POWER
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Commentary
Balancing Essential Utility Infrastructure Investment with Customer Affordability
Electric utilities are entering an era of growing investment opportunities following a decade of low load growth. However, there is increasing evidence that regulators are growing more concerned about the
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Connected Plant
AI-Powered Computer Vision Is Transforming Utility Inspection and Maintenance
Employing artificial intelligence (AI) in the power industry may seem like a futuristic concept, but the truth is that it’s available in several innovative applications today. Power companies that tap into
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News
Digital Solutions Provide Great Benefits for Cooperative Utilities
Although cooperatives may not have the financial resources of large investor-owned utilities, valuable digital solutions are still within their grasp. Because they have fewer resources to employ, co-ops may
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Energy Storage
Battery Energy Storage Systems: Solutions for Shorter and Longer Durations
As renewable energy capacity increases on power grids, battery energy storage systems become more and more important. While lead battery technology is not new, it is evolving. Advanced lead batteries offer a
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O&M
Critical Importance of Annual Turbine Oil Analysis
Turbines are by far the single most-costly piece of equipment for many energy businesses, which highlights the importance of lubrication for these assets. Although turbine oil could last for more than a
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Electrification
Expanding Access and Growing DER Networks for a Smarter Future Grid
The framework for a better power grid should include distributed energy resources as a key part of the transition. When you think of the energy system of the future, what do you imagine? Ideally, you’d
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Electrification
Leveraging the ‘Electrification of Everything’ to Reduce Carbon Emissions
This commentary from Siemens USA notes how the push for electrification promotes cleaner energy, sustainability, and efficiency. The “electrification of everything” is underway to not only decarbonize, but
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Trends
Shifting Gears: How Diesel and Gas Engines Are Thriving in the New Power Paradigm
As the global power industry pivots toward decarbonization and decentralization, major manufacturers of diesel and gas engines are strategically adapting to change. While large power plants frequently garner
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Sustainability
UK’s Drax Eyes U.S. for Bioenergy CCS Expansion Drive
The 2.6-GW Drax Power Station in northeastern England—once Western Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant—is poised to pioneer bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), a negative emissions
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Workforce
Energy Industry Job Market Is Growing Fast, but Finding Workers Is Challenging
The energy workforce added nearly 300,000 jobs in 2022, increasing to more than 8.1 million total jobs at the end of the year, according to the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) 2023 U.S. Energy and
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Hybrid Power
Commercial, Industrial Sites Embrace Innovation for New Generation
The importance of a reliable and resilient power supply continues to grow, and so does the need to control energy costs. That’s why more institutions want power systems that support operational efficiency
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Trends
Understanding Future Prospects for Hydrogen, Energy Storage, and Renewables
The world is undergoing a remarkable energy transition. Clean power systems are in high demand, offering a bright future for hydrogen and renewables. However, energy storage projects that may look promising
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Nuclear
A Closer Look at Two Operational Small Modular Reactor Designs
There are literally dozens of small modular reactor (SMR) and microreactor designs being developed by different companies around the world, and some of the work has been going on for decades. Yet, only two
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Coal
Coal Continues as Key Part of Japan’s Energy Mix
Japan’s energy mix is in flux as the country slowly brings idled nuclear reactors online. The 2011 Fukushima disaster upended the nation’s power generation, resulting in more reliance on coal and natural
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [March 2024]
Dominion Secures Final Approvals for 2.6-GW Offshore Wind Project. Dominion Energy on Jan. 30 said it received the last two major federal approvals needed to kick off construction of its 2.6-GW Coastal
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Power
Marnie Surfaceblow: Marnie Finds a Pest
Small clues can sometimes help reveal larger problems. Don’t ignore unusual events and remember not to let history repeat. “One unit’s offline, and it’s about to become two, right as power prices and
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O&M
Sustaining Safe Nuclear Energy with Nondestructive Testing
Nondestructive testing is a multidisciplinary profession that blends quality assurance and materials science. Many industries rely upon it, but few uses are more important than in the nuclear power sector
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Commentary
What Does the Nuclear Industry Need to Do to Scale Production Toward Net-Zero Goals?
