In This Issue
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RenewablesGeothermal Drilling in Iceland Reaches Supercritical Target
A unique collaborative effort by a consortium of Icelandic power companies and the Icelandic government to determine whether using supercritical geothermal fluids would improve the economics of power
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GasSCE, GE Debut Battery-Gas Turbine Hybrid System
Southern California Edison (SCE) put online the world’s first battery–gas turbine hybrid system on March 30 in Norwalk, Calif., pioneering a new direction in the way power could be generated and stored
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RenewablesIRENA: Solar and Bioenergy See Record Growth in 2016
Global renewable energy generation capacity surged 161 GW in 2016, marking its strongest year ever for new capacity additions, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) said in a new report released at
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O&MYou’re Never Fully Dressed without Flame-Resistant Clothing
“Personal protective equipment (PPE) is inconvenient and uncomfortable, and this will only take a second. Besides, I’ve done this before, and it’s been fine every time. Will skipping PPE once really
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Connected PlantPID Loop Tuning Pocket Guide Released
Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control is one of the most common types of automatic control used in the power industry. A PID controller continuously calculates an error value as the difference between
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Legal & RegulatoryOffshore Wind Contract Conundrum Heads to Supreme Court
The English Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal on the long-running dispute in connection with the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm. The decision promises to be significant for the offshore wind industry, its
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Legal & RegulatoryHow to Develop a Values-Based Compliance Culture
A lot of different methods are available to encourage compliance with company policies and regulations, but some are more effective than others. One that has worked well for GE and its customers inspires
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NuclearSafety Culture: A Common Construct Requiring Commitment from the Board Room to the Shop Floor
An intrinsically motivated safety culture does not usually emerge fully formed. Decisions and actions affecting behaviors are often linked to entrenched attitudes and beliefs within companies. Commitment and
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O&MScaffold Safety in Coal-Fired Power Plants
Scaffolding typically ranks near the top of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s most-frequently cited standards. However, developing a strong safety culture and implementing an effective
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O&MEnergy Generation from A-to-Z with Machine Learning
The human brain is an amazing thing, but it has limitations. However, with the advent of machine learning, the limitations of the human brain no longer have to be the limitations of civilization. Machine
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O&MHow to Prevent Circulating Water Flow Reversal
Flow reversal in piping systems can degrade equipment performance and cause significant water hammer, potentially resulting in catastrophic failure. Power plant condenser cooling water systems—or circulating
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O&MBorescope Inspection Saves Time and Money for Gas Turbine Plant
Inspecting the internal condition of a turbine generator is an important maintenance activity, but tearing a unit apart is a long and expensive process. Borescope inspections offer one way to minimize work
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Legal & Regulatory
Coal Is Back
Although I’m sure some readers will consider the title of this column hyperbole, coal is back. It’s back in the public discourse, and that’s largely due to the Trump administration. President Trump was
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EnvironmentalThe Deep Dispute over “Deep Decarbonization”
It began as an academic argument over how the world could meet a goal of 90% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, known as “deep decarbonization.” Underneath the academic language is a fight
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GasValidation Wraps Up for GE, Ansaldo Gas Turbines
In May, GE’s Power Services and Ansaldo Energia separately completed initial validation of two gas turbines designed for high efficiency and flexibility: the 9EMax and the GT36. GE also announced first fire
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Legal & RegulatoryPower Market Operators and Participants See a Glimmer of Optimism in Current Chaos
The conversation at the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition, as underscored by comments made in its keynote address and at the annual event’s executive roundtable, was optimistic yet cautious, owing to
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Legal & RegulatoryA Double Whammy for Coal Power in Europe
Coal generation in Europe was walloped—twice—in April. Early in the month, members of EURELECTRIC, a pan-European power sector association of more than 3,500 companies, announced that it would cease
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O&MEvolving Workforce and Safety Practices for Wind Farms
The renewable revolution has been a catalyst for the wind energy market during recent years, with the global wind market growing at an incredible pace. It’s estimated that over 1.1 million people work in the
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CoalPOWER Digest (June 2017)
India Joins IEA as an Association Country. India joined the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an association country on March 30, marking a significant move for the country into global energy affairs. The
