrical equipment, the need to extend the life of critical assets, and carrying out ongoing lifecycle management that is essential […]

  • POWER and Enverus Partner on New Power Industry Data and Insights Tool

    Power industry professionals searching for valuable data and insights on U.S. power plants will find a wealth of information in the POWER Plant ID (Intelligence Database) research tool. Data available includes plant locations, capacities, generation types, ownership breakdown, production history, emissions data, and more.   HOUSTON/AUSTIN, Texas (July 18, 2023) — POWER, the leading power […]

  • Utilities Need Proven Partners, Solutions to Accelerate Digital Transformation

    Utilities need to modernize their grid infrastructure but face a unique challenge: change is tricky when the stakes are high. Technology is changing faster than ever, from the latest smartphones and devices to automated tools being introduced across industries to ease workloads. For essential mission-critical services such as electric power, failure is not an option. […]

  • Watertight AUMA actuators for underwater hydro turbine control

    An AUMA electric actuation solution ensures high-precision guide vane adjustment for a fully-submersible hydro turbine from Natel Energy at the Sauerbrunn hydropower plant near Graz, Austria, thus helping to boost green energy. California-based turbine manufacturer Natel Energy required an actuator that could operate continuously underwater, provide accurate positioning to optimally control the water supply to […]

  • Leveraging the Digital Transformation in Solar O&M

    We are currently witnessing the most dizzying pace of technological innovation in our lifetimes, if not ever. Our lives are becoming increasingly more digital, cutting out archaic and inefficient processes and saving time and resources in an impressive fashion. COMMENTARY In solar photovoltaic (PV), this digital shift is also occurring, albeit in a less obvious […]

  • Developing Coatings for Use in Harsh Biomass Combustion Environments

    Corrosion is a constant battle for infrastructure of all kinds—the natural response of materials like metals to their environment, causing damage to everything from turbines to oil pipelines and vehicles. The costs are vast. A National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) IMPACT study published in 2013 claims that corrosion causes damage valued at $2.5 trillion […]

  • Electric Utility Protocols Can Mitigate Impacts from Wildfires

    As the frequency and intensity of wildfires continue to increase across the U.S., electric utilities face unprecedented challenges in maintaining a reliable power supply and keeping communities safe. In