POWERnews

  • Ausgrid’s Bold Plan to Break Grid Monopoly Boundaries with Community Power Network

    Ausgrid, the state-owned electricity distributor serving 1.8 million customers across Sydney and beyond, has proposed a “Community Power Network” (CPN) that could upend a century-old regulatory boundary by

  • Salt River Project, Emerson Complete Hydropower Modernization Project

    Industrial technology group Emerson said the company has completed a multi-year modernization project at four hydroelectric dams along the Salt River in Arizona. The upgrades, announced September 30, are at Salt River Project (SRP) facilities with combined generation capacity of 265 MW.

  • GridBeyond Launches ViewPoint Lens, Supporting Asset Visibility and Control

    Smart energy company GridBeyond has announced the launch of ViewPoint Lens, an innovative new feature within its flagship platform Point. Designed to offer users deeper visibility and control, ViewPoint Lens provides customers with data on each of their assets on how they perform during demand response events, and the revenues they generate from program participation.

  • Igniting Fusion: The Key to Closing Our Energy Gap and Powering the Future

    Fusion is the only technology that can deliver continuous, dispatchable power 24/7/365. Not only is fusion clean, sustainable, and cost-effective, but fusion plants can also be built into existing urban and industrial locations, plugging directly into today’s grid, significantly lowering development time and deployment costs.

  • PG&E Will Upgrade Infrastructure as Part of 5-Year, $73-Billion Investment Plan

    California utility PG&E announced a $73-billion capital expenditure plan covering the next five years, with investments targeting infrastructure upgrades to support growing demand for electricity in its territory, particularly from data centers.

  • Young Americans Are the Future of Energy—It’s Time to Unleash Them

    Throughout the first nine months of the Trump Administration, “energy dominance” has been the agenda. To win the artificial intelligence (AI) race, ensure energy reliability for Americans, and beat China on the world stage, we need more energy – period. But we can’t do it without America’s young people. Fortunately, it’s a dynamic time to get […]

  • Russian Nuclear Group Inks $25-Billion Deal to Build Nuclear Power Plants in Iran

    The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said Iranian officials have signed an agreement with Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company, to build at least four nuclear power plants in Iran. The $25-billion deal announced September 26 comes two days after Rosatom said officials said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to advance construction of nuclear power technology in Iran.

  • How EL Testing Is Transforming Solar Panel Damage Assessment

    The global solar boom has introduced a new urgency around asset durability, performance, and risk. As utility-scale solar farms become more common, so do the invisible defects that compromise long-term generation and reliability. While traditional visual and infrared (IR) inspections are still a common practice, a more advanced diagnostic method is emerging as an invaluable […]

  • Energy Storage Market Has Record Quarterly Deployments

    A new report from the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie shows the U.S. energy storage market set a record for quarterly growth in April through June of this year. The latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor from the groups reports 5.6 GW of installations during the second quarter of 2025.

  • Hybrid Microgrid Combines Hydrogen Fuel Cells with Battery Storage

    A Switzerland-based energy storage group with U.S. headquarters in California has joined with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to deploy a hybrid microgrid energy project in Calistoga, California.

  • LandBridge and NRG Strike 1.1-GW Gas-Fired Deal to Power Delaware Basin Data Center in Texas

    LandBridge Co., a Permian-focused land and infrastructure firm with 277,000 surface acres in the Delaware sub-region in Texas, and NRG Energy, one of the U.S.’s largest independent power producers, have inked a strategic agreement for a potential 1,100 MW natural gas–fired generation facility in Reeves County, Texas, to power a hyperscale data center. The agreement, […]

  • Highview Power’s Two UK LAES Projects Advance in Ofgem’s Cap and Floor Scheme

    Ofgem, the UK’s energy markets regulator, has deemed Highview Power’s proposed 3.2-GWh liquid air energy storage facilities at Hunterston and Killingholme eligible under its cap-and-floor regime, advancing them toward a final decision in Q2 2026. Alongside the 300-MWh Carrington project under development near Manchester, Highview’s portfolio is poised to provide more than 7 GWh of […]

  • Japan’s First SOEC Hydrogen Demonstration Launched at Thermal Power Plant

    Japanese utility giant JERA and automotive technology firm DENSO have begun Japan’s first demonstration of hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) systems at JERA’s Shin-Nagoya Thermal Power Station in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, a 3,058 MW combined-cycle LNG facility. The demonstration tests 200-kW SOEC water electrolysis systems developed by DENSO with the key aim […]

  • U.S.–UK Nuclear Partnership Spurs Historic Wave of Fuel, SMR, and EPC Deals—Here’s the Rundown

    The most significant week in transatlantic nuclear cooperation since the 1950s atomic partnership unfolded Sept. 14–24, 2025, as a coordinated surge of commercial agreements—totaling over $100 billion—spanned advanced reactor deployments, advanced nuclear fuel supply chains, nuclear waste management, maritime nuclear applications, engineering services, and regulatory harmonization. Formalized under the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy […]

  • Powering AI: From CERA Week Optimism to New York Climate Week Realism

    This week, the energy world convenes in New York for the United Nations Climate Week. The gathering will encompass the most vital sectors of the U.S. economy at present—technology firms and utilities will be well-represented, along with a host of consultants, suppliers, experts, and academics, who consistently attend these events. UN Climate Week mirrors another […]

