POWER
-
Connected Plant
How to Prepare for NERC CIP-013-1
It’s an exciting era in energy generation. The rapid adoption of IT systems and networked technology has enabled new business models and catalyzed production decentralization. However, with innovation comes
-
Distributed Energy
Distributed Energy: A Burgeoning Market
It’s not particularly easy to find reliable and detailed statistics on the deployment of distributed energy systems. One reason is that a lot of distributed energy is installed behind-the-meter. As a result
-
News
Australia’s Victoria State Ramps Up Renewables
Victoria state in Australia continues to see dramatic growth in solar and wind power, as well as battery storage systems, as the region rapidly expands its power generation capacity, in large part to serve the
-
News
POWER Digest [December 2018]
Veolia Hungary Creates VPP Portfolio. Veolia Hungary in October acquired a 51% ownership share in CHP Eromu Kft., the first step in a process for Veolia to create a virtual power plant (VPP) portfolio. The
-
News
Spain Closing Mines in Transition Away from Coal
Coal from domestic mines provides just more than 2% of Spain’s electricity generation, as the country has increasingly moved away from coal-fired power toward renewable sources. The administration of new
-
News
Moroccan Molten Salt Tower Project Clears Reliability Test
A 10-day reliability test for the 150-MW Noor Ouarzazate III thermoelectric solar plant in Morocco has wrapped up, demonstrating that the project can provide continuous rated power even in the absence of
-
News
Novel Floating Power Plants on the Horizon
For decades, floating power plants have been used widely as a source of flexible, decentralized power generation for several reasons. Among them are that they can be built cost-effectively and rapidly; they
-
News
Eliminate Transient Vacuums by Air Injection
Most operators know that air should be kept out of a heat exchanger’s cooling water supply line. Air can collect in pockets and block flow, increasing velocities, increasing system resistance, decreasing
-
Commentary
Courts Back State Flexibility on Choice of Generation
Power regulation in the U.S. is split between the federal and state levels, with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) having jurisdiction over the wholesale sales of electricity and the states
-
News
Cleanup and Closure Projects on a Massive Scale
Thousands of workers are involved, and billions of dollars are being spent, as U.S. utilities convert and close dozens of coal ash impoundments in an effort to meet government regulations and prevent future
-
Environmental
The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Power Generation
For many years, air pollution control (APC) rules and regulations have governed the design and economics of the world’s power generation fleet. These rules have had a tremendous impact, improving air quality
-
News
A Legal Guide to Power Generation Mergers and Acquisitions
A myriad of issues come into play when parties execute power industry mergers and acquisitions. Part 2 of this two-part series looks at the issues involved with acquisition agreements, and some of the more
-
Connected Plant
Cyber Breaches: Is Fear Misplaced?
The power sector’s terror of a debilitating cybersecurity attack is magnified seemingly every day as new vulnerabilities or destructive threat actors are identified. But according to several industrial
-
Infographics
THE BIG PICTURE: Small Modular Reactors
Interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) has ramped up of late owing to applications in niche electricity or energy markets where large reactors would not be viable—such as for cogeneration in countries with small grids, remote and off-grid areas, and for nuclear/renewable hybrid projects. Modular attributes may also enable SMRs to target the economics of […]
-
Renewables
South Korea Adding Bio-Heavy Oil as Renewable Energy Resource
South Korean legislators in September passed a law allowing the use of bio-heavy oil to generate electricity. The law, expected to be implemented at the start of 2019, is designed to use the oil, made from
-
IIOT Power
How Digital Intelligence Can Be a Difference-Maker for Power Plants
Advanced technology now makes it possible for computers to do many of the monitoring and diagnostic tasks that used to require seasoned experts. Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools are being
-
O&M
Precision and Partnership Spur Innovations for Nuclear Project
Replacing two 40-year-old feedwater heaters at a plant of Oconee Nuclear Station’s size and age was fated to be a complicated project, but through meticulous modeling and planning, and seamless
-
O&M
Equipment Showcase: Valves, Piping, and Fittings
Proper valves, pipes, and fittings are important for successful operation of power generation facilities. This equipment includes products with versatile designs to establish effective joining and sealing
-
Renewables
China Sets a New Renewable Portfolio Standard
China in mid-September increased its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 35% of electricity consumption by 2030. The country has already heavily invested in wind and solar, and it anticipates more gains will
-
IIOT Power
Advanced Process Control for Optimizing Flue Gas Desulfurization
Coal-fired power plants can significantly improve wet limestone scrubbing with advanced process control. One optimization system implemented at a Japanese facility utilized enhanced regulatory control
-
Legal & Regulatory
A Legal Guide to Power Generation Mergers and Acquisitions
A myriad of issues come into play when parties execute power industry mergers and acquisitions. Part 1 of this two-part series examines what dealmakers need to know before making any transactions
-
Nuclear
Big Gains for Tiny Nuclear Reactors
As the hubbub of interest and activity surrounds development of small modular reactors (SMRs) hovering between 60 MW and 300 MW, and medium-sized nuclear reactors of under 700 MW, several nuclear technology
-
Renewables
New Zealand’s Largest Geothermal Plant Comes Online
New Zealand’s largest geothermal plant was synchronized to the country’s national grid in October. The project took just more than three years to complete. Eastland Group, a Gisborne, New Zealand-based
-
Nuclear
Takahama a Model for Japanese Nuclear Restarts
The challenges for Japan’s nuclear power industry have been many in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Returning units to commercial operation requires meeting new government safety standards, along with
-
O&M
Using Throttling Valves for Blowdown and Other Power Plant Applications
Understanding which valve to use in which application is essential to operate a steam power plant as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. For example, a critical step in steam power generation is
-
Commentary
Latest Carbon Fee Initiative May Succeed Where Others Have Failed
Washington state’s latest effort to fight climate change, Initiative 1631 (I-1631), is on the November ballot. With a broad coalition of support from business, environmental, and special interest groups
-
Renewables
POWER Digest [November 2018]
Ørsted Snaps Up Deepwater Wind in Major U.S. Offshore Wind Deal. Danish offshore wind farm developer Ørsted in October entered into an agreement with U.S.-based D.E. Shaw Group to buy a 100% equity interest
-
Coal
Advanced Coal Technologies Improve Emissions and Efficiency
New coal-fired generating plants are not showing up in the U.S. Elderly plants are retiring in large numbers. But other parts of the world continue to develop coal generation. Advances in combustion and
-
O&M
LiDAR Technology Mated with Wind Energy Quickly Becoming an Industry Standard
The profitability of a wind farm depends directly upon reducing uncertainty when wind resources are being assessed and when wind turbines are being fine-tuned. Project risks vary from site to site, depending
-
O&M
A Semi-Automated Metal Decontamination and Recycling Process
A semi-automated and patented process for decontaminating and recycling radioactively contaminated heat exchanger tubes has been successfully demonstrated at the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania