Technology

  • ERCOT Again Expects Tight Summer 2020 Conditions

    Despite adding 513 MW of new capacity this year alone, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) expects tight grid conditions this summer, and it warned it could declare an energy emergency depending on a combination of factors. Citing its newly released preliminary Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy (SARA) assessment for the summer season (June–September), […]

  • The POWER Interview: Google, Utilities Partner for Energy Solutions

    Businesses are putting more emphasis on sustainability, coordinating their operations to ensure financial success while also being mindful of environmental concerns. Investors in many cases are demanding companies embrace sustainability, which often includes being more efficient in their use of energy. That’s one reason behind the growth in distributed power generation, as companies develop their […]

  • MHPS Secures First Order for Hydrogen-Capable J-Series Gas Turbines

    Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) has bagged an order for the first advanced-class gas turbines designed to transition to renewable hydrogen fuel from Utah’s state-owned Intermountain Power Agency (IPA). MHPS’s Lake Mary, Florida–based subsidiary MHPS Americas (MHPSA) on March 10 said that the contract for two M501JAC power trains are the first in the industry […]

  • Uptake and Flexco Partner to Digitally Transform Belt Conveyor Productivity

    CHICAGO, March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Uptake and Flexco have partnered to launch Flexco Elevate™ Belt Conveyor Intelligence™, a real-time belt cleaner monitoring system that harnesses the power of predictive analytics to remotely gather critical insights that optimize belt conveyor productivity and heighten operational efficiencies. Flexco Elevate™ allows for the remote monitoring of belt cleaners […]

  • GE Achieves Battery-Enabled Blackstart of Heavy Duty Gas Turbine

    General Electric (GE) has for the first time achieved blackstart of a GE heavy-duty gas turbine using battery energy storage. The company announced on Feb. 26 it completed black start of a GE 7F.03 gas turbine at a 150-MW simple-cycle unit at Entergy Louisiana’s Perryville Power Station using a 7.4-MW battery-based energy storage system. The […]

  • The POWER Interview: Understanding the Difference Between Cloud and Edge

    The terms “cloud” and “edge” are used frequently by tech-savvy power industry professionals, but what do they mean and how are they changing plant operations? To get an insider’s perspective, POWER posed the question to Akshay Patwal, strategic business manager with Siemens Energy. Patwal leads the development and commercialization of digital business transformation projects, using […]

  • ABB wins digital service contract to increase offshore wind reliability

    ABB has won a 10.6 million euro order for ABB Ability™ digital products and services at DolWin5 (Epsilon), which will support Germany’s energy transition through reliable delivery of enough renewable energy to power about one million homes. ABB will enable the reliability, safety and security of the energy transmission from DolWin5 (Epsilon) by providing a […]

  • The POWER Interview: MHPS Expands Digital Purview with New Division

    Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) is betting heavily on digitalization’s potential to reshape the power sector. Earlier this year, the power equipment and technology firm established a new division, Intelligent Solutions, to develop and deploy solutions that create “sustainable, profitable growth for internal and external customers by optimizing their operation and maintenance systems. “With operational […]

  • GE Exec: Global Gas Turbine Market ‘Stabilizing’

    GE Power’s CEO on March 4 said his company sees the global gas turbine market stabilizing, in part due to better accessibility to natural gas worldwide. Scott Strazik made the comment during GE’s Investor Outlook on Wednesday. The event is an annual overview of the company’s operations that GE gives to investment professionals. The outlook […]

  • Russelectric, A Siemens Business, Offers Customized SCADA Systems

    Hingham, MA (March 3, 2020) – Russelectric, a Siemens business, a leading manufacturer of power control systems and automatic transfer switches, announces the availability of customized Russelectric supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, enabling users to monitor system operation, acknowledge alarms, and review PLC setpoints and alarm history. All screens are custom-designed for each […]

  • GE Digital Optimizes Industrial Plants with CIMPLICITY 11 and Tracker 11 to Precisely Monitor and Control Operations

    SAN RAMON, Calif. – March 3, 2020 – GE Digital today unveiled enhancements to its industry-leading CIMPLICITY and Tracker software to enable operators to make smarter, faster decisions and better manage operations across plants. CIMPLICITY 11, part of GE Digital’s Proficy HMI/SCADA suite, decreases operator response time and errors, keeping critical control systems up and running. Tracker 11, part of GE Digital’s Proficy […]

  • Gravity Base Ballast Provides Tidal Turbines with a Sturdy Grip

    Offshore wind turbines deliver a strong promise in today’s tough times of climate changes’ debate. The rapid development of the sector favors the need for new gravity concepts. Besides design, ballast is a critical element responsible for the turbine’s stabilization and therefore its success. Its quality, density, and weight, defined by the material choice and […]

  • The Case for Autonomous Network Management

    There is a near-global drive to replace carbon-based, polluting, resource-constrained energy sources with non-carbon renewables as the primary fuel for the electricity industry. Even traditional sources of

  • Flow Batteries: Energy Storage Option for a Variety of Uses

    Energy storage is becoming increasingly important to the power industry. Lithium-ion battery technology has been implemented in many locations, but flow batteries offer significant benefits in long-duration

