Renewables

  • POWER Notebook: New 1,600-MW Coal Plant in India; Low-Price Solar Deal in Idaho

    Financing has reportedly been secured for a 1,600-MW coal-fired power plant in India’s eastern state of Jharkhand. Qatar’s Gulf Times newspaper reported April 6 that Power Finance Corp., a state-run lender in India, and its subsidiary REC approved a $1.5 billion loan for the project. The report said the new plant would be funded through loans […]

  • CenTrax belt tracker for RWE Eemshaven power plant

    RWE Generation’s Eemshaven power plant is the largest coal and biomass power plant in the Netherlands. Covered conveyor belts ensure dust-free transport of the coal from ships to the power plant or the storage yard. This process was always accompanied by jerks and jolts due to frequent belt mistracking. The constant downtime of the conveyor […]

  • For First Time, IEA Quantifies Coal’s Dominant Role in Global Temperature Increase

    Coal combustion was responsible for more than 0.3 degrees C of the 1-degree C surge in global average annual surface temperatures above pre-industrial levels—and that makes coal the single largest source of the global temperature increase, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in a new report.  The finding, outlined in the IEA’s Global Energy & […]

  • Former TVA CEO Will Take the Reins at PG&E

    PG&E Corp. announced on April 3 the appointment of William “Bill” Johnson as the company’s new president and CEO. It also announced the appointment of 10 new directors to its board of directors. The board appointments will be effective as of the next in-person board meeting, which will be held as soon as practicable, the […]

  • How the DOE Is Looking to Save Hydropower

    The Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a slate of measures to help U.S. hydropower thrive as costs for wind and solar plummet. Measures will include a roadmap to identify hydro’s value in a future grid, and a first-of-its-kind prize designed to encourage innovative and faster pumped storage construction techniques. In her opening speech at Waterpower […]

  • FPL Will Build World’s Largest Battery Storage System

    Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) has been building new solar farms and bringing gigawatts of new natural gas-fired generation capacity online in recent years. Now the utility has announced what it calls the world’s largest solar-powered battery storage system. FPL on March 28 said the Manatee Energy Storage Center, a 409-MW/900-MWh battery storage facility, […]

  • Siemens Gamesa advances with its onshore portfolio, launching the new Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform, with a 170 meter rotor — the largest in the industry

    Introducing two new turbines, SG 5.8-155 and SG 5.8-170, that increase the AEP by over 20% and 32%, respectively, compared with the SG 4.5-145 Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) continues to advance its product strategy by introducing a new onshore platform: the Siemens Gamesa 5.X platform, which encompasses two turbine models: the SG 5.8-155 and […]

  • Sharp Introduces New High Efficiency (19.1%) Mono PV Modules

    3 April 2018 – Sharp today launches three new monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) panels to the NU product family. The renewed line-up of high performing modules offer customers a solution for every application, from residential projects up to large-scale commercial installations and free-field power plants. The following three modules are available to buy now from […]

  • Introducing the Spectrum of Utility Solar Actions

    Consumer interest in rooftop solar is higher than ever. The most recent numbers from Pew Research show 89% of U.S. adults favor the expanded use of solar power, while only 9% oppose. Historically, this interest has only been met by solar salespeople, which can create a consumer protection risk. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken notice: […]

  • Vestas turbines to feature nacelle Lidar

    01 April 2019: Fred. Olsen Renewables places order with ZX Lidars for integrated nacelle wind Lidars on every turbine at the 105 MW Högaliden Wind Farm Fred. Olsen Renewables, a leading global developer, owner and operator of renewable energy assets has confirmed its most recent order of turbines features nacelle Lidar for both wind farm […]

  • DNV GL supports Equinor with verification study for Hywind Tampen floating wind farm

    Oslo, Norway– 1st April 2019 –DNV GL, the world’s largest independent energy advisory and certification body, today announces that it is working with Equinor to undertake a third-party verification study of the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm in Norway. Hywind Tampen is expected to be the world’s first offshore wind farm powering oil platforms. Situated […]

  • SeaPlanner Awarded Contract to Support Triton Knoll Construction

    SeaPlanner Ltd has been awarded the contract by Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited, to provide its Marine Management System, SeaPlanner, and SeaHub communications solutions to support construction of the 857-MW offshore wind farm, Triton Knoll. The SeaPlanner Marine Management System will be deployed for use by the construction project team to coordinate all personnel […]

  • INNIO to Supply Six Jenbacher Gas Engines for Innovative Microgrid Project in Finland

    JENBACH, AUSTRIA—April 1, 2019—INNIO* announced today that it will supply six Jenbacher* gas engines for the LEMENE microgrid project in Finland, helping the Finnish government reach its climate goal of having 100 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2030. The LEMENE flagship project will be the largest energy self-sufficient business district using […]

  • What Are Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles?