  • Oklo Breaks Ground on INL Nuclear Fast Reactor Project, Launches Private Fuel Recycling Facility

    Advanced nuclear technology firm Oklo has broken ground on its inaugural 75-MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor at an Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. The project—one of three awarded to the company under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) newly established Reactor Pilot Program—is targeting operations between late 2027 and early 2028, though that timeline is contingent on […]

  • POWERnews—Sept. 18, 2025

    POWER Magazine   Jobs   White Papers  Webinars   Events   Store   September 18, 2025 FERC Acts on Four Reliability Standards, Probes AI and Data Center Load Forecasting The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Sept. 18 advanced four reliability measures for the U.S. bulk power system (BPS), formalizing frameworks around supply chain risk, […]

  • FERC Acts on Four Reliability Standards, Probes AI and Data Center Load Forecasting

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Sept. 18 advanced four reliability measures for the U.S. bulk power system (BPS), formalizing frameworks around supply chain risk, cloud computing and virtual infrastructure, cybersecurity, and extreme cold weather preparedness. The commission finalized a new supply chain risk management rule—effective in 60 days—that expands protections against vulnerabilities stemming […]

  • Laser Wireless Power Transmission Breakthrough Could Transform Remote Energy Delivery

    NTT Inc. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) conducted an optical wireless power transmission experiment using a laser beam to wirelessly transmit energy over a distance of one kilometer. By irradiating a laser beam with an optical power of 1 kW, the team succeeded in receiving 152 W of electric power. This marks the world’s […]

  • Energy Startups Receive Funding from Wells Fargo Technology Program

    The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), a $55-million energy technology program funded by Wells Fargo & Company and co-administered by NREL, the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has announced the selection of three startups for its next cohort in the Emerging Tech track. This cohort focuses on enhancing resiliency in the built environment through innovative technologies that strengthen building operations, heating and cooling systems, and grid reliability.

  • Soluna Breaks Ground on 166-MW Texas Wind-Powered Data Center for Crypto and AI

    Soluna Holdings, a developer of data centers powered by renewables, is set to break ground on Project Kati, a 166-MW wind-powered data center campus poised to support Bitcoin hosting and the rapidly growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. The project, a partnership with EDF Renewables, Masdar, and Spring Lane Capital, […]

  • Energy Developer GridStor Acquires Major BESS Project in Arizona

    An Oregon-headquartered developer and operator of utility-scale battery energy storage systems said it has acquired a major project in Arizona that will serve customers of Arizona Public Service (APS). GridStor announced the acquisition of the 100-MW/400-MWh White Tank battery storage project from Strata Clean Energy, a solar power and energy storage developer based in Durham, North Carolina.

  • Tracks Moving Turbines: Delivering Clean Energy to North Carolina

    Transporting freight for the energy industry that weighs as much as a house and stretches longer than a city block leaves no room for error. Energy freight shipments, which are often referred to as specialized or dimensional freight, are usually oversized, overweight, and frequently irreplaceable loads that are essential to powering industries and communities. For […]

  • Blackstone Acquires Gas-Fired Plant in Pennsylvania in $1 Billion Deal

    Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, said its energy-focused private equity business has a deal to buy the 620-MW natural gas-fired Hill Top Energy Center in Pennsylvania. The agreement announced September 15 will see Blackstone Energy Transition Partners acquire the power station from Ardian, a global private investment firm. Blackstone officials said the purchase […]

  • Catalyze Adds Four New Community Solar Projects in New York

    Catalyze, an independent power producer and fully integrated developer of distributed renewable energy assets, said it has completed four community solar projects in central and western New York. The company said the installations were developed in partnership with CS Energy, a renewable energy company that develops, designs, and builds optimized solar, and energy storage. The […]

  • Chinese Officials Look at Converting Old Coal Plants to Nuclear Power Stations

    A Chinese state-owned energy infrastructure group has proposed a decarbonization plan that would increase the country’s use of nuclear power. The China Energy Engineering Group Co. (CEEC) is studying ways to convert retiring coal-fired power facilities into nuclear power plants, according to recent research reports.

  • Framatome Will Maintain, Modernize Bulgarian Nuclear Plant

    Framatome has signed a contract for the maintenance and modernization of electrical systems at the two VVER-1000 reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. The maintenance work will be coordinated by Framatome EOOD, the Bulgarian subsidiary of Framatome.

  • Voith Completes Second Turbine Upgrade at New Zealand Hydropower Station

    A global technology company focused on the hydropower sector has completed another turbine upgrade at the Roxburgh Hydropower Station in New Zealand.

  • Enel Signs Company’s Largest-Ever PPA; Full Output from Three Texas Solar Farms

    Enel North America and Mars—a pet care, snacking and food company—announced the groups have completed a major power purchase agreement (PPA) transaction involving the full output of three solar plants in Texas. The deals represent Enel’s largest corporate PPA transaction worldwide. Combined, the agreements represent 851 MWac and are expected to yield 1.8 TWh of […]

  • Wildfires and Outages: How AI Can Fix Utility Vegetation Management

    Vegetation is a much-needed part of the natural world and is essential for life to thrive on Earth. Yet, when unmanaged, it’s also one of the greatest threats to the grid and a leading culprit for causing outages. Fallen branches topple powerlines, roots damage underground cables, and overgrown trees close to energized wires are known […]