Power
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Commentary
A Community Solution to Decarbonization from College Campuses to Cities Around the World
University and college campuses are places where young minds are shaped, and groundbreaking research is conducted. Cities are often the places where recent graduates gather to put those ideas learned in the
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [December 2023]
Kenya Set to Expand Hydropower Project. Kenya Electricity Generating Co. (KenGen) said it received approval from government officials to move forward with the Gogo hydropower redevelopment project. The Gogo
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Power
Why Utilities Need to Supercharge Their Approach to Cybersecurity
People know a storm can disrupt the electrical grid and cause a wave of complications across the region or country very quickly. But now, for those charged with grid reliability and keeping the lights on
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Energy Security
Next-Generation Ballistic Protection Ensures Long-Term Utility Security
In July 2014, the Department of Homeland Security mandated that utilities meet requirements and measures outlined in the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC’s) critical infrastructure protection (CIP) standards. These standards regulate the physical safety and security of all aspects of the power grid, including energy substations and generators. They outline steps toward prioritizing which […]
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Electrification
Virtual Power Plants: The Next Operational Model for Electricity Generation
There are a few great reasons that utilities and the energy industry, in general, are looking for the next big thing. Whether that’s in distributed energy generation or demand flexibility to free up existing resources, utilities are challenged more than ever to meet evolving customer needs. While this will prove costly in the short term, […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Bolstering Power Grid Cybersecurity in an Era of Hybrid Threats
Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russian government-affiliated hackers orchestrated cyberattacks that targeted Ukraine’s electrical grid and energy infrastructure. In early March of last year, one cyberattack successfully disabled a high-voltage transmission station near Kyiv, resulting in a power outage in the capital. Later that month, another cyberattack targeted three regional electric power […]
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POWER Podcasts
The POWER Podcast Archive Vol. 6
The POWER Podcast is available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, iHeart, TuneIn, SoundCloud, and some other podcast apps. Follow the links below to subscribe via your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube YouTube Music Amazon Music iHeart TuneIn SoundCloud The POWER Podcast Archive (Jan. 30, 2023 – Nov. 30, 2023): How […]
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Sustainability
How Coal Fly Ash Is Reducing CO2 Emissions and Improving Concrete
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. One of the key ingredients in concrete is Portland cement. The American Concrete Institute explains that Portland cement is a product obtained by pulverizing material consisting of hydraulic calcium silicates to which some calcium sulfate has usually been provided as an interground addition. When […]
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Hydrogen
MHI, Mitsubishi Power Report Breakthroughs for Hydrogen Combustion, Ammonia Burners
Mitsubishi Power has successfully demonstrated partial load and full load combustion of a fuel blend with 30% hydrogen (by volume) in a grid-connected J-series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbine. The achievement closely follows the completion of a combustion test on an ammonia single-fuel burner for coal firing by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsubishi Power’s parent company. […]
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Connected Plant
Converged Field Area Networks: Modernizing the Grid for a Sustainable Future
We’ve come a long way since the first waterwheel in 200 BC. Renewable energy sources now make up about 30% of the world’s generated power and are set to more than double as governments and utilities aim to meet their net-zero emission targets by 2050. That’s a tall order, especially for utilities with an aging […]
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T&D
New 225-kV Transmission Lines and Substations Provide Reliable Power Supply to Impoverished Regions of Cameroon
Spanning several regions of Cameroon where 55% of the population live in poverty, grid connectivity is limited and the power supply is unreliable. However, a new project, which will extend the country’s electricity network, may help. The project involves building two 225-kV single-circuit transmission lines and supporting substations. Upon completion, the new infrastructure will enhance […]
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Coal
Cambodia Cancels Coal Plant in Favor of Gas-Fired Facility
A Cambodian energy official said the country no longer plans to build a coal-fired power plant along the nation’s southwest coast, and will instead move forward with a natural gas-fired facility. Energy Minister Keo Rottanak told the Reuters news service an official announcement is expected Nov. 30. Rottanak said the proposed 700-ME coal-fired plant, which […]
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Legal & Regulatory
Wind Project Approvals, Tax Credits Look to Outpace Macroeconomic and Supply Chain Headwinds in 2024
Recent events in the wind power industry, all occurring on a single day, provide a snapshot of the sector’s challenges and opportunities heading into 2024. Ørsted, the world’s largest developer of offshore wind, on Oct. 31 announced the cancellation of Ocean Wind 1 and 2, two 1,000-MW-plus projects off the coast of New Jersey. In […]
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O&M
Five Energy-Saving Tips for Compressed Air Systems
Compressed air is vitally important to all power plants. Although in some cases it is used simply for convenience, such as when operating certain pneumatic tools, in other cases, compressed air is critical to the operation of the plant, such as for air-operated control valves and some fabric filter cleaning systems. In such cases, a […]
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Business
NRG Energy Replaces CEO in Activist Investor–Influenced Shuffle
NRG Energy has appointed the chair of its board of directors, Dr. Lawrence Coben, as its interim president and CEO and appointed four new independent directors to its board, signaling a major leadership reshuffle partly influenced by activist investor firm Elliott Investment Management. The Houston-headquartered energy giant on Nov. 20 said Mauricio Gutierrez, NRG’s long-time and […]
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Gas
New Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Offering Hits the Market
