Technology
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O&M
Clinging to Power: Why Extending Transformer Life Is Key
Through much of the developed world, we have come to rely on a steady flow of electricity just as we have a steady flow of air. Power outages are still disruptive, but they are few in number, and we have
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Coal
A Captive Power Plant’s Quest for Reliability
An aluminum smelter in Odisha, India, built a 900-MW coal-fired captive power plant for its own power consumption. Though the plant features new generation turbogenerator sets, it was completed on time and on
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Legal & Regulatory
Extensive Planning, Innovative Work Strategies, Teamwork Combine for Successful SCR Project
A coal-fired plant in Colorado needed to further reduce its emissions to comply with more-stringent regulations. The work presented several challenges, and the owner and contractors worked together to complete
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Legal & Regulatory
Dry Fork: A Model of Modern U.S. Coal Power
Dry Fork Station began commercial operation as a swath of older, less-efficient U.S. coal plants contemplated retirement amid a flood of environmental rules. Designed with foresight, this quintessential modern
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Coal
South Korean Plant Finds Flexibility with Advanced CFB Technology
The Samcheok Green Power Plant requires less maintenance and is more cost-effective than conventional coal plants, and more environmentally friendly with its use of once-through ultrasupercritical boilers
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Coal
Clean Air Program Makes Shawnee Power Plant a Winner
Emissions standards have changed a lot since the Shawnee Fossil Plant entered service during President Eisenhower’s second term in office, but the Tennessee Valley Authority has done its part to help the
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Nuclear
Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming Technology Reduces Volume of Radioactive Waste
A patented Fluidized Bed Steam Reforming (FBSR) technology uses superheated steam—instead of an open flame—and mineralizing additives to treat and immobilize radionuclides in a water-insoluble matrix
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T&D
Benefits of High-Voltage Direct Current Transmission Systems
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology offers several advantages compared to alternating current transmission systems. For example, it allows more efficient bulk power transfer over long distances
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Renewables
Floating Offshore Wind Farms Exploit a Great Energy Resource
Wind farms are not all created equal. During the previous 12 months ending February 2018, the average capacity factor for U.S. wind turbines—virtually all of which were located on land—was 36.9%. Danish
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Distributed Energy
EVs Offer Significant Growth Opportunity for Power Utilities
Do you drive an electric vehicle (EV)? If you answered yes and live in the U.S., you’re among the roughly 1% of drivers doing so in this country. If not, how soon do you think it will be before you become
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History
Fusion Power: Watching, Waiting, as Research Continues
Cheap and abundant electric power from nuclear fusion—power “too cheap to meter”—has been a dream for more than a half-century. But as time passes, practical fusion appears to be moving further into
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Press Releases
SUEZ’s New TrueSense* Analyze Reduces Water, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Digitally Monitoring Boiler Water Chemistry
Industries use a significant amount of water and energy in day-to-day processes, and monitoring boiler water systems can be the key to cutting costs and optimizing resources. SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions today introduced TrueSense* Analyze to digitally monitor and analyze boiler water chemistry, which can reduce water and energy usage, as well as greenhouse […]
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Press Releases
Six-axis robot turns 3D printing into an art form
A project at the Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) based at the University of the West of England, (UWE) Bristol UK is looking at 3D printing from a totally different angle – where the emphasis is placed on meaningful expression, rather than the accurate reproduction of digital data. A flexible Mitsubishi Electric MELFA RV-Series […]
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Press Releases
NYISO Announces Distributed Energy Resource Pilot Projects
Demonstration of DER aggregations seek to expand market competition and improve New York’s energy infrastructure Rensselaer, NY | The New York Independent System Operator, Inc. (NYISO) today announced the selection of three pilot projects to demonstrate the capabilities of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and options for their integration into its wholesale markets. These pilot projects […]
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Coal
How Southeast Asian Countries Could Drive the Future of Coal Technology
Poised to drive the future of coal power, many Southeast Asian countries are considering new coal plants with high-efficiency, low-emissions (HELE) technologies, a new report suggests. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) December-released World Energy Outlook 2017, Southeast Asia, along with India and other developing economies in Asia, will drive global coal demand. The […]
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Nuclear
EDF Announces More Delays, Cost Overruns for Flamanville 3 Reactor
French utility Électricité de France (EDF)on July 25 said it has pushed fuel loading at its 1.6-GW Flamanville 3 nuclear project to the fourth quarter of 2019 and increased cost estimates for the project by another €400 million (USD $467.1 million). EDF said its current cost for the project has ballooned to €10.9 billion (USD […]
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Press Releases
TAE Technologies Welcomes Secretary of Energy Rick Perry on Tour of World’s Leading Private Fusion Energy Facility
