POWER
December 2023 Previews
COVER FOCUS: Hybrid Power Plants
Hybrid Power Plants
Hybrid power plants, which combine two or more different types of generation technology, are becoming more common as a way to provide more resilience and reliability to the supply of electricity. Virtual power plants, a type of hybrid that can include solar plus storage at the residential level, and many other technologies—including fossil fuels—at the utility-scale level, are assuming a larger role as utilities work with customers to increase the power supply.
FEATURES
POWER Awards Recap
Like all years, POWER recognized a lot of great plants in its 2023 awards program. In this issue, we take a look back at the winners and consider how these projects will move the industry forward into the future.
Evolving Coal Technologies
Coal technology continues to evolve with an eye on enhancing plant efficiency. Today’s supercritical and ultrasupercritical units are pushing boundaries to the limit, reducing emissions and saving plant owners money. Learn how innovative designs are changing the landscape for coal-fired power generation around the world.
Addressing Operational Technology Cybersecurity Challenges
An expanded landscape of power and utility assets, as well as more resourced adversaries, have heightened operational technology (OT) security as a critical issue today. This article will examine the internal and external drivers raising the stakes for cybersecurity at utilities, how to overcome the challenges associated with them, and share perspective on how utilities are approaching OT design and deployment moving forward.
Developing an Effective Cybersecurity Risk Management Strategy
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), reporting under the U.S. Department of Commerce, has developed a Risk Management Framework (RMF).
The NIST RMF includes seven essential steps for an effective cybersecurity risk management strategy, and extensive documentation for each step is available. Learn what companies can do to best manage risks.
The Benefits of Remote Monitoring for Power Plants and Substations
What are the primary objectives of implementing remote monitoring at power plants and substations? What types of sensors are used to collect data and how is data typically transmitted from the equipment to the monitoring system? What tools and methods are used for real-time data analysis and interpretation in remote monitoring systems? This article will address these questions and more.
Meteorology for the Power Industry
It’s pretty easy to understand how the weather affects certain forms of power generation and infrastructure, which is why having accurate and constantly updated weather information is vital to power companies. In this article, weather professionals weigh in on how monitoring and forecasting tools have evolved in recent years and how utilities are benefiting.
Solar Technology for Distributed Generation
Advancements in solar technology for decentralized electricity generation are occurring rapidly, from new panels for rooftop solar, to building facades and commercial and industrial systems. Grid-tied systems also are advancing, supporting a two-way flow of electricity. Off-grid systems, including solar power in microgrids, are becoming increasingly important. New inverters, along with upgraded monitoring and control systems, are being introduced. The new technology is designed to support resilience and offer better control of energy costs.
How Energy Wave Technology Is Monitoring and Protecting Energy Infrastructure
Modular blast protection and detection systems can safeguard power stations from physical attack. Yet, if attackers are successful, energy wave technology can alert teams and deploy drones to assess damage. This article will overview how this technology works and how it can be used in conjunction with more traditional remote monitoring technologies to give a robust analysis of a power grid’s status.
Virtual Power Plants: The Next Operational Model for Electricity Generation
The need to adopt technologies with the necessary operational control capabilities continues to spread. These technologies are here already, and with the right distributed energy resource management software, utility program managers can plan their virtual power plant strategies to best meet the needs of their constituents.
How District Energy Is a Valuable Carbon-Emissions-Reducing Technology
With the ongoing spotlight around renewable energy, district energy is often neglected. However, district energy has proven to be a faster way to achieve net-zero. Systems are available and expandable in many locations to heat and cool hundreds of buildings—and they are often connected to renewable energ