POWER
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Distributed Power
Using Distribution-Class STATCOMs to Resolve Distributed Generation Plant Voltage Issues
When distributed generation causes net reverse power flow on a distribution feeder, several voltage-related issues can occur. According to studies published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
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News
POWER Digest [April 2021]
European Commission Probing Germany Lignite Power Compensation. The European Commission on March 2 opened an “in-depth investigation” to assess whether Germany’s plans to compensate its lignite-fired
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Energy Storage
‘Best Is Yet to Come’ for Energy Storage Technology
Advancements in batteries, along with an improved regulatory environment and more investment, could make this decade the Roaring ’20s for energy storage. Many areas have been considered a focus for the
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Hydrogen
1.6-GW Coal Plant May Get New Life as Green Hydrogen Hub
Global technology heavyweights Shell and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Swedish state-owned energy firm Vattenfall, and German municipal heat generator Wärme Hamburg are teaming on a massive project to repurpose a 2015-commissioned 1.6-GW coal plant in northern Germany as a massive green hydrogen hub. The four companies in January said they signed a letter of intent to […]
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Workforce
Members Benefit from Labor Unions During Pandemic
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in January that the number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions decreased to 14.3 million in 2020, down 321,000 (2.2%) from 2019. That was the bad news
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Distributed Energy
Distributed Generation Part of Puerto Rico Rebuild
Upgrades to the power grid are needed worldwide, and energy companies are working on the best solutions for providing reliable and resilient power in a cost-efficient and timely fashion. Areas hit hard by
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Nuclear
The Allure of TRISO Nuclear Fuel Explained
Tristructural isotropic (TRISO) particle fuel has long been used in high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, but it is seeing a resurgence as a result of other applications. Modern TRISO fuel designs are
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Hydro
The Hydropower Industry’s Sustainability Conundrum
Hydropower makes up the majority of the world’s renewable energy capacity, but it’s not necessarily an environmentally friendly form of power. However, groups are working to improve hydropower technology
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News
Wärtsilä Project Moves Forward, but Challenges Remain for Renewables in Mexico
Mexico reformed its energy market in 2013, opening the country’s energy sector to private investment. It created opportunities for foreign companies to bring their expertise to Mexico, particularly in the
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Nuclear
Fukushima’s Decade-Long Shadow Made Nuclear Safer
Koji Okamoto, director general of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency’s (JAEA’s) Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science (CLADS), can pinpoint the specific moment that cemented his
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Coal
Improving Load Response and NOx Emissions with Boiler Tuning and Coal-Fired Unit Optimization
Maintaining and operating a coal-fired generating station requires the utmost attention to detail to stay competitive. Focusing on the fundamentals of combustion allows engineers to improve reliability
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O&M
Bolting Tools Important for Operation, Maintenance of Wind Turbines
There is a trend churning in the wind power industry; it involves upgrading wind turbines with newer, more powerful generation systems. Thanks to higher-capacity turbines and more efficient components
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Renewables
Solar and Storage: When It Makes Operational Sense
Energy storage is becoming increasingly important in solar installations, and many renewable energy projects, including wind farms and others, are incorporating storage into their design. Figuring out the
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Gas
Innovative Engineering Results in Successful Steam Blowing Operation
Experience gained by a project team during a steam blowing operation for a combined cycle power project in Indonesia is described in this article. A specific challenge faced by the commissioning team is
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News
Ecuador’s Power Grid Gets a Massive Makeover
Over the past two decades, Ecuador has added a lot of hydroelectric power to its mix. Going forward, natural gas generation is expected to play more of a role in maintaining reliability and adding flexibility
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News
POWER Digest [March 2021]
Hydropower Plant Comes Online in Turkey. GE Renewable Energy in February said the company has successfully completed the Lower Kaleköy Hydropower plant at the Lower Kaleköy Dam in Turkey, with the plant
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Connected Plant
How to Put the Power Grid to Work to Prevent Wildfires
While not a new occurrence, in recent years wildfires have wreaked havoc across the western U.S. We have also seen Mother Nature batter coastlines and landscapes around the globe, and the ever-mounting pace of
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Gas
Inland Power Plants Benefit from Marine Engines
Engine-based power plants have proven to be dependable complements for intermittent renewables, but they are also capable of providing steady baseload electricity. With the right technical support, including
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Legal & Regulatory
Future of EPA’s Rule on State Water Quality Certification of Federal Permits
High on the list of Trump administration rules that will be reevaluated by the Biden administration is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Water Act (CWA) section 401 rule on state water
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News
Using Data for Smarter Power Generation
Power plant operators continually search for ways to make electricity production and transmission more efficient. With more generation sources coming online, the use of artificial intelligence and machine
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Hydrogen
Countries Roll Out Green Hydrogen Strategies, Electrolyzer Targets
Countries are increasingly embedding green hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors within ambitious strategies. In December, Canada joined a long list of countries, which includes France
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Renewables
Renewable Energy Insiders Remain Optimistic About the Future
It was about a year ago that COVID-19 gained the world’s attention. The first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 22
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News
Mini-Grids Making Electricity More Accessible
Mini-grids—smaller off-grid electricity distribution networks—are being recognized as a cost-effective solution to bring power to rural communities that often have no access to a traditional power grid
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Coal
Fending Off Forced Power Plant Outages
The changing profile of the power system has added new stressors on conventional power generation and may have raised the potential for forced outages. Addressing them requires a closer look at traditional and
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Research and Development
Nanogrid Could Hold Key to Clean Energy Future
The Orlando Utilities Commission’s (OUC’s) vision of a green energy future isn’t as far off as some people may think. The utility’s nanogrid is providing a testing ground for several innovative power
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Connected Plant
How NRG Energy Uses IIoT Technology to Optimize Asset Performance and Predict Failures
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology is changing how power plants operate. One generating station incorporated new wireless vibration sensors with data from its existing historian system to better
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O&M
Understanding Net Positive Suction Head Requirements for Pumps
A centrifugal pump that performs well under steady-state conditions may be found to cavitate when transitioning between operating modes. Resolving a transient cavitation problem can seem daunting because many
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Commentary
FERC Signals Green Light on Carbon Pricing to Help Reduce Emissions
The body that regulates the interstate transmission of oil, electricity, and natural gas has signaled its willingness to approve regional grid operator plans that incorporate carbon pricing into their rate
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Commentary
How ESG Investing Is Impacting the Energy Industry
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is rapidly becoming one of the most visible and durable megatrends in the financial community. ESG, or sustainability, refers to corporate activities that
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News
How to Avoid Full Refractory System Failure in Wood Combustion
Wood-burning facilities have seen a spike in refractory problems due to operating units at higher temperatures and at increased capacities than in the past. Refractory professionals offer three recommendations