TAE Technologies’ plasma performance is rapidly ramping up in Norman using advanced active feedback controls, further validating the company’s unique approach to fusion energy. FOOTHILL RANCH, CA, July 19, 2018 — Secretary Rick Perry today joined executives of TAE Technologies, Inc., the world’s largest and most advanced private fusion energy company, at its headquarters in […]
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O&M
New Damage Mechanism Identified in HRSG T-91
For a decade or more, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) users have heard that Grade-91 tubing (T-91) is susceptible to microstructure damage from improper heat treatment. Now, a new damage mechanism in T-91 tubing has been identified, which HRSG users heard about at the February 2018 HRSG User’s Group Conference. During the discussion on heat […]
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Nuclear
First ACPR-1000 Nuclear Unit Begins Commercial Operation in China
China’s first reactor adopting its domestically developed evolutionary third-generation ACPR-1000 design has wrapped up trial operation and begun commercial operation. CGN Power, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power Corp., announced that the 1000-MW Unit 5 of the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province completed a 168-hour period of trial operation on July 12. […]
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Research and Development
Refinery Hydrogen Power Pilot Takes Shape in Australia
An industrial-scale pilot plant that will use surplus hydrogen from refinery operations to produce power is taking shape in Australia. Industrial alkaline fuel cell power company AFC Energy on July 12 said it received its first commercial order for a hydrogen power generation unit in Australia from Southern Oil Refining, a subsidiary of Northern Oil. […]
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Press Releases
ABB wins $150 million order to grid-connect world’s largest offshore wind farm
Key technologies and ABB Ability digital solutions will integrate wind energy from Hornsea Project Two to the UK grid, powering more than 1.3 million homes. ABB has won orders worth more than $150 million from Danish energy company, Ørsted (previously Dong Energy), to supply a range of technologies that will help integrate and transmit renewable […]
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Press Releases
Siemens launches performance enhancement for select SGT-800 gas turbines
Siemens has introduced a new SGT-800 performance enhancement that is applicable to all existing SGT-800 units with 43-47.5-MW ratings. The new upgrade is designed to provide owners and operators with significant fuel savings and CO2emissions reduction for improved sustainable energy production. The upgrade offers up to a 3.5 percent increase of simple cycle gas turbine […]
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Press Releases
EnergyNest launches manufacturing hub for thermal battery technology
Rotterdam (July 11, 2018) – EnergyNest has launched a new hub for manufacturing their thermal battery technology at Europoort in Rotterdam. The cleantech company is responding to Europe’s growing demand for flexible and scalable energy storage solutions. Establishing mass-manufacture capability for their battery modules will allow the company’s energy storage projects to be real- ised […]
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Nuclear
Small Modular Reactor Project Advances in Canada
A Maryland-based company and its Canadian subsidiary have joined with a Canada utility in a project to develop, license, and build an advanced small modular reactor (SMR). Advanced Reactor Concepts of Chevy Chase, Maryland, along with ARC Nuclear Canada—operating collectively as ARC Nuclear (ARC)—and New Brunswick Power (NB Power) on July 9 said their SMR […]
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Nuclear
First Commercial AP1000, EPR Reactors Connected to Grid
Two nuclear energy milestones were reached in the past week, as the world’s first commercial AP1000 and EPR reactors were connected to China’s power grid. Westinghouse announced Sanmen 1, the first AP1000 unit, was connected to the grid June 30, one day after Électricité de France (EDF) connected the first EPR reactor—Taishan 1—to the system. […]
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Press Releases
Siemens supplies SF6-free high-voltage switchgear for English wind farm
Siemens will supply 102 SF6-free, gas-insulated 8VM1 high-voltage switchgear (GIS) to Siemens Gamesa by the middle of next year. The switchgear will protect each wind turbine individually against overloads and short-circuits and make it possible to supply electricity reliably and without interruption. Developed for wind farms, the 8VM1 from the blue GIS portfolio operates with […]
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Environmental
Top Gadgets to Make Your Appliances More Energy Efficient
You put in a lot of time choosing the most energy efficient appliances you can find, and you work hard to cut back on energy use around the house. But what if there was a way to make your electric bill even lower with very little effort? Introducing the five gadgets you didn’t know you […]
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Press Releases
ABB Will Upgrade Historic New Zealand HVDC Link
ABB has received an order from Transpower New Zealand Ltd to upgrade its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link which interconnects the transmission grids of the North and South islands. The link is a vital element of the country’s transmission system and is used as an energy-balancing system, between the two islands. ABB Ability™ MACH control system, […]
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Renewables
Japan’s New Energy Plan Commits to Renewables—And Nuclear and Coal, Too
Japan’s government on July 3 approved a new Basic Energy Plan for the country, saying it is committed to increasing the role of renewable resources for power generation while also confirming it wants nuclear power to remain a vital part of the nation’s energy strategy. Japan issues a revised Basic Energy Plan, which outlines the […]
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Press Releases
Market for Dispatching Services: Be Power and ABB together for first projects of VPP and Demand Response
Milan, Italy (July 2, 2018) — Be Power and ABB will cooperate in the Dispatching Service Market (MSD). Be Power is the Digital Green Utility of the Building Energy Group with a trailblazing business model based on the synergies between the markets of energy and mobility. This model aims at integrating the opportunities arising from the […]