Technology
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Connected Plant
AI-Driven Big Data Platform Revolutionizes Power Plant Operations
The surge in adoption of renewable energy driven by carbon neutrality policies has created operational challenges for large thermal power plants. These plants must now accommodate rapid load fluctuations and offer flexible operation, which involves adjusting their outputs rapidly as the renewable generators’ outputs fluctuate. However, operating beyond original design specifications places additional stress on […]
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Data Centers
Tech Giant Meta Seeking Nuclear Power to Support Data Centers
Facebook parent Meta wants to find developers that can provide nuclear reactors to support electricity demand from the tech company’s data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. The group said the new generation capacity also could support local power grids. Meta on Dec. 3 announced a request for proposals (RFP) “to identify nuclear energy developers […]
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Renewables
GE Vernova Will Modernize Two Units at Dominion Hydropower Plant
GE Vernova said it has secured an order with Dominion Energy South Carolina to modernize two hydropower units at the Saluda Hydro facility on the Saluda River about 10 miles west of Columbia, South Carolina. The company on Dec. 2 said the project “will help extend the lifetime, reliability, performance, and operational flexibility of the […]
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Trends
THE BIG PICTURE: How Much Power Will Data Centers Consume? (Infographic)
Driven by artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the digital transformation, U.S. data centers consumed an estimated 150 TWh of electricity in 2023—equivalent to around 3% of the nation’s power demand. Globally, data center demand hovered at 340 TWh in 2023—about 1.3% of worldwide electricity use. Multiple sources project this demand will surge dramatically through […]
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Trends
Trial Run at Finland’s Onkalo Repository Sets Stage for World’s First Spent Nuclear Fuel Disposal
Finland is making significant strides in a trial run that will demonstrate the entire process for the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) at Onkalo on Olkiluoto Island—the world’s first permanent
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Renewables
Solar Power Leads Buildout of India’s Renewable Energy
India has long been dependent on coal-fired power for much of its electricity, and the country still gets about 70% of its energy from burning coal according to government data. The Institute for Energy
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Connected Plant
Digital Sensor Provides Greater Asset Management Capability for Transformers
ABB Electrification Service recently launched a digital monitoring solution for power and distribution transformers that it says will enhance performance, reliability, and availability of equipment. The transformer sensor is reportedly quick and easy to fit, requiring no screws or tooling for installation. Instead, the sensor, called TRAFCOM, can be mounted magnetically to the transformer within […]
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Power
AI and Energy: A New Horizon for Powering Our Future
The energy industry finds itself in the midst of a transformative era. In 2023 alone, a record 31 GW of solar energy capacity were installed—a 55% increase from 2022—while battery energy storage systems
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Nuclear
Enhancing Nuclear Plant Safety, Efficiency, and Compliance Through Video Borescope Inspections
This article explores the role video borescopes play in nuclear plant inspections, emphasizing the value they bring in terms of safety, efficiency, and long-term plant integrity. Nuclear power plants operate
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Coal
How to Improve Remediation of Coal Ash Pond Water
Many power companies face significant risks from coal ash ponds. New solutions based on water flow physics are showing promise in preventing the spread of hazardous particulate matter. Existing coal plants are