  • Novel System Uses Condenser Water for District Heating

    Conventional district heating systems are generally designed around the load. However, an alternate approach would be to design around potential heat sources, including the waste heat from power plants. Many

  • Winning Operations, Maintenance, Environmental, Safety, and Technical Solutions

    The Combustion Turbine Operations Technical Forum (CTOTF) recently announced the winners of the 2nd annual CTOTF/POWER Innovation Excellence awards, which recognize outstanding performance in various

  • New Technology Improves Refractory Maintenance and Shutdown Planning

    Power plants require regular maintenance outages to stay in top condition, but shutdown periods can be stressful. New tools are available that can save time, reduce labor costs, and improve safety. The

  • Types of Filtration Systems Used for Wastewater Applications

    The liquid filtration process is an important step in various applications that reuse water within systems. This article provides details on the types of filtration systems available and the benefits of each

  • Digital Transformation: Lessons from a Leader

    Is your company’s information technology (IT) department your friend or your enemy? Does it work with you to identify, evaluate, and select the best new digital technology to make your job easier and your

  • Novel Stellio Heliostat Solar Project Goes Online in China

    One of the world’s first molten salt tower concentrated solar power (CSP) projects that uses a “Stellio” heliostat was grid-connected at the end of December in China’s Xinjiang province near the

  • Are Traditional Power Companies Being Disintermediated?

    How will the electric grid change as the world transitions to a power system with more renewable energy resources? Some experts foresee a shift from today’s grid-type architecture to a system of systems—from the current centralized design to a distributed energy scheme. While it’s hard to know exactly what the future holds, it’s commonly believed […]

  • How Much Will Hydrogen-Based Power Cost?

    Costs associated with 40 hydrogen technologies used in 35 applications, including for heat and power, could tumble dramatically over the next decade as the scale-up of hydrogen production, distribution, and equipment and component manufacturing continues. For some applications, hydrogen could become competitive with other low-carbon alternatives, and even conventional options. Those are key findings from […]

  • GTC Announces Major Worldwide Expansion in Power Generation Industry; Offering Control Solutions for Additional Manufacturers While Still Serving GE Legacy Clients

    New York-based GTC, an expert in GE controls, announces they will now offer parts and service for ABB, Alstom, Bently Nevada, Emerson, Honeywell, Rolls Royce, Siemens, Triconex, Westinghouse and Woodward HAWTHORNE, N.Y., Feb 27, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — “Our industrial-strength service and unrivaled value have given us the opportunity to expand our market presence,” says GTC President […]

  • Fast Fixes to California’s ‘New Normal’ of Power Outages

    Experts say the solution is simple: increase the role of distributed renewables and deploy energy storage-based microgrids throughout the state. As California continues to cope with looming scheduled blackouts, the harsh reality is that not only is this the new normal for citizens and businesses on the West Coast, but it could remain that way […]

  • 15 Digitalization Game Changers in Power, Chemical Processing

    Each year, the Connected Plant Conference, presented by POWER and Chemical Engineering, recognizes people who are in the front line of implementing digital technologies in the power and chemical process industries. This year, we congratulate the following winners of the “Game Changer” awards, who will be honored at the Connected Plant Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, […]

  • Energy Storage—A Trillion-Dollar Holy Grail

    The science of renewable energy is remarkable—the ability to harness nature to magically power our modern world is a seductive vision. And yet, the actual business of renewable energy is late to establish itself as a viable competitor to the petrochemical industry. The problem is rooted in cost parity and the challenges of production, storage, […]

  • Tech Guru’s Plan—Fight Climate Change with Nuclear Power

    There’s widespread debate over whether nuclear power should be a player in the path toward addressing climate change. Industry analysts say nuclear is key to zero-emission power generation; even some environmentalists agree, though others point to the issue of disposal of nuclear waste, and concerns about the safety of reactors. Those concerns have led some […]

  • Research Group: Energy Storage Market Will Hit $546 Billion by 2035

    A new report from a global research, data, and analytics firm says the total market for energy storage will reach $546 billion in annual revenue over the next 15 years, led by the continued electrification of the transportation sector. Lux Research, a Boston, Massachusetts-headquartered group, in its “Global Energy Storage Market 2019” report, estimates the […]

  • Doosan Skoda Power Will Modernize Turbines in Slovak Nuclear Plant

    Pilsen\Bratislava (2/25/2020) – Doosan Škoda Power, a Pilsen-based manufacturer and supplier of steam turbines and components for power-generating operations, has won a contract to modernize two turbine sets with a total capacity of 440 MW at Unit 1 of the Mochovce nuclear power plant (NPP), owned and operated by Slovenské elektrárne, a.s. Combined, the two […]

  • The POWER Interview: Vicinity CEO Discusses District Energy

    The rise of distributed, or decentralized, power generation has been supported by district energy, the generation from facilities and associated distribution networks supplying steam or hot water, chilled water, and electricity for heating and cooling to millions of square feet of building space across the U.S. and around the globe. District energy is among several […]