Power
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Gas
Experts Say Gas-Fired Power Key to Reliable U.S. Electricity Supply
Energy analysts have said the increasing need for reliable baseload power generation means natural gas-fired power plants will become even more important as demand for electricity increases. Several experts who have spoken with POWER noted the availability of natural gas—the U.S. leads the world in natural gas production, far outpacing second-ranked Russia—will drive continued construction […]
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Nuclear
Kazakhstan Voters Show Support for Country’s First Nuclear Power Plant
Voters in Kazakhstan reportedly have approved a plan that would bring the country its first nuclear power plant. Election officials said 70% of voters in a referendum held October 6 support the strategy promoted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who has said nuclear power is a way to move the country away from reliance on coal-fired […]
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Offshore Wind
RWE, TotalEnergies Developing 4 GW of Offshore Wind for Germany
German multinational energy company RWE is joining with France’s TotalEnergies to jointly develop two large-scale offshore wind projects off the German coast. The companies on October 7 announced that TotalEnergies is acquiring a 50% equity stake in the two projects from RWE, which was awarded the sites in Germany’s latest offshore wind auction in August […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Supreme Court Clears Way for Limits on Power Plant Mercury, Methane Emissions
The U.S. Supreme Court has said that rules requiring power plants burning fossil fuels to reduce emissions of toxic substances can stand, dealing a blow to several Republican-led states and some power generators that had challenged the regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in May of this year finalized rules on emissions of mercury, after […]
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Commentary
From Rust to AI: How America’s Industrial Heartland Is Powering the Digital Revolution
The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is transforming our world, but it comes with an insatiable surge in data centers that are powered by an ever-growing appetite for energy. As AI and high-performance computing (HPC) applications proliferate, the tech industry faces a growing challenge: building the next generation of data centers and finding suitable locations with […]
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Renewables
Clearway Starts Construction on Texas Solar and Storage Projects
California-based Clearway Energy Group said it has closed financing and started construction of standalone solar and energy storage projects in Hopkins County, Texas. The company on October 2 said the 300-MW Pine Forest solar and 200-MW Pine Forest storage installations represent a $665 million investment. Dell Technologies has agreed to buy much of the electricity […]
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Solar
New Legislation Would Expand Access to Community Solar
A New Mexico senator has introduced a bill that would support community solar projects and help expand access to solar energy across the U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D), considered a champion for advancing clean energy through community solar, on October 1 introduced the Community Solar Consumer Choice Act. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) introduced companion […]
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Energy Storage
Grid-Scale Deployments Drive Growth in Energy Storage
Installations of grid-scale energy storage across the U.S. continue to surge, with three states—California, Arizona, and Texas—responsible for 85% of that growth in the second quarter of this year. Data from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie, released October 1 in the group’s latest Energy Storage Monitor report, showed 3,011 MW and […]
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Gas
Ohio Facility Supports PJM Power Supply in Heart of Major Shale Plays
Caithness Energy’s Guernsey Power Station, which features GE Vernova equipment, is an important gas-fired facility helping replace retired coal-fired generation in the PJM Interconnection territory
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Gas
Innovative Gas-Fired Power Station Supports Taiwan’s Need for More Energy
A GE Vernova-led project, completed in just 10 months, is helping Taiwan’s efforts for a more reliable power supply, along with supporting the integration of renewable energy resources in the country. Taiwan
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Business
Attarat Power Plant Unlocks Domestic Energy Source for Jordan
Oil shale doesn’t fuel a lot of power plants around the world, but in Jordan, it’s a vital option, offering energy security and independence. The success of the Attarat Power Plant in capitalizing on this
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Workforce
Best Places to Work in the Power Industry 2024
Earlier this year, POWER partnered with Best Companies Group (BCG), an organization dedicated to identifying and recognizing outstanding workplaces across various industries, to launch our Best Places to Work
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Gas
Diversification Key to Finland’s Goals Around Energy and Environment
Finland has a diversified energy mix, comprised mostly of renewable energy resources and nuclear power. Recent power generation project announcements highlight this diversification, which has led to industry
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O&M
Minimize Risks with Robotic Generator Inspections and Comprehensive Testing
Historically, generator inspections require rotor removal (Figure 3). There’s a significant level of risk during this process due to possible generator damage during the disassembly, and it also requires
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Biomass
Marnie Surfaceblow: It’s Ghostbusting Time … Again
Everything happens for a reason, and fantastic events often have mundane causes. Two women silently waited in their rental car next to a guard hut, sheltered under spreading banana tree leaves. Sunlight
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [October 2024]
China Completes World’s Largest Pumped Storage Facility. China has completed the 3.6-GW Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station, in Hebei province. Operated by the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC), the