PROENERGY, a global peaking-power solutions provider based in Sedalia, Missouri, released a new 48-MW aeroderivative gas turbine designed to quickly respond to gaps in power supply and demand. The PE6000 model was unveiled as a finale to PROENERGY’s annual user conference, held in Houston, Texas, earlier this month. The company explained that each PE6000 begins […]
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Nuclear
INL Achieves Fabrication of Commercial-Grade Specialized Nuclear Fuel Pellets
Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has fabricated roughly two dozen commercial-grade fuel pellets of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) uranium dioxide (UO2), the Department of Energy (DOE) revealed on Nov. 20. The milestone demonstrates the national laboratory’s “unique ability” to provide customized nuclear fuel for industry and government partners, the DOE said. INL said researchers at the […]
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Sustainability
FutureCoal CEO Suggests ‘Cancel Coal’ Mantra Is Short-Sighted, Abated Coal Solutions Must Be Part of Energy Transition
Speaking at the 5th annual India Coal Conference in New Delhi, FutureCoal CEO Michelle Manook said, “Government and finance policies, which embrace a ‘cancel coal’ mantra, are short-sighted and undermine the very ambitions we seek to achieve as a global community.” Formerly known as the World Coal Association, FutureCoal: The Global Alliance for Sustainable Coal […]
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Electrification
Transformative, Next-Gen Grid Control Technologies Get $42M in Federal Funding
The Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated a new “enabling” pathway to achieve and sustain a dramatic transformation of the nation’s evolving grid—through its power electronics fabric, with the realization of advanced semiconductor materials, devices, and power module technologies. The agency on Nov. 21 unveiled the agency’s first awards—$42 million for 15 projects across 11 […]
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Cybersecurity
DOE Competition Helps College Students Prepare for Cyber Jobs in the Energy Industry
There is growing demand for cybersecurity professionals all around the world. According to the “2023 Official Cybersecurity Jobs Report,” sponsored by eSentire and released by Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million unfilled jobs in the cybersecurity industry through 2025. Furthermore, having these positions open can be costly. The researchers said damages resulting from cybercrime […]
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Sustainability
Are You Tapping into the Power of Electric Thermal Storage?
The power industry must adapt. Reliable electric service is more important than ever, but the push for green energy and rising cost concerns complicate things. Thankfully, several new technologies offer potential solutions. Electric thermal storage is particularly promising. As renewables grow, buildings and utility grids will need a way to store excess energy from peak […]
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Nuclear
U.S. Pledges to Help Philippines Develop Nuclear Power
The U.S. will help develop a nuclear power industry in the Philippines after both countries signed an agreement Nov. 17 during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, California. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking Friday during the meeting, said, “The United States will be able to share equipment and material with […]
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Hydrogen
Pioneering Hydrogen-Powered Gas Peaking: Inside Duke Energy’s DeBary Project
In late 2024, a first-of-a-kind, fully functional project spearheaded by Duke Energy, GE Vernova, and Sargent and Lundy could begin demonstrating the commercial peaking capabilities of an integrated hydrogen power-to-power system at Duke Energy’s DeBary power plant in Florida. In an exclusive interview, project partners revealed details of the potentially trailblazing installation, which is slated […]
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Solar
Developing the Solar Power Workforce for the Gigawatt Era
The solar energy industry in the U.S. is at a critical juncture. With the ambitious target set by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to have solar produce 30% of the country’s energy by 2030, a monumental effort is required. We must add 48 GW of solar capacity each year to meet this goal. Achieving […]
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Gas
Three Texas Gas-Fired Plants Sold in $635 Million Deal
A France-based energy group said it has an agreement to buy three natural gas-fired power plants in Texas. The facilities, one near Dallas and two south of Houston, represent about 1.5 GW of generation capacity. TotalEnergies, a multinational company operating in several energy sectors and headquartered in Paris, France, announced the $635 million deal on […]
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Coal
China Will Guarantee Financial Support for Coal-Fired Power Plants
A government agency in China announced that operators of coal-fired power plants will receive guaranteed payments based on the installed capacity of their units, part of a program to ensure a stable power supply across the country. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in a notice published Nov. 10, said the program will commence […]
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Commentary
The Electrification of Vehicles in America Is Occurring Rapidly in Bus Fleets
The effort to electrify vehicles is a growing trend sweeping through America. The task is expensive enough to keep it from ever being quick. Still, funding is available from numerous sources and the commitment to accomplish what would once have seemed impossible is obvious. One of the largest vehicle fleets in the country is the […]
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Nuclear
UAMPS and NuScale Power Terminate SMR Nuclear Project
Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and NuScale Power Corp. (NuScale) have mutually agreed to terminate the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP), a small modular reactor (SMR) project that was planned for construction on Idaho National Laboratory (INL) property near Idaho Falls, Idaho. “Despite significant efforts by both parties to advance the CFPP, it appears […]
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Gas
Canadian Court Backs Bitcoin Miner’s Bid for Gas-Fired Power Plants
A Canada-based digital asset mining and computing company is close to acquiring four small natural gas-fired power plants in Ontario. Hut 8 Mining Corp., headquartered in Toronto, on Nov. 3 announced the Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the company’s bid for the facilities, and for a bitcoin mine in North Bay. The gas-fired plants […]
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Gas
South Africa Will Add 3 GW of Gas-Fired Generation
An official with South Africa’s government said the country will accelerate its development of natural gas-fired power generation as energy shortages continue to be a challenge for the nation’s economy. Kgosientshjo Ramakgopa, the country’s electricity minister, on Nov. 5 detailed plans for at least 3 GW of new gas-fired capacity. South Africa has endured rolling […]