POWERnews
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Top Plant
2022 POWER Top Plant Award Winners
Coal-fired See our August 2022 issue for stories covering these plants: Osaki Cool Gen, Japan Shanghaimiao Power Plant, China Renewables See our September 2022 issue for stories covering these plants: Bighorn Solar Project, Colorado Boone Dam Hydro Project, Tennessee Energypark Haringvliet, Netherlands Harvey Milk SFO Terminal, California Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant, Iceland Western Spirit Wind, […]
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Best of POWER—October 31, 2022
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store October 31, 2022 U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing May Be Making a Comeback—Here’s Why The Department of Energy (DOE) has ramped up efforts to explore recycling spent nuclear fuel (SNF), or used nuclear fuel (UNF), from the nation’s fleet of light water […]
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Nuclear
Poland Picks Westinghouse to Build Country’s First Nuclear Reactors
Poland continues to move forward with its plan to deploy nuclear power, choosing U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. to build the country’s first large-scale nuclear power plant. The decision, announced late Oct. 28 by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, is seen as a move by Poland to strengthen its relationship with the U.S. and continue moving […]
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Instrumentation & Controls
How Utilities Can Solve ‘Time of Use’ Rate Rollout Puzzle in Just Three Steps
In a constantly plugged-in world, people rely on always available and uninterrupted electricity, now more than ever. While the electric industry has invested significantly to meet customers’ demand on the grid, utilities increasingly turn to their customers to provide reliable, cost-effective grid services with customer-sited distributed energy resources (DERs) like energy storage and demand response. […]
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POWERnews—Oct. 27, 2022
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store October 27, 2022 Southern Company Cuts Its Cost Forecast for Vogtle Expansion, Provides Update on Project In its third quarter 2022 earnings call presentation, Southern Company reduced its “Total project capital cost forecast” for Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to $10.383 billion […]
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Coal
PacifiCorp, TerraPower Evaluating Deployment of Up to Five Additional Natrium Advanced Reactors
Regulated utility PacifiCorp has launched a joint study with nuclear technology firm TerraPower to evaluate the feasibility of deploying up to five additional Natrium pool-type sodium fast reactors (SFRs) and integrated energy storage systems at retired coal plant sites in the utility’s service territory by 2035. The joint study “will evaluate, among other things, the […]
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Power
Southern Company Cuts Its Cost Forecast for Vogtle Expansion, Provides Update on Project
In its third quarter 2022 earnings call presentation, Southern Company reduced its “Total project capital cost forecast” for Vogtle Units 3 and 4 to $10.383 billion from $10.453 billion, which is what it had reported in the company’s second quarter 2022 earnings call presentation. The company’s cost estimate reduction doesn’t mean that total project costs […]
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Nuclear
Nuclear Fuel Facility Unveiled for Natrium Fast Reactor Demonstration
A fuel fabrication facility that will create reliable fuel for TerraPower and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s (GEH’s) 345-MWe Natrium pool-type sodium fast reactor (SFR) demonstration in Wyoming and future Natrium nuclear plants is taking shape at Global Nuclear Fuel–Americas’ (GNF-A’s) nuclear fuel fabrication plant in Wilmington, North Carolina. GNF-A, a 2007-established GE-led joint venture with […]
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Trends
U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing May Be Making a Comeback—Here’s Why
The Department of Energy (DOE) has ramped up efforts to explore recycling spent nuclear fuel (SNF), or used nuclear fuel (UNF), from the nation’s fleet of light water reactors (LWRs), doling out $38 million in federal awards to a dozen projects on Oct. 21. Teams will receive funding under the DOE’s March 2022–launched “Converting UNF […]
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Commentary
Stronger Cybersecurity Key to Utility Infrastructure
Cybersecurity risks can occur daily, taking multiple forms. While there are personal measures that the general population can do to eliminate some of these risks, power utility companies must take a more aggressive approach to keep the communities they serve safe and their security unquestioned. COMMENTARY Should a power utility company face a cyberattack, it […]
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Renewables
Investment Bank ‘Mobilizing’ up to $115 Billion for Renewables, Energy Storage and More in EU
The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) said it will support an initial investment of €30 billion ($30.2 billion) in loans and equity financing to move the European Union (EU) away from fossil fuels and toward cleaner forms of energy over the next five years. The EIB board of directors on Oct. 26 said a […]
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Nuclear
Canada Bank Group Pledges Millions Toward Nuclear Power Project
The Canadian government has pledged more financing toward development of a grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR), as the country continues to support nuclear power as a way to cut emissions of greenhouse gases from its power generation sector. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Oct. 25 said C$970 million ($708 million) is targeted for a […]
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Management
A Pillar in the Community and Collaborator Around the World: DLC Powers Pittsburgh
The Duquesne Light Co. (DLC) may not be among the best-known electric power companies in the U.S., but for its customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, the company has been a steady presence in the community for more than a century. “We are a Pittsburgh-based utility company. We’ve been in operation for […]
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POWERnews—Oct. 20, 2022
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store October 20, 2022 U.S. Announces First Sale of Rights for California Offshore Wind Development The U.S. government has announced the first-ever sale of offshore wind development rights off the California coast. The Dept. of Interior (DOI) on Oct. 18 said it would […]
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Trends
Blue Ammonia Production Efforts for Fuel Supply, Exports in High Gear Along U.S. Gulf Coast
Energy giants Chevron and Uniper are pairing with chemical technology companies Air Liquide and LyondellBasell to explore a hydrogen and ammonia production facility along the U.S. Gulf Coast that could support industrial decarbonization and mobility applications in the region and expand clean ammonia exports. The companies, in a joint statement on Oct. 19, said they […]
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Power
