Supply Chains
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O&M
AI Spare Parts Search for Maximized Maintenance Efficiency
Maintenance plays a critical role in the energy/utility sector, ensuring the continuous and reliable operation of infrastructure such as power plants, transmission lines, and distribution networks. Regular maintenance activities help prevent equipment failures, minimize downtime, and ensure the safety of workers and the public. In an industry where uninterrupted service is essential for economic and […]
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Cybersecurity
China Has Put America’s Critical Infrastructure in the Crosshairs, We Must Fight Back
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration, have issued a new advisory about the highly sophisticated Chinese threat actor group known as “Volt Typhoon.” The FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress recently that Volt Typhoon, operating under the direction of the Chinese […]
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Nuclear
Improving Nuclear Plant Construction Processes: How to Build Projects More Efficiently
If you have paid any attention to nuclear power plant construction projects over the years, you know that there is a long history of cost overruns and schedule delays on many of them. In fact, many nuclear power plants that were planned in the 1960s and 1970s were never completed, even after millions (or billions) […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Rein In DOE Distribution Transformer Efficiency Standards
A bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators on Jan. 18 introduced a bill that could freeze the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) implementation of updated energy efficiency standards for distribution transformers. The Distribution Transformer Efficiency and Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024 (S.3627) would establish new limitations on federal efficiency rules for specific distribution transformers. Several […]
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Nuclear
DOE Launches Nuclear RFP for Uranium Enrichment to Expand Domestic HALEU Chain
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for uranium enrichment and storage services as part of a measure aimed at stimulating a domestic supply chain for high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The action follows an RFP released in November 2023 for services to deconvert enriched uranium into metal, oxide, and […]
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Nuclear
Siemens Energy Poised to Partner with Oklo on Aurora Nuclear Reactor
Siemens Energy may be poised to become a crucial equipment and consulting partner for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse, a liquid metal-cooled fast nuclear reactor. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) Oklo unveiled on Dec. 19 designates Siemens Energy to become Oklo’s potentially preferred supplier for the rotating equipment in the conventional island of the Aurora powerhouse, including […]
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Solar
India’s Largest Solar PV Manufacturer Planning U.S. Factory
India’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) module maker is moving some of its manufacturing to the U.S. Mumbai-based Waaree Energies on Dec. 21 said it would build its first U.S.-based facility in Brookshire, Texas, near Houston. Waaree, a major equipment supplier for the U.S. solar power sector, on Thursday said the new plant would have an […]
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Power
Report: Power Sector Supply Chain Dependent on Adversaries
An estimated 90% of software products used to manage the U.S. power grid contains code “contributions” from Russian or Chinese developers. The finding from cyber risk management solution firm Fortress Information Security highlights new supply chain gaps and points to a dire need for more robust strategies to safeguard against insidious threats that lurk in […]
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Coal
India Extends Emergency Operation Order for Plants Using Imported Coal
India’s government has issued an emergency order that extends the operation of coal-fired power plants using imported coal, as the country grapples with a shortage of domestic coal and continued high demand for electricity. The order, which came from the power ministry on Oct. 23, asks coal-fired power plants using imported coal to operate at […]
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Nuclear
Bipartisan Support Makes Backing Nuclear Power an Administration-Proof Investment
Maria Korsnick, president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the policy organization of the nuclear technologies industry, suggested a bipartisan majority in Congress recognizes the importance of nuclear energy and has supported the industry with unprecedented levels of funding. As an example, Korsnick pointed to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided a $6 […]
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Nuclear
UK Shortlists Six Nuclear Designs in SMR Competition, Intends to Award Contract by Summer 2024
Six nuclear designs will advance to the next phase of the UK’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) competition, a fast-track measure that could result in a government contract within the next 10 months as part of a strategy to deliver operational SMRs by the mid-2030s. EDF, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), Holtec Britain, NuScale Power, Rolls Royce SMR, […]
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O&M
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
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Gas
South Korea’s First ‘K-Gas Turbine’ Begins Commercial Operation
Marking a significant inroad to establish a South Korean foothold in the world’s gas turbine technology market, heavy industrial company Doosan Enerbility this summer began commercial operation of its first
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News
Centrus, Oklo Set Out to Solidify HALEU Fuel Cycle, Trade Advanced Nuclear Power and Fuel
Centrus, a firm poised to demonstrate high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) production, will partner with microreactor technology developer Oklo on several pioneering steps to build out the HALEU front-end supply chain, including pivotal commercial deconversion capabilities. The landmark collaboration could also make Centrus one of Oklo’s first commercial power off-takers for two reactors planned in Southern […]
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News and Notes
RNG, Battery, and Innovative Heat Pump Developments in News and Notes (Aug. 10, 2023)
