POWER
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Water
The Steam Cycle Mechanical Relationship to Chemistry and Its Influence on Heat Rate and Reliability
It is well-known that a conventional boiler or heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and related steam turbine have innumerable pieces all working in conjunction to produce the end product of electric power. In
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O&M
Experience POWER: Event Expands and Evolves with New Name
When the World Health Organization published news on Jan. 5, 2020, about cases of “pneumonia of unknown etiology” detected in Wuhan City, China, few people began stocking up on toilet paper or canceled
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Workforce
Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part II
In “Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part I,” I alluded to the institutionalization of the military service. Specifically, I wrote about the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program and some of the principles that make it successful. These high-level values are instilled in recruits through the training process and during day-to-day interactions. In Part I, I […]
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O&M
Principles-Based Operations: A Military-Proven Method Part I
Many power plant operators began their careers in the armed forces. Why is the military such a good training ground? Perhaps the answer lies in the principles instilled in recruits from day one of boot camp
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Energy Storage
Zinc-ion Batteries Are a Scalable Alternative to Lithium-ion
Lithium-ion batteries are the most popular battery storage option today, controlling more than 90% of the global grid battery storage market, according to some estimates. However, the lithium-ion supply chain
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Legal & Regulatory
The Power Purchase Agreement in Transition
The power purchase agreement, commonly called a PPA, is a fundamental element to the development, construction, and financing of power generation projects. Like many things in the power industry, the PPA is
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Commentary
FERC Order Opens Wholesale Power Markets to DERs
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in September issued Order 2222, a final rule to remove barriers for distributed energy resource (DER) aggregators to participate in the wholesale capacity
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Finance
Power Sector Faces Continued Financial Distress in 2021
The last few months have seen the power sector plagued with enduring lower power prices, exacerbating the continued negative impact on power generation companies and electric utilities. There are a number of
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News
POWER Digest [January 2021]
Feasibility Study Set for Netherlands’ CCS Plan. Neptune Energy in mid-December announced a feasibility study to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) plan for the Netherlands. The study will look at
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Gas
Environmental Legislation and Stationary Gas Engines
As countries around the world set more stringent emissions standards, stationary gas engine operators are often required to incorporate new technology into their equipment. The changes can affect lubricants
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Connected Plant
How to Monitor Assets Remotely Today
As long as products have had ethernet ports, people have been asking for remote access to them. They believed they could just plug the devices into the internet, and it would all work. At first, there wasn’t necessarily a clear path to making this dream a reality without assistance from the user’s IT department. IT […]
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Coal
THE BIG PICTURE: EPA Regulatory Roundup
Over its 50-year history, several rules issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have reshaped the power sector. But for at least a few modern rules, the road has been full of turns. Notes: CAA = Clean Air Act; BSER = best system of emission reduction; CO2 = carbon dioxide; GHG = greenhouse gases; […]
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Fuel
The Bittersweet Power of Hybrids
A quest for reliability and flexibility is driving significant interest in hybrid and co-located resources, but their widespread integration could hinge on how they are defined and valued in wholesale
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Solar
New Technology Keeps Solar on Track
Researchers continue to work on improvements in solar power, developing better cells, using new materials in panels, and focusing on improving efficiency while lowering cost. The solar power industry hit
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Environmental
A Half Century of Environmental Progress
In the late 1960s, the U.S. was facing an environmental crisis. Air pollution was a serious problem in cities across the country, industrial activities and the widespread use of hazardous pesticides were
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News
Five Emerging Risks That Could Hamper Energy Transitions
At the virtual 2nd Global Ministerial Conference on System Integration of Renewables on Oct. 27, several high-ranking policymakers pointed to a number of localized challenges affecting their countries’
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News
India Expects to Double Power Consumption
Global energy demand has waned in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The lingering impacts of COVID-19 are expected to continue into 2021, but energy industry experts predict the world’s need for
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Fuel
South Korea Joins Japan and China with Carbon-Neutral Pledge
South Korea, Japan, and China, countries that rely heavily on coal power generation to fuel their economies, separately announced ambitious goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the
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News
POWER Digest [December 2020]
Norwegian Group Buying Vietnam Wind Farm. Norway’s SN Power AS in November agreed to purchase 100% of the shares in the 39.4-MW Dam Nai Wind Power project in Vietnam from Mekong Wind Pte. Ltd., a group owned
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News
Projected Development of Renewables in Cuba
As part of Cuba’s National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2030, the country aspires to increase the share of renewable energy on its electric grid to 24%. To accomplish this objective, the
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T&D
Useful Specifications and Guides for Underground Cable and Vaults
Underground electrical cable systems are used by power companies around the world. Two recently updated specifications and guides provide system designers and engineers with important information to ensure a
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News
Leveraging the Latest Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Technologies to Transform Emissions into Profit
There is significant governmental support for the development of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies. Understanding options and taking advantage of opportunities could help maintain a
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O&M
Getting Ahead of Costly Heat Exchanger Failures in the Power Generation Industry
Heat exchangers are important in all thermal power plants and in many other applications. If not properly operated and maintained, a variety of failures can occur, resulting in downtime, reduced efficiency
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COVID-19
Employee Location Monitoring in a Post-Pandemic World
The COVID-19 pandemic has unearthed a number of challenges for power plant managers. However, technology exists to keep workers safe. Through the use of Location Anchors and WirelessHART infrastructure
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Connected Plant
Cybersecurity in and for Large Energy Transmission Projects
Even before the Stuxnet malware program made international headlines in 2010, cybersecurity was an important issue for utility companies. In the aftermath of one of the largest attacks on supervisory control
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Commentary
Global Rush Toward Renewables Faces Challenges
Harold E. “Ed” Patricoff and Ana Sarmento The global trend toward renewable energy is undeniable and commendable. In 2018, 10Power announced that it would work to create commercial-scale solar and energy
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O&M
Maintenance Planning and Execution Standards and Best Practices
The equipment and facilities supporting today’s critical infrastructure are vital to modern society. This article provides testing and maintenance tips to ensure systems are kept in top condition. Power
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Commentary
Breaking Barriers: Inspiring Women in Engineering Jobs
Engineering empowers society in so many unprecedented ways, and with innovation at its core, the profession recognizes reaching its full potential requires the inclusivity of all segments of society. Two years
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O&M
Fostering Successful Development, Deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems
The use of batteries for electricity storage has been a reality for more than 200 years. Recent technological developments and incentives for non-fossil fuel energy systems have resulted in the application of
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News
Equipment Showcase [December 2020]
POWER features a different power-related equipment category in selected issues throughout the year. This month’s showcase includes a variety of items used in the power generation industry, from pumps and