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Business
The Queensland SuperGrid Marries the Old and the New
The Australian state of Queensland is in the midst of a rapid changeover from coal to renewables. From 70% coal generation today, it is switching to 70% renewables by 2032. This means phasing out 8.1 GW of coal and some of its 3 GW of gas generation, while simultaneously building at least 25 GW of […]
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Full Coverage
Powering Performance with an Integrated Approach to Cooling Water
Power plant managers know that optimizing cooling water operations will improve efficiency. Using an integrated approach that combines advanced chemistry, digital technologies, such as deposit sensing, and
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Sustainability
How Battery Energy Storage System Testing Is Making the Grid More Sustainable
U.S. energy needs have changed dramatically over the last few decades, and questions are growing as to whether our grid can manage these new demands. Aside from rising temperatures—the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared 2023 the hottest year on record—the energy sector is managing a trio of additional challenges: City populations are growing, creating […]
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Business
Offshore Wind Growth and HVDC Developments in the North Sea: Key Trends and Future Outlook
Europe is pursuing an ambitious energy transition to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To reach this goal, the region has set stringent targets to decrease reliance on Russian fossil fuels and increase the adoption of renewable energy across the power and transportation sectors. Significant strides are being made in developing solar and […]
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O&M
Best Practices in Boiler Field Services
The field servicing of boilers is challenging. Often there are tough deadlines to meet, limited outage windows, severe space constraints, and many other difficulties to overcome. Here are some key best practices Rentech has gleaned from servicing hundreds of boilers (Figure 1) over the years. Know-How from the Start Projects usually arrive via a call […]
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Commentary
The Renewables Revolution: Overcoming New Roadblocks
Singapore stands at a pivotal juncture in its journey toward sustainability, with renewable energy (RE) emerging as a beacon of hope in the fight against climate change. Post-COP 28, many countries, including
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Legal & Regulatory
How Local Opposition Can Thwart Renewable Energy Projects
Two-thirds of Americans say that they support the development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen power. At least that’s what the Pew Research Center found in a nationwide survey
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Instrumentation & Controls
Next-Gen O&M Solutions: Transforming the Landscape of Power Plant Productivity
The power generation industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several years, with the shift from regulated monopolies to a competitive landscape introducing new complexities and
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Solar
Space-Based Solar Power for U.S. Energy Independence
Space-based solar power (SBSP) could prove transformative to global energy demand by providing price-efficient, continuous clean energy from orbit (Figure 1). Recent developments, including low-cost space access, mass-produced satellites, robotics, and other commercial-led innovations, will unlock this capability within the next 10 to 20 years. While both U.S. allies and adversaries are rapidly advancing their […]
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Nuclear
DOE Finalizes $1.52B Palisades Loan for First-Ever U.S. Nuclear Plant Recommissioning
Marking the first-ever revival of a nuclear power plant in the U.S., the Department of Energy (DOE) on Sept. 30 finalized a $1.52 billion loan guarantee to Holtec International to support the recommissioning of the 800-MW Palisades nuclear plant in Covert Township, Michigan. Separately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded electric cooperative Wolverine Power […]
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Solar
VPPA Deal Signed for Illinois Solar Project
BayWa r.e. Americas has signed an aggregated virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with several groups for a renewable energy project in Illinois that is designed to support decarbonization efforts in the region. The deal announced September 26 includes Sustainability Roundtable (SR) Inc.’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), along with Akamai Technologies, Teradyne, and Wayfair […]
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Power
Project Pele, DOD’s HTGR Mobile Nuclear Microreactor, Breaks Ground
Groundbreaking has kicked off at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where Project Pele—the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) full-scale transportable microreactor prototype—will be placed for testing in 2026. When operational, the reactor will become the “first-ever Generation IV nuclear reactor to generate electricity in the U.S.,” the DOD said on Sept. 24. Project Pele, developed under a […]
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Hydro
DOE Group Awards $34.5 Million For PG&E Hydropower Projects in California
The Dept. of Energy’s (DOE’s) Grid Deployment Office has awarded $34.5 million to California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). The funding will support 19 hydropower projects across PG&E’s territory. The utility on September 24 said the money is part of the DOE’s Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentive program. The Grid Deployment Office in early […]
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Solar
Construction Begins on New York City’s Largest Solar Array, Covering Terminal Roof at JFK Airport
More than 13,000 solar panels will be installed on the roof of the New Terminal One project at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City. The consortium chosen to build the project, led by AlphaStruxure, on September 24 said construction is underway. The announcement came Tuesday during Climate Week NYC, an annual […]