    While conventional power plant cycles produce power from turbines using water or steam as the working fluid, supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) cycles use CO2 that is in a supercritical state—at a temperature and pressure above its critical point where liquid and gas phases are not distinguishable.  CO2 has a relatively low critical pressure of 7.4 megapascal […]

  • POWER Digest (April 2019): News Briefs from Around the World

    The Netherlands Orders Early Closure of Coal Plants. The Dutch government on March 8 told Swedish power producer Vattenfall to stop using coal at the 650-MW Hemweg-8 hard coal-fired unit in Amsterdam by the

  • Off-Grid Microgrid: Solar + Batteries + Thermal Generation

    Today’s microgrid installations showcase a variety of configurations and control systems. Commercial and industrial sites are finding innovative ways to power their operations, particularly those in remote

  • Using Infrared Drone Technology to Inspect Solar Panels and Wind Turbines

    An East Coast industrial plant had for months experienced a significant dropoff in energy production from its 36,000-square-foot solar field. The plant’s maintenance team had been unable to find any problems

  • Optimizing Kaplan Turbine Efficiency with Minimal Cost, Effort, and Time

    When the blades of individual Kaplan turbines are not continuously adjusted to achieve peak efficiency, the result is non-optimal performance and unnecessarily high mortality of downstream migrating fish

  • The Economic Thicket of Generating Cost Comparisons

    Comparing the costs of differing electric generating technologies has become popular among advocates for particular technologies and those seeking to find the optimal approach to new generation. While getting

  • Show Preview: ELECTRIC POWER

    The ELECTRIC POWER Conference + Exhibition celebrates its 21st birthday this year, with the event scheduled for April 23–26 at the Mirage Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. ELECTRIC POWER for the past two

  • Chile’s Innovative Floating PV Project on AngloAmerican’s Tailings Pond

    Chile has its first floating solar farm installed and on a brand-new type of site: a tailings pond, owned by the mining giant AngloAmerican. Located at Los Bronces mines, north of Santiago, the 84 kWp pilot should generate 153 MWh per year for the company’s energy needs. The project, developed by Lenergie and for which […]

  • Solar Power Is Economical Today, but Comes With Challenges

    Depending on the deployment location and competing energy prices, photovoltaic solar panels are among the most cost-effective power solutions being added to the grid today, often without subsidies and other incentives. The revelation came during a panel discussion—which included several CEOs from the power sector—that took place at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Summit […]

  • New York Power Authority and Municipal and Cooperative Electric Systems Extend Hydropower Contract to 2040

    The 51 Municipal and Rural Electric Cooperative Systems throughout New York Are Adopting the State’s Clean Energy Goals  WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) Board of Trustees has approved a contract extension of low-cost hydropower for all 51 New York electric systems through September 1, 2040. Under the terms of the new power contract, […]

  • Navajo Nation Ends Bid to Acquire 2.3-GW Coal Plant

    After a Navajo tribal council on March 21 voted 11–9 to block acquisition of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and Peabody Energy’s Kayenta coal mine, the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC) announced it would drop its bid to keep the 2.3-GW coal-fired plant near Page, Arizona, open.  NTEC, a company wholly owned by the Navajo […]

  • Trump Ended War on Fossil Fuels, but Focus Needed on CCS [PODCAST]

    The United States Energy Association (USEA) is an association of public and private energy-related organizations, corporations, and government agencies that helps increase understanding of the world’s energy issues. Barry Worthington has been the executive director of the USEA for more than 30 years. During that time, he has seen the association grow from a two-person, […]

  • DOE Announces $36 Million for High-Temperature Materials Projects

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22, 2019) – The U.S. Department of Energy has announced $36 million in awards for 18 projects as part of the High Intensity Thermal Exchange through Materials and Manufacturing Processes (HITEMMP) program, as well as the final OPEN+ Cohort, High Temperature Devices. These project teams seek to develop new approaches and technologies for the […]

  • Siemens, Mitsubishi Discuss Merger of Turbine Units

    A German business magazine reports that Siemens is exploring options for its struggling gas turbine business, and could look to form a joint venture with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Manager Magazin on March 21 said Siemens “wants to accommodate the large turbine business of the Japanese Mitsubishi Group and in the future hold only a […]

  • GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF DEVELOPER TO INSTALL ROOFTOP SOLAR ARRAYS AT JAVITS CENTER

    Siemens to Design and Construct 1.4 MW Renewable Energy Project on Green Roof of Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Largest Rooftop Solar Installation in New York City Advances Governor’s Nation-Leading Clean Energy andJobs Agenda That Puts New York on a Path to Carbon Neutrality Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the selection of a developer to […]

  • RES Breaks Ground on America’s Largest Bifacial Solar Farm

    The 160 MWac project in Georgia ushers in a new era of high-efficiency solar. 21 March 2019 – RES (Renewable Energy Systems), a leader in the engineering and construction of wind, solar, transmission, and energy storage projects worldwide, has announced the start of construction on the Southern Oak Solar Project in the state of Georgia. […]