A number of companies with ties to the power industry revealed new projects and other interesting developments this week. The following are some the more noteworthy announcements that POWER has been monitoring. Landfill Gas to Renewable Natural Gas Project Enters Service in Missouri Vision RNG (VRNG) said its Landfill Gas (LFG) to Renewable Natural Gas […]
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Press Releases
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 […]
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Press Releases
Magnashear™ Motor Brakes Eliminate Pitch Drive Maintenance
Fairfield, OH – Maintaining yaw and pitch drives is a challenge because of the inherent time that it takes for maintenance personnel to ascend to the nacelle. But foregoing maintenance can lead to costly failures and even more downtime. The Magnashear™ motor brake from Force Control Industries eliminate pitch drive maintenance by eliminating the root […]
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Press Releases
Curtiss-Wright’s Brea CA Facility Receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification
BREA, CA – July 14, 2023 – Curtiss-Wright’s Nuclear division announced today that its Brea, CA facility has received ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system (QMS). This globally-recognized certification allows the company to provide valves, vessels, actuators, control systems, and engineering services for use in construction of next generation Advanced Reactor (AR) and […]
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Trends
Clean Energy Transition Continues Despite Reliability, Supply Chain, and Financial Uncertainty
Although there is a risk of energy shortfalls in parts of the U.S. if extreme summer temperatures materialize, there is no stopping the clean energy transition that is sweeping the nation. Energy storage
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Press Releases
Boulden and Gulf Coast Bearing & Seal Release Integrated Portfolio of Products for the Power Generation Industry
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA – As part of its merger with Gulf Coast Bearing & Seal (GCBS), Boulden Company has announced the formation of a family of products and technologies aimed at the aftermarket power industry. Inclusive of material solutions such as DuPont™ Vespel® CR-6100, Boulden B-Series composites, and bearing & seal repairs and upgrades from GCBS, […]
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News
Westinghouse, Fortum to Study Possibilities for AP1000, AP300 Nuclear Reactors in Finland and Sweden
Westinghouse Electric and Finnish utility Fortum will cooperate to explore developing and deploying AP1000 and AP300 reactor projects in Finland and Sweden. The companies on June 7 signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) to establish a framework of collaboration “for detailed technical and commercial discussions and explore cooperation on the next steps” to implement Westinghouse’s advanced […]
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Nuclear
Global Commitments Bolster Romanian NuScale Nuclear Project
A project to deploy the first NuScale 462-MWe VOYGR-6 nuclear power plant in Romania by 2029 has garnered a $275 million public-private funding commitment from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of a global infrastructure partnership. The Romanian project may be bolstered by an additional $4 billion outlined […]
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Nuclear
TVA Head Wants Nothing to Do with Building One Reactor Unless He Can Build 20
Building a nuclear power plant is a difficult job. It takes years of planning and sometimes more than a decade to complete. The risk of schedule delays is great, especially on first-of-a-kind projects, and the financial implications of such setbacks can ruin a company. Yet, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) president and CEO, Jeff Lyash, […]
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Nuclear
Westinghouse Unveils the AP300—A Miniaturized AP1000 Small Modular Nuclear Reactor
Westinghouse has officially unveiled the AP300, a “downsized” version of the company’s flagship AP1000 Generation III+ pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology. While the small modular reactor (SMR) will enter a nuclear market already rife with development, the AP300’s “nth-of-a-kind” basis positions it as a strong competitor, the company told POWER. The 300-MWe/900-MWth AP300, launched on May 4, […]
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Connected Plant
Inventory Management Systems: How Automation Can Save Time and Reduce Costs for Power Companies
Inventory management can provide significant operational benefits for power companies. From forecasting, fueled by real-time data, to automated replenishment and supply chain continuity, digital solutions are
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O&M
Turbine Bypass Valve Challenges
Turbine bypass valves are one of the most difficult applications in a power plant. Keeping these valves operating efficiently and avoiding unexpected failures is critical for plant operation. When engineers
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Commentary
The Lithium Shortage Is Real—but There Is Room for Optimism
COMMENTARY In the 1950s, a geologist named Marion King Hubbert caused quite a stir when he predicted that the U.S. would reach peak oil production in less than 20 years. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, after all, and Hubert reasoned that oil production in the U.S. would begin to decline around 1970. While parts […]
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Renewables
Working with EPC Contractors: Guidance for Utilities Embarking on Solar Development
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors deliver many benefits to power projects. Besides the experience they bring that can help keep schedules on track, they often have longstanding
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Commentary
The Path to EV Supply Chain Independence in the U.S.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are in the spotlight and every industrialized country is looking for a piece of the pie. We’re at a pivotal moment in the transition to more sustainable forms of energy and transportation, and the United States is clambering to lead the pack. There’s a problem, however, that promises to make EV production […]
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Nuclear
China Begins Operation of First CGN Hualong One Nuclear Reactor
The first Hualong One unit, a 1,180-MWe nuclear reactor designed by China General Nuclear (CGN), is now operational at the company’s Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Station in western China’s Guangxi Autonomous Region. Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Plant is 39% owned by Guangxi Investment Group and 61% by CGN. The plant plans to house six 1,000-MWe reactors, […]