Power

  • The POWER Podcast Archive Vol. 5

    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 (Nov. 11, 2021 – Nov. 16, 2022) Fish […]

  • Fish Friendly Hydro: Natel Energy Is Proving It’s Possible

    Hydropower projects frequently face resistance from environmental groups for a variety of reasons. One of the more common objections to hydro is the high turbine-induced mortality of fish. The passage of fish through hydroelectric turbines can quickly prove fatal—a danger that increases with the size of the fish. Furthermore, if several hydropower plants are located […]

  • U.S., Others Tout $20 Billion Plan to Move Indonesia Away from Coal, Toward Renewables

    The U.S. and other countries have announced a $20 billion financing plan to help Indonesia more quickly shutter the country’s coal-fired power plants and decarbonize its power generation sector. “We’ve built a platform for cooperation that can truly transform Indonesia’s power sector from coal to renewables and support significant economic growth,” U.S. Special Envoy on […]

  • New Study Finds Electrification Reduces Emissions and Improves Air Quality

    A group of researchers found that “Adopting electric end-use technologies instead of fossil-fueled alternatives, known as electrification, is an important economy-wide decarbonization strategy that also reduces criteria pollutant emissions and improves air quality.” Findings from the study conducted by nine researchers—four from EPRI, four from Ramboll, and one from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory—were published […]

  • Using Technology to Improve Management of Utilities’ Fleets

    Utility fleet managers faced their share of challenges in recent years. They needed to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations and rising customer expectations while keeping drivers feeling safe and supported. They also needed to maximize the utilization of vehicles while extending lifecycles and complying with regulations—even as they evolve faster than ever. Like […]

  • How Rural Communities Can Benefit from the Energy Transition

    Economic development can be a challenge for leaders in rural communities. Often, it’s hard to attract businesses to rural areas because the local workforce may not have the skills or numbers required to meet companies’ needs. But opportunities that haven’t been widely available in the past exist today for rural communities due to the energy […]

  • New Units at Hongyanhe Further China’s Nuclear Ambition

    An innovative design, emphasizing safety and economic efficiency, is key to the reactor technology at China’s newest—and now largest—nuclear power plant. China’s nuclear power program has utilized

  • Idiot or Maniac: Where Does Your Power Company Fit in the Discussion?

    It’s kind of exciting to be able to write that events are back in full swing. In case you missed it, POWER hosted the co-located Experience POWER, Distributed Energy Conference, and HydrogeNext events, Oct

  • Mini-Grids Powering Energy Access in Africa

    Governments and power generators continue to work to improve access to electricity on the African continent. Engie Energy Access, a subsidiary of French energy major Engie, recently signed a $60 million

  • Why Sulfur Oxides Are Bad and How Flue Gas Desulfurization Technology Works

    Sulfur oxides (SO x ) have several harmful effects both to the environment, and to human and animal health. Much of the SO x in the atmosphere comes from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other

  • Storage-as-Transmission Project Announced for Germany

    A project known as Netzbooster, or Grid Booster, is being deployed in Germany, designed to improve the efficiency of the country’s existing power grid infrastructure. Fluence Energy GmbH, a subsidiary of

  • Gas Engine Reliability: Understanding Engine Oil Consumption

    This paper explains the mechanisms that affect lubricating oil consumption in stationary gas engines. It explains the positive and negative consequences of oil consumption. It discusses the importance of

  • The Future of Sustainable Energy Production Hinges on Hydrogen

    A major lesson from the global energy price crisis has been the value of having a diversity of supplies—not relying on a small number of (sometimes unreliable or politically controlled) sources. With

  • In-Service Testing of Pressure Relief Valves

    Pressure relief valves (PRVs) are a critical line of defense for pressure vessel protection in the power industry. Generating facilities worldwide depend upon these devices to sense and quickly relieve

  • Effectively Manage Assets to Increase Uptime and Cut Maintenance Costs

    Advanced analytics solutions empower utilities to predict asset failures before they happen so they can progress from reactive to proactive maintenance. As the digital transformation of the power industry

  • Powering Resilience: How to Design Microgrids that Prepare for the Unexpected

    Microgrids offer an ideal solution to counter the risk of weather-related power disruption by bolstering operational resilience, reducing dependence on local utilities, and lowering energy costs. However, the

  • 2022 POWER Top Plant Award Winners

    Coal-fired See our August 2022 issue for stories covering these plants: Osaki Cool Gen, Japan Shanghaimiao Power Plant, China Renewables See our September 2022 issue for stories covering these plants: Bighorn Solar Project, Colorado Boone Dam Hydro Project, Tennessee Energypark Haringvliet, Netherlands Harvey Milk SFO Terminal, California Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, Iceland Western Spirit Wind, […]

  • Using Advanced Energy Management Controls to Decarbonize Commercial Buildings

    The concept of decarbonization typically calls attention to the energy sources or inefficient systems that drive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions upward—in order to decarbonize, we must reduce our usage of, or replace, these sources or systems. What’s important to understand, however, is how the infrastructures that rely on these current energy sources or systems operate, […]

  • Southern Company Cuts Its Cost Forecast for Vogtle Expansion, Provides Update on Project

    In its third quarter 2022 earnings call presentation, Southern Company reduced its “Total project capital cost forecast” for Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to $10.383 billion from $10.453 billion, which is what it had reported in the company’s second quarter 2022 earnings call presentation. The company’s cost estimate reduction doesn’t mean that total project costs […]

  • A Pillar in the Community and Collaborator Around the World: DLC Powers Pittsburgh

    The Duquesne Light Co. (DLC) may not be among the best-known electric power companies in the U.S., but for its customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, the company has been a steady presence in the community for more than a century. “We are a Pittsburgh-based utility company. We’ve been in operation for […]

  • Inflation Reduction Act: Increased Electrification and Resulting Utility Implications

    While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides steps in the right direction by expanding renewable energy development and electrification incentives, it may also lead to a worsening duck curve and a larger proportion of variable power sources in the generation mix—putting significant pressure on utilities’ ability to maintain reliability. U.S. utilities need to be proactive […]

  • How Hydrogen Blends Will Impact HRSG Operation, Maintenance, and Performance

    Environmental pressure is ramping up. Countries have issued targets to reduce or even eliminate the use of traditional fossil fuels in order to reduce emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. Gas turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are responding by investing in hydrogen (H2) combustion. They are spending heavily on the development of combustors and […]

  • How Satellite Connectivity Can Improve Visibility and Communication Throughout the Energy Sector

    Amid an industry-wide labor shortage and global supply chain disruptions, the energy sector is under immense pressure to increase production. These issues, in addition to geopolitical tensions, are deeply complex and cannot be addressed on an individual scale. In addition, the energy industry faces major challenges pertaining to communication given that the workforce and equipment […]

  • Investing Green: Driving a Higher ROI through the Green Hydrogen Boom and Wasted Energy

    The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest clean energy investment by the federal government in U.S. history. The passing of this $430 billion bill shows that the American government recognizes it is time for businesses to make crucial, sustainable changes in order to combat global warming. This historic bill further demonstrates that […]

  • BP Buying Leading RNG Production Group in $4.1 Billion Deal

    British oil major BP is continuing to diversify its energy portfolio, announcing a deal to acquire a company considered an industry leader in production of renewable natural gas (RNG). BP on Oct. 17 said it was buying Houston, Texas-based Archaea Energy for $3.3 billion in cash, or $26 a share, along with $800 million for […]

  • Canada’s OPG and Czech Republic’s ČEZ Partner to Advance SMR and Other Nuclear Technology

    Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Czech Republic-based ČEZ are collaborating to advance deployment of nuclear technology, including small modular reactors (SMRs). The companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Oct. 11, with an aim to “reduce financial, technical and schedule risk to both parties on their respective future projects.” OPG is Ontario’s […]

  • Nuclear Giant Westinghouse Acquired by Renewable Power Company and Uranium Fuel Supplier

    A consortium comprised of Brookfield Renewable Partners, together with its institutional partners, and Cameco Corp. announced on Oct. 11 an agreement to acquire Westinghouse Electric Co. from Brookfield Business Partners (BBU). The deal has a total enterprise value of about $8 billion, including proceeds from the disposition of a non-core asset expected to be received […]

  • Balancing the Scales: Disparities in Decommissioning Practices for Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

    There have been historic initiatives within the U.S. to create a sustainable energy economy and to address major environmental concerns created by fossil fuels. The Inflation Reduction Act contains $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, which will have a meaningful impact on climate change. Meanwhile, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law seeks to remedy environmental issues […]

  • How Bitcoin Mining Can Help Power Companies Optimize Generation Assets

    Bitcoin mining is the process used to generate new coins and verify new transactions. The process involves vast, decentralized networks of computers around the world that verify and secure blockchains, the virtual ledgers that document cryptocurrency transactions. In return for contributing their computing power, miners are rewarded with new coins. The process ultimately requires a […]

  • Fun in the Sun: Cane Island Is a Central Florida Treasure

    You must be a power guy or gal to consider a generating station an attraction. If you are, you won’t find a better place to visit than the Cane Island Power Park. The facility is in a picturesque location