Inflation Reduction Act: Increased Electrification and Resulting Utility Implications
While the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides steps in the right direction by expanding renewable energy development and electrification incentives, it may also lead to a worsening duck curve and a larger proportion of variable power sources in the generation mix—putting significant pressure on utilities’ ability to maintain reliability. U.S. utilities need to be proactive […]
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Energy Security
Shift to Specialty Fuels—A Driving Force to Build Supply Chain Resilience
Geopolitical tension, ongoing energy crisis, supply chain disruption, and destructive climate change effects have been altering energy needs and sourcing requirements. Global companies have been transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to specialty fossil fuels, such as industrial heating oil (IHO) and CO2-as-Energy. In addition to cost savings (25% to 30%), they offer relatively high heat […]
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Power
How Satellite Connectivity Can Improve Visibility and Communication Throughout the Energy Sector
Amid an industry-wide labor shortage and global supply chain disruptions, the energy sector is under immense pressure to increase production. These issues, in addition to geopolitical tensions, are deeply complex and cannot be addressed on an individual scale. In addition, the energy industry faces major challenges pertaining to communication given that the workforce and equipment […]
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Commentary
Investing Green: Driving a Higher ROI through the Green Hydrogen Boom and Wasted Energy
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest clean energy investment by the federal government in U.S. history. The passing of this $430 billion bill shows that the American government recognizes it is time for businesses to make crucial, sustainable changes in order to combat global warming. This historic bill further demonstrates that […]
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O&M
Ukraine Grid Operator Issues Call for Help, Needs Equipment to Keep Lights On
DTEK, a diversified energy company that generates and distributes electricity in Ukraine, issued a call to “Western partners” for the immediate supply of various pieces of electrical equipment to restore power in its service territory. Russian missile attacks on DTEK energy facilities on Oct. 18 killed at least one employee and injured at least seven […]
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Offshore Wind
U.S. Announces First Sale of Rights for California Offshore Wind Development
The U.S. government has announced the first-ever sale of offshore wind development rights off the California coast. The Dept. of Interior (DOI) on Oct. 18 said it would hold the event on Dec. 6, in an effort to spur industry growth in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The agency said the sale will include […]
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Solar
Evolving Extreme Weather Risks Posing Unprecedented Insurance Woes for Renewables
Unexpectedly steep financial losses suffered by the U.S. renewables market owing to a barrage of extreme weather events over the past summer suggest that project hardening strategies aren’t going far enough, a major renewables insurer is warning. GCube, an international insurer for wind, solar, wave, hydro, and tidal projects around the world in an update […]
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Best of POWER—October 17, 2022
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store October 17, 2022 Carbon Capture Begins at India’s Largest Coal Power Plant India’s largest coal-fired power plant, NTPC’s 4.8-GW Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station, has begun capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from plant flue gas as part of a foundational project to explore… […]
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Waste to Energy
BP Buying Leading RNG Production Group in $4.1 Billion Deal
British oil major BP is continuing to diversify its energy portfolio, announcing a deal to acquire a company considered an industry leader in production of renewable natural gas (RNG). BP on Oct. 17 said it was buying Houston, Texas-based Archaea Energy for $3.3 billion in cash, or $26 a share, along with $800 million for […]
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POWERnews—Oct. 13, 2022
POWER Magazine Jobs White Papers Webinars Events Store October 13, 2022 Nuclear Giant Westinghouse Acquired by Renewable Power Company and Uranium Fuel Supplier A consortium comprised of Brookfield Renewable Partners, together with its institutional partners, and Cameco Corp. announced on Oct. 11 an agreement to acquire Westinghouse Electric Co. from […]
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Nuclear
Canada’s OPG and Czech Republic’s ČEZ Partner to Advance SMR and Other Nuclear Technology
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Czech Republic-based ČEZ are collaborating to advance deployment of nuclear technology, including small modular reactors (SMRs). The companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Oct. 11, with an aim to “reduce financial, technical and schedule risk to both parties on their respective future projects.” OPG is Ontario’s […]
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Power
China Will Add Two More AP1000 Nuclear Reactors
China’s State Council has approved two AP1000 nuclear reactor units for State Power Investment Corp.’s (SPIC’s) Lianjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, reactor technology supplier Westinghouse said on Oct. 12. If built, the units will become ninth and tenth reactors based on Westinghouse’s Generation III+ advanced reactor technology in China. Four AP1000 units are […]
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Offshore Wind
New Report Says ‘Historic Expansion’ Coming for U.S. Offshore Wind
A new report from a business group that supports development of U.S. offshore wind projects details several factors that it says will contribute to a “historic expansion” of the technology over the next several years. The Business Network for Offshore Wind’s inaugural “Offshore Wind Quarterly Market Report,” released Oct. 13, highlights how recent government actions […]
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Nuclear
Nuclear Giant Westinghouse Acquired by Renewable Power Company and Uranium Fuel Supplier
A consortium comprised of Brookfield Renewable Partners, together with its institutional partners, and Cameco Corp. announced on Oct. 11 an agreement to acquire Westinghouse Electric Co. from Brookfield Business Partners (BBU). The deal has a total enterprise value of about $8 billion, including proceeds from the disposition of a non-core asset expected to be received […]
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Hydro
Massive Projects Move Forward as Groups Celebrate Global Hydropower Day
A new 16-GW hydropower project in China and a 9-GW plant in Indonesia are among several projects being highlighted as part of Global Hydropower Day, being celebrated Oct. 11 as the hydro sector notes the importance of the technology to the world’s power generation. The Baihetan Hydropower Station in China is being developed by Jinsha […]