POWER
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T&D
Planning for a Reliable and Resilient Electric Power Grid
In the U.S., regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) are responsible for overseeing the reliable operation of the high-voltage transmission system within their respective regions. In other countries, transmission system operators (TSOs) perform similar roles. In most cases, the primary objectives of these entities are to ensure the reliable and efficient operation […]
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T&D
What Does It Take to Bring Stability to a Renewable-Focused Grid?
As coal, gas, and nuclear plants are retired, and wind and solar resources are added to the power grid, stability can become a problem. Understanding the solutions that are available to help manage potential issues is important for decision-makers so they can select the best options for their system. Grid stability and system strength have […]
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Solar
Federal Policies and Incentives Drive Demand for American-Made Solar Power Modules
The U.S. was one of the world leaders in solar equipment manufacturing a few decades ago, but then the Chinese stole the show. Now, however, American companies are finding a lot of new opportunities as a
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Supply Chains
Five Dynamic Factors Reshaping the Power Sector Supply Chain
The shift to clean energy is triggering growing concerns about the sustainability, resilience, and integration of the power sector’s complex supply chains. Here are five trends to watch. The power sector’s
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Hydro
China Brings High-Elevation Hydropower Project Online
The first unit of one of the world’s highest-elevation hydropower plants began operating in China in April. China Energy said the Maerdang hydropower station (Figure 5), sited at more than 16,000 feet above
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Hydrogen
Global First: JERA, IHI Launch Testing of Fuel Ammonia at Coal Power Plant
Japanese firms JERA and IHI Corp. have launched the world’s first large-volume fuel ammonia demonstration testing at JERA’s 1-GW Unit 4 of its 4.1-GW Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Aichi Prefecture
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Solar
How the Massive Growth in Solar Power Is Affecting Power Grids
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) reported in March that the U.S. solar industry installed 32.4 GWdc of capacity in 2023, a remarkable 51% increase compared to 2022. It was the industry’s
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O&M
Plant Operators Know Importance of Pumps and Piping Systems
Efficiency, safety, and providing support for optimal performance are key considerations when choosing equipment to move water and fuels through a power plant. Power plant operators know the importance of
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Hybrid Power
Eaton Among Groups Supporting Microgrid Buildout in Puerto Rico
Companies operating in Puerto Rico have paid particular attention to the reliability and resiliency of their power supply after a series of major hurricanes battered the island in recent years. Those storms
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Power
Marnie Surfaceblow: Maya Bucks the Trends
Big data holds many secrets to help operate your power plant safer and more efficiently. But are you really seeing the entire landscape of your problem? Don’t miss the forest while focusing on the trees
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [May 2024]
IRENA: 70% Global Renewable Deployment Led by Asia in 2023. Global renewable deployment over 2023 reached a total capacity of 3,870 GW—a new record in the power sector, according to the International
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Legal & Regulatory
Perfect Storm for the Grid: Convergence of Energy Growth and Policy
There are numerous articles and studies warning of the fragile nature of America’s electric grid. The vulnerabilities will only become more apparent as we continue to undergo a fundamental shift in how
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Hydrogen
Navigating Challenges in Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Project Execution
Energy transition is the “new normal” (or the only way forward in some peoples’ minds), which aims to reduce emission levels through various forms of decarbonization. Some of the key drivers are increased penetration of renewable energy into the energy supply mix and battery energy storage systems. While these measures contribute incrementally to decarbonization, the […]
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Commentary
Real-Life Lessons for Thriving in the Energy Transition
The U.S. is assembling a new power grid infrastructure—and not a moment too soon. The need for dynamic new approaches in the power and utility sector has never been more urgent. New kinds of distributed
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Energy Security
Steps Utilities Can Take Now to Prepare for Future Extreme Weather Events
How can a utility, or any organization for that matter, prepare for the unexpected, especially when it comes to the volatility of weather? This question is increasingly coming to the forefront of risk
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Hydrogen
Decarbonizing the Power Industry with Low-Carbon-Intensity Hydrogen
Transformational changes in the energy space will need to occur to meet the current global community’s decarbonization and climate protection commitments. Low-carbon-intensity hydrogen could provide valuable
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Energy Security
Extreme Weather Preparedness: Scalable Power Generation
Help customers stay resilient with clean propane power generation. Power outages caused by extreme weather events continue to cause environmental and economic stress throughout the country. Because of this, finding more reliable power options is a top priority for power professionals. In a recent episode of the Path to Zero podcast, Tucker Perkins, president and […]
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Smart Grid
Edge Computing May Be the Future of Power Distribution
A more distributed power distribution network will help utilities better navigate the wave of changes resulting from the smart grid. Very few industries will experience the rapid change that power distribution
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O&M
Underground or Overhead: Exploring Line Options to Enhance Grid Resiliency
The power grid has been a topic that has dominated headlines in the energy industry and mainstream news over the past few decades. Despite this increased focus, with each passing year the problem is only
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IIOT Power
The Big Picture (Infographic): Power Sector Digitalization Use Cases
In a recent article in the journal Energy, experts from universities in Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Romania identify digitalization as a pivotal phenomenon affecting the electricity sector, alongside other “megatrends” such as decarbonization, decentralization, and deregulation. Despite the increasing focus on the effects of digitalization on power systems, the authors highlight a notable gap: […]
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Hydrogen
Gas Turbine and Hydrogen Technologies Grow Together
The future of gas turbines and hydrogen are intricately intertwined. Gas turbine manufacturers know that they need their equipment to be ready to operate on higher levels of hydrogen as electrolysis technology
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Geothermal
Delving Deeper: New Optimism for Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) have long held promise. New developments suggest dramatic progress may be on the horizon. Can innovation feasibly overcome technical and economic hurdles that have
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Energy Storage
BESS Projects Boost Clean Energy in Europe
Portugal has a goal to produce at least 80% of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2050. Several companies are investing in the country’s power infrastructure, including Powin, an
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Power
AI Is Not Only a Thing of the Future, It’s Also a Thing of the Present
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based platforms have taken the world by storm. Perhaps the best known of these is ChatGPT. OpenAI, the company that developed the innovative chatbot, released the tool widely to
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Nuclear
Long-Awaited Milestone: Fuel Loading Begins at India’s Prototype Fast Nuclear Reactor
India in March began fuel loading at a 500-MWe/1,250-MWth prototype fast-breeder reactor (PFBR) located at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, marking a crucial phase for the second stage of the country’s ambitious
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Connected Plant
Modern Control Systems Provide Insights for Power Sector
As power generation embraces digitization, and looks for more reliability and flexibility, the need for advanced instrumentation and control systems grows. Power plant operators know the importance of
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Infographics
The Big Picture: Coal Controls [Infographic]
U.S. coal power plant emissions in 2023 showed dramatic reductions in air pollutants, owing mainly to coal plant closures. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), compared to 2022, sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 24%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 15%, carbon dioxide by 7%, and mercury by 17%. Over the years, coal plants have […]
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Hybrid Power
POWER Digest [April 2024]
GA Drilling, ZeroGeo Energy Collaborate on Deep Geothermal Power Project. Geothermal drilling technology company GA Drilling and ZeroGeo Energy GmbH in February announced the companies have a memorandum of
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Legal & Regulatory
Distributed Power, EAAS—New Ways to Join the Clean Energy Transition
The first image that likely comes to mind when the average energy consumer thinks about renewable energy is some kind of vast (utility-scale) solar or wind farm, or a massive battery project, usually pictured
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Engineering
How to Get the Most Out of EPC Contracts
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts are agreements in which a contractor is given major project responsibilities under a single contract established with an owner or developer. A