Renewables

  • Cybersecurity Tips for Power Plant Operators [PODCAST]

    Cybersecurity threats have increased dramatically as sophisticated, nation-state developed hacking programs have been leaked to the general public. Now, common criminals have high-tech tools at their disposal with the capability to cause serious damage. As such, the power industry must take precautions and upgrade security to keep systems safe. While regulations provide a minimum security […]

  • Growth in Renewables Matching U.S. Nuclear Generation

    A business group geared toward sustainable energy says renewable sources of energy for the first time are generating nearly as much power as the entire fleet of U.S. nuclear reactors. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), along with Bloomberg New Energy Finance, on February 15 released the sixth edition of its Sustainable Energy in […]

  • FreeVolt Announces Innovation in Solar Modules

    PALM DESERT, California (February 13, 2018) — The biggest ongoing challenges for manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) modules are the loss of efficiency, limited vitality, and a drop in the conversion from kilowatt peak (kWp) to actual kilowatt hours (kWh). Photovoltaic Graphene Matrix Technology or “PV Graf” shatters the mold of traditional BUS BAR PV technology […]

  • Siemens Gamesa to supply 1,386 MW to Ørsted at the world’s largest offshore wind farm, in the UK

    It marks the largest-ever offshore project in the history of Siemens Gamesa, the world leader in the segment The company will install its SG 8.0-167 DD turbines with power boost functionality at the Hornsea Project Two offshore facility located 89 km off the east coast of England Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has been awarded […]

  • Greensmith Energy Storage Technology Selected to Deliver Reliable Solar Power in Massachusetts

    HELSINKI, Finland (February 13, 2018) — Greensmith Energy, a part of the Wärtsilä technology group, was selected by Origis Energy USA to provide advanced energy storage integrated with solar photovoltaic (PV) in Sterling, Massachusetts. The resultant hybrid system will allow the PV installation to better handle peak loads and provide secure, reliable electricity supply to the […]

  • Trump’s Broken Promises, and His War on Clean Energy

    Commentary The clean energy industry was hit hard by two decisions coming out of the Trump administration these past few weeks. First, a 30% tariff was imposed on imported solar panels. Then earlier this week, the Trump administration proposed plans to cut the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office budgets by 65%, all while […]

  • Trump Budget Backs Nuclear, Coal; Cuts Funding for Renewables

    The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request released February 12 asks for more money to support fossil fuel-based power systems, but seeks funding below current levels for other energy initiatives, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. The energy funding is part of a $4.4 trillion budget that features large increases in military spending, along […]

  • Nuclear Power, Carbon Capture Winners in New Budget Deal

    The budget bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in the early hours of February 9 extends a host of tax credits for energy technologies, including provisions to help the Vogtle nuclear expansion in Georgia as well as U.S. carbon-capture projects. The legislation also provides support for renewable energy, including for small wind […]

  • Electric Cooperatives File for Approval of Community Solar Pilot Programs

    GLEN ALLEN, Virginia (February 7, 2018) — Four of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s (ODEC) member-owners filed applications with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) on January 30, 2018, to implement community solar pilot programs. A&N, Mecklenburg, Northern Neck, and Rappahannock Electric Cooperatives will establish three-year pilot programs to provide community solar subscriptions to their member-consumers, pending SCC […]

  • Hydropower technology from Voith plays crucial role in Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region

    Voith to be gold sponsor of congress and exhibition “Hydropower Caspian and Central Asia” in Georgia More than 150 projects realized in Central Asia and around the Caspian Sea In this region, technology from Voith supplies more than 95 million people with environmentally-friendly electricity Heidenheim, Germany. For more than 80 years, Voith has been building […]

  • Direct-Use Power Generation to Outpace Retail Sales Through 2050

    After decades of lethargic power demand—and negative growth in 2017—U.S. electricity use is expected to grow steadily through 2050, driven by a healthy economy and increasing efficiency, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects in its Annual Electricity Outlook 2018 (AEO2018). However, during that period, direct-use generation will outpace growth in retail sales as more […]

  • NRG Sells Renewables Assets, 3.6 GW of Louisiana Coal and Gas Power Plants

    NRG Energy, in a bid to shed $7 billion in consolidated debt, is selling the bulk of its renewable assets and development platforms along with several coal and natural gas power plants worth 3.6 GW tied to its South Central Generating business. The independent power producer, which recently relinquished bankrupt wholesale generator GenOn Energy to […]

  • Virginia Considers New Utility Regulatory Rules

    Virginia lawmakers are weighing legislation that would give the state more control over utilities, with some of the measures developed in concert with power companies. State legislators are discussing the proposals, some of which are designed to lift a freeze on utility rates, which could bring refunds for ratepayers—although others warn it could cause rates […]

  • AEP, American Power Giant, Sets Goal to Slash Carbon Emissions 80% by 2050

    American Electric Power (AEP), one of the nation’s largest power generators, will pursue a strategy to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60% from 2000 levels by 2030, and 80% from 2000 levels by 2050. AEP expects to achieve carbon reductions through a variety of actions, including investments in renewable generation and advanced technologies […]

  • ACWA Power Wins First Utility-Scale Renewable Energy Project in Saudi Arabia

    RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (February 6, 2018) – ACWA Power, the Saudi, global leader in developing, constructing and operating power generation and desalination water plants in 11 countries, has won the Skaka IPP PV solar project, the first utility-scale renewable energy plant at the oil capital, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This plant is the first […]

  • Greensmith Energy’s Texas Waves Energy Storage Project Now Operational

    Greensmith Energy, a part of the technology group Wärtsilä, has successfully completed two grid-scale energy storage systems in partnership with E.ON Climate & Renewables in Texas. The system already responded to the recent cold snap in Texas, delivering short-term energy to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). The two 9.9-megawatt, short-duration Texas Waves storage […]

  • Changing the Power Industry Culture

    The news has been filled with high-profile sexual harassment cases recently. Although more women seem to be coming forward lately to tell their stories and bring misconduct to light, it’s far from a new

  • What’s Next for the Clean Power Plan?

    “The Trump administration is listening to the people of Wyoming,” remarked Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. His comment referenced a

  • Six Forces Disrupting the Power Sector

    Multiple disparate trends could forcefully reshape power systems around the world. As electricity markets transform, technologies advance, industries converge, consumption patterns change, environmental

  • Distributed Energy Resources Bring Benefits, Challenges and New Opportunities

    Distributed energy resources have changed the power generation sector, disrupting traditional markets and distribution models. Those working in the field tell POWER that research and development will continue

  • Power Plant Construction and Upgrade Best Practices

    Schedule delays and cost overruns can pose problems for complex power plant construction and retrofit projects. Sound planning, accurate modeling, and good communication can lead to successful projects for all

  • What Tax Reform Means for the Energy Industry

    One of the most important items on President Trump’s first-year agenda was the implementation of tax reform in the U.S. Republican lawmakers worked tirelessly as the calendar year drew to an end to get a new

  • China Advances Plan for Nationwide Carbon Trading System

    Top governmental bodies in China in December approved plans for a carbon trading system that will first target power plants and then cover most of the nation’s mammoth industrial body.  President Xi Jinping

  • Voith Completes Modernization of Scottish Hydro Station

    Voith in December announced it has completed the modernization of the Mucomir hydropower station in Scotland, and the 20-MW facility is again producing electricity for the Scottish grid. Voith was responsible

  • POWER Digest [February 2018]

    Polish Energy Company Puts Large Coal-Fired Unit Online. Enea , the Polish state-owned energy company, in December inaugurated what it calls the largest coal-fired power generation unit in Europe. The company

  • Report: Trump Wants Deep Cuts in Clean Energy Programs

    Documents obtained by The Washington Post show the Trump administration is prepared to ask Congress to cut the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) renewable energy and energy efficiency programs by as much as 72% in fiscal year 2019. The newspaper in a January 31 report says Congress likely would not support many of the cuts, but […]

  • More Utility Workers in Puerto Rico as Power Restoration Continues

    U.S. utilities continue to send workers to Puerto Rico to help restore that country’s electricity and rebuild its power infrastructure, a task that continues more than four months after back-to-back hurricanes left nearly all of the island in the dark. The Puerto Rican government this week said 83% of the island’s generation capacity has been […]

  • Bonneville Power Administration Unveils Strategic Plan to Stay Afloat

    Overwhelmed by low wholesale power prices and changing customer needs in the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) on January 30 unveiled a lifeline it hopes will allow it to remain commercially afloat. While the nonprofit federal power marketer headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is part of the Department of Energy, it is self-funding and […]

  • Experts: Innovative Financial Models Bolstering Rapid Growth of DERs

    The rapid growth of distributed energy resources (DERs) is spawning new financing models that could send growth for the fledgling sector soaring, upending the power sector at an even more breakneck pace. Industry executives at Distributech 2018 in San Antonio, Texas, this week noted that several trends are driving the growth of DERs, which are […]

  • South Korea Will Fight Solar Tariffs; Others Will Wait

    The global solar industry on January 23 reacted to President Trump’s announcement on Monday that the U.S. will enact a 30% tariff this year on imports of solar cells and modules, a levy that could begin as soon as next month. Some groups said they will take a “wait and see” approach to the charge, […]