POWER
-
Top Plant
Consistent Excellence Makes Byron Nuclear Plant Special
A focus on continuous improvement has helped the nuclear power industry shine in recent years. The U.S.'s fleet of nuclear reactors has achieved average capacity factors of more than 92% over the past five
-
Top Plant
Darlington’s First Refurbishment: A Model for Nuclear Construction
The successful refurbishment of Unit 2 at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station marked a pivotal milestone for Ontario Power Generation’s 10-year, C$12.8 billion overhaul of the plant’s four CANDU
-
Energy Storage
Analysts: Storage a Matter of Dollars and Sense
More developers are adding energy storage to their power generation plans as they recognize how the technology improves a project’s economics. Solar and wind power project developers are recognizing the
-
Power
How the Clean Energy Transition Is Intensifying the Energy-Water Nexus
Decarbonization is posing a fundamental dilemma that could have widespread serious implications for the power sector: the clean energy transition, if not properly managed, could increase water stress, or be
-
Climate change
Follow the Money—Considering Climate in Energy Investment
Arguments continue about the impacts of climate change, but there’s little debate when it comes to where banks and other investors are putting their money. Shareholders and institutional investors are
-
Power
Australia Launches Gas Strategy to Revitalize Power Sector
In a bid to spur economic activity and thwart a COVID-19–related downturn, Australia’s government in September set out a strategy to reset domestic power and gas priorities to tamp down power prices and
-
News
Tesla, Mining Companies Look for Advancements in Lithium Technology
Advancements in battery technology are critical to continuing growth in the energy storage market, and energy industry analysts say those advancements also are needed to move e-mobility forward and combat
-
T&D
Understanding California’s Rolling Blackout Problem
In mid-August, the western U.S. experienced some of the most extreme heat it has encountered in recorded history. Temperatures in some locations were up to 20F above normal. During the hot spell, California
-
Fuel
JERA Planning to Shift Coal Power Fleet to 100% Ammonia
Japanese firm JERA, a joint venture between TEPCO and Chubu Electric, on Oct. 13 issued a roadmap to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. The move is notable for the company whose business includes a sizable
-
O&M
NETL: Meeting the Needs of the Nation’s Fossil Power Plant Fleet
Through programs such as Transformative Power Generation, High-Performance Materials, and Advanced Coal Processing, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is conducting research and development
-
O&M
How to Examine Generators with Visual Inspection Robots
Inspecting generators has always been a time-consuming and expensive job, yet one that needs to be done at regular intervals. An impressive new visual inspection robot can save owners many days of unnecessary
-
O&M
Safer and More Efficient Gas Turbine Coupling Maintenance
In the past, routine maintenance on the General Electric (GE) 7FA-class gas turbine coupling was time-consuming, costly, and presented unnecessary safety risks for service technicians and plant maintenance
-
Hydro
Understanding Open-Channel Flow Equations for Hydro Applications
Chezy and Manning developed equations that are used to determine the average volumetric flowrate in open channels. This article explains a laboratory method that was developed and tested to further identify
-
News
POWER Digest [November 2020]
UK Expands Offshore Wind Targets, Sets 1 GW Target for Floating Wind. The UK on Oct. 6 raised its target for offshore wind power capacity by 2030 from 30 GW to 40 GW. To help the nation meet its commitments
-
O&M
Advantages of AI-Powered Asset Management for Utilities
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have become major factors in nearly every industry, and have increasingly become more popular among utilities. Automated technology is being used to inspect
-
O&M
Finding a Security Solution for a Control Room
Control rooms are the nerve center of any power plant. Two recent control room upgrades at U.S. facilities highlight the logistical challenges and solutions to issues that come with improving an important
-
Legal & Regulatory
In Search of Middle Ground Between State Public Policy and Federal Regulation
The tension between state and federal lawmakers is ages old, with a history marked by periods of outright assault or relative peace. On Dec. 19, 2019, the quiet in the energy sector was broken by an order from
-
O&M
Equipment Showcase—November 2020
Pumps and pumping systems have multiple applications in power plants, and the valves and fittings involved with these pumps are key to their efficient and ongoing use. Pumps used in power generation facilities
-
Commentary
Smart Energy Communities Can Make Our Grid More Human-Centric
For nearly a century, the grid has been one, solid, hulking, inflexible machine. Now, with the rise of technologies like microgrids, distributed renewables, battery storage, and vehicle-to-grid applications, we can reimagine the grids that enclose our communities to be like those fictional spaceships.
-
Fuel
It’s Fair to Say – New Plant Brings Benefits to Pennsylvania
Competitive Power Ventures is known for building efficient and technologically advanced gas-fired facilities. The company’s Fairview Energy Center is its latest achievement, transforming a brownfield site
-
Top Plant
Promising Power Plant Plots Province’s Future
The once coal-heavy Canadian province of Saskatchewan wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its power generation sector, and a new combined cycle natural gas-fired plant is a key part of that effort
-
Offshore Wind
Global Offshore Wind Capacity Slated to Multiply Eight-Fold by 2030
Offshore wind capacity is slated to surge to more than 234 GW by 2030—a remarkable boost when compared to the current 29.1 GW that was installed worldwide at the end of 2019, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said in an August-released analysis of the sector. In the second edition of its Global Offshore Wind […]
-
Gas
THE BIG PICTURE [Infographic]: The LNG Trade Shakeup
In 2019, global liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports reached 482 billion cubic meters, up 13% from 2018, according to BloombergNEF figures cited in the International Gas Union’s August–released Global Gas Report 2020. Last year, the world also saw a definitive shakeup in rankings of importers and exporters. Compared to 2018, LNG imports by Japan and […]
-
Connected Plant
A Holistic Model for Industrial Gas Power: Dearborn Central Energy Plant
DTE’s new Central Energy Plant will energize a flexible and high-tech revamp of Ford Motor Co.’s Research and Engineering campus in Dearborn, Michigan. Because it goes beyond the envelope of modern
-
Fuel
The 470-MW Floating Powership That Buoyed Ghana
Karpowership’s 470-MW floating power plant deployed at two locations in Ghana demonstrated how robust an impact the innovative “plug-and-play” electricity delivery model can have on a power-hungry country’s economy and society.
-
Top Plant
Upgrades and Interconnection Make Gas-Fired Plant a Winner
The Termica Milazzo cogeneration combined cycle power plant completed an extensive upgrade and integration project with a nearby refinery in Sicily, Italy. The successful project, which spanned about three
-
Coal
Power Plant Decommissioning Tips to Save Time, Money, and Hassle
All power plants have a finite useful life. Thus, there will come a time at every facility when the unit must be retired and the decommissioning process undertaken. Decisions must be made on who will do the
-
T&D
Did You Know There Are 60,000 U.S. Citizens Who Lack Access to Electricity?
I think most people know that there are a lot of people around the world who don’t have access to electricity. The International Energy Agency has said the number is about 860 million with the majority of
-
Distributed Energy
Gearing Up for Grid Integration
The growing adoption of distributed energy resources presents another challenge for utilities and grid operators as they design and plan for how electricity is produced and delivered. The past few years have
-
Fuel
A High Energy Potential: Power-to-Heat
Though a lesser discussed power-to-x solution, power-to-heat technologies are already mature, commercially available, and market competitive. And they are already making an impact on the power sector. Much