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) proved to be a historic moment for nuclear energy, with more than 20 countries including the U.S., France, Japan, and the UK pledging to triple global
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Legal & Regulatory
Overcoming Hurdles in Offshore Wind Development: Ireland in a Race Against Time
As the world intensifies its efforts to combat climate change, Ireland has set ambitious goals to produce offshore renewable energy as part of its Climate Action Plan. A member of the European Union (EU)
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Solar
How HIL Testing Supports Grid Reliability and Power Project Success
Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing involves simulation of power plant behavior using the actual site-specific power plant controls before the commissioning stage. HIL testing can benefit all project
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O&M
Auxiliary Boilers Can Reduce Cold-Start Times for CCGTs
Combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) play a critical role in providing power grids with additional electricity, supporting reliability and resilience during periods of high demand. Combined cycle power plants
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Trends
Research and Development Investments Vital for a Clean Energy Future
Several solutions are needed to support deployment of renewable energy and enable continued growth in the use of distributed energy resources. The structure of energy systems everywhere is changing fast
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O&M
Preparing Steam and Water Analysis Equipment for Summer Heat
While the effects of extreme summer weather are one thing, even regular summer weather can wreak havoc on steam and water analysis systems (SWAS) without adequate preparation. Summer sunshine and increased temperatures can bring higher heat loads and increased cycling rates that put even more stress on steam and water sampling and related equipment, greatly […]
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Distributed Generation
Historic Texas Hotel Adds Energy Storage to Replace Diesel
The Sinclair Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, is known as the “world’s first all-digital hotel.” Built in 1930, the building initially served as the headquarters for The Sinclair Oil Company. However, the hotel (Figure 1) has deviated widely from its rich history in fossil fuels, using power-over-ethernet technology, digital electricity, and energy-conserving diesel replacement technology […]
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Full Coverage
AI’s Paradox in the Power Sector—Unleashing Potential but Confronting Uncertainty
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the power sector, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency and innovation. But as AI applications proliferate, new challenges are emerging. How will industry navigate the potential and challenges that accompany this digital revolution? Recent efforts to overhaul the long-established energy system in alignment with decarbonization and decentralization have introduced new […]
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Connected Plant
Digital Twins Provide the Platform to Identify Potential Problems and Improve Power Plant Performance
Technology has become vital to reliable and efficient power plant operations, and few technological tools are more beneficial than digital twins. Some experts even believe we’re on the verge of a digital twin boom, with the market predicted to grow tenfold in the next four years. What exactly is a digital twin? That’s a question […]
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Connected Plant
Diversification of Power Generation Brings Greater Need for Data-Based Decisions
Utilities and other companies in the electric power sector are using data to solve the dilemma of decarbonizing the power grid while also diversifying their generation resources. Utilities and power generators know that collecting data is critical to their operations. The process has grown in importance as the power grid diversifies, with more renewable energy […]
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Connected Plant
From a Distance, Power Sector Gets Up Close with Assets
The use of remote monitoring is enabling operators in the electric power sector to gain better insight into the real-time performance of equipment and systems. Owners and operators of power generation equipment are working in a challenging environment, as more technologies are used to produce electricity, more generation facilities are sited in rural areas, and […]
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Connected Plant
The Power Sector’s High-Stakes Battle for Cyber-Resiliency
The power sector’s relentless pursuit of an increasingly connected power paradigm amid an escalating cyber threat landscape demands an urgent, multifaceted strategy for cybersecurity. Recently, the sector has embarked on innovative methods to tackle inherent challenges in its evolving quest for a robust cybersecurity posture. In 2022, a third party alerted industrial control systems (ICS) […]
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Connected Plant
From Ideas to Assets: How Digital Solutions Provide Value Through Project Lifecycles
The digital age is upon us and the power industry is a key participant in this exciting time. Significant work routines and asset management processes have already been transformed. Power plant operations are among the areas where advanced technology has had a big impact. Power plant lifecycles are complex. Power companies spend significant time and […]