In This Issue
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NuclearChina’s Molten Salt Reactor Reaches Thorium-Uranium Conversion Milestone
China’s Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) in November reported it had achieved thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion inside an operating molten salt reactor (MSR). The milestone provides the first
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Top PlantFlamanville 3: Europe’s Hard-Won Nuclear Milestone
Flamanville 3 synchronized to the French grid in December 2024 after a prolonged, hard-fought build—an achievement that reflects years of technical recovery, regulatory rigor, and lessons now shaping
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FictionMarnie Surfaceblow: Vicious Viscosity
Lubricants used outside their design working conditions can bite you in unexpectedly painful ways. The morning of Monday, December 1, found Marnie Surfaceblow, vice president of Surfaceblow and Associates
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CoalHow AI Is Breathing New Life into Aging Coal-Fired Power Assets
For years, some folks have considered coal-fired power plants relics of a bygone era, overshadowed by the rise of natural gas and renewables. Yet, in an unexpected twist, coal is finding its way back into the
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Connected PlantA Guide to Asset Management Software Solutions for Power Industry Leaders
Power company leaders face mounting challenges in asset management—keeping aging equipment reliable, integrating diverse assets from renewables to baseload units, and meeting strict reliability standards
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WindOld Turbines, New Tricks: How Retrofits Drive Efficiency and Extend Lifespans in Power Generation
By retrofitting aging turbines with modern control systems, power generation companies are extending equipment lifespans, enhancing operational efficiency, and tapping into robust global support
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WindFuture-Proofing Wind Turbine Communications: Why Fibre Optic Rotary Joints Are the Next Frontier
While the wind sector battles bearing failures and blade damage, a quieter revolution is unfolding at the heart of the nacelle. Fibre optic rotary joints are replacing electrical slip rings, promising to
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Energy StorageBESS: Storing Potential for the UK’s Energy Future
The UK’s battery storage capacity is set to triple by 2030 and could reach 50 GW by mid-century—a transformation that will reshape how the nation powers itself. This explosive growth isn’t just about
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Energy StorageFinding a Longer-Duration Alternative to Battery Storage
The limitations of lithium-ion batteries are prompting a search for longer-duration solutions. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) and other emerging technologies are gaining traction as safer, scalable
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NuclearOn the Steam Side of Nuclear Energy
Siemens Energy develops conventional islands for small modular reactors. When Rolls-Royce SMR began developing its small modular reactor (SMR)—using a unique factory-built approach to proven pressurized
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Top PlantShimane 2 Highlights Progress in Japan’s Nuclear Restart Program
The Unit 2 reactor at the Shimane nuclear power station resumed operation in January 2025, more than a decade after it, and all other reactors in Japan, were taken offline. Japanese officials want restarted nuclear units to help supply needed power and lower the cost of energy across the country.
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O&MMajor Retrofit Restores Early 1900s Hydropower Dam
A hydroelectric facility that first came online in 1903 stands as a testament to early 20th-century hydroelectric engineering. Although much of its original structure and machinery remains in service today, a recent breaker upgrade illustrates how thoughtful modernization and modern equipment built “like it used to be” can sustain aging infrastructure.
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RenewablesSaudi Arabia Innovates to Support Renewable Energy Goals
The growing global shift toward renewable energy has intensified the pursuit of high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) systems, with triple-junction solar cells emerging as a leading technology due to their superior energy conversion capabilities. However, these advanced cells face significant operational challenges, particularly in high-temperature environments, where issues such as thermal degradation, non-uniform heat distribution, and thermal runaway can drastically reduce performance and reliability.
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TrendsPOWER DIGEST [December 2025]
Framatome has been selected by Electrabel, part of ENGIE Group, to modernize the rod control system of the Tihange 3 nuclear reactor in Belgium.
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Legal & RegulatoryDelivering Nuclear Energy: Promise vs. Regulatory Reality
In the race to decarbonize and secure America’s energy future, nuclear power is once again in the spotlight. From advanced reactors to fusion breakthroughs, the promise of nuclear energy is clear.
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CommentaryEmerging Digital Technologies Leading to a Greener Future
The energy industry continues to transition at a rapid pace. Across nearly every market, renewables are reliably and economically transitioning the grid from fossil fuels.