natural gas

  • POWER Digest [May 2021]

    Uzbekistan Wind Farm Project Expanding. Masdar, a global renewable energy company, has signed an agreement with Uzbekistan’s government to extend the capacity of its utility-scale wind farm project in the

  • $8 Billion Proposals Could Bring New Gas-Fired Plants to Texas

    An energy investment group told Texas regulators the company has a plan to help solve some of that state’s electricity reliability issues, proposing a plan similar to one put forth by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy in March. Starwood Energy Group on April 23 sent the state’s Public Utility Commission a proposal to build […]

  • More Coal Cuts—AEP, Mississippi Power Detail Closures

    American Electric Power (AEP), which in 2019 reached an agreement to close Unit 1 of the two-unit, 2.6-GW coal-fired Rockport power plant in Indiana, has now announced a plan to close Unit 2 of the facility. Both units at Rockport are now expected to be shuttered by year-end 2028. AEP, the parent of Indiana Michigan […]

  • India Cites ‘Cheaper’ Coal in Planning New Units

    A draft copy of a document outlining India’s latest National Electricity Policy (NEP) reportedly shows the country is considering building new coal-fired generation capacity, even as it sets new carbon reduction targets. The document also said government officials would push for better technology to help reduce emissions from those plants. Reuters on April 19 reported […]

  • How Natural Gas Utilities Play a Role in the Future of Our Energy System

    With a global pandemic and unprecedented extreme weather, we have seen how essential our energy delivery system is to our way of life. Through collaboration and innovation, we will make the system more resilient and fulfill our commitment to reducing emissions. American Gas Association members are already leading in these areas—providing customers with reliable and […]

  • The Natural Gas Flame Continues to Burn Bright

    The natural gas sector is well aware of the challenges facing the fossil fuel industry, but analysts say gas has attributes that will keep it a big part of the U.S. and global energy mix. Natural gas has moved

  • Key Pre-Demolition Considerations for Fossil Fuel Power Plants

    As the existing electric generation infrastructure matures, electric generation system owners are looking to the future for newer and greener technologies to meet the demands of electric consumption. An important part of this future perspective may include the demolition and removal of older generation plants and facilities to free up land resources for new development.  Prior […]

  • Siemens Energy to supply technology for new power plant expansion project in China

    MARCH 18, 2021 — Siemens Energy has been selected by Shenzhen Energy Corporation in China to supply two 460MW F-class gas turbine power islands for Phase Two of the Corporation’s Fengda power plant natural gas power generation expansion project. The order marks another milestone resulting from the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement signed by the two […]

  • All Fuels Are Important, but Thermal Power Generation Is Still Number 1

    COMMENTARY Throughout my career—and also POWER magazine’s long history—thermal power generation has been the greatest source of dispatchable electricity generation. In my view, policymakers have run a very good and smooth evolution of power generation diversity off the rails. The Biden Administration and Democrat Congress policies constitute an anti-American war on carbon. These policies, if […]

  • Colorado Energy Organizations Launch First-of-its-Kind Responsibly Sourced Natural Gas Partnership

    DENVER, Colorado (March 11, 2021) — A Colorado natural gas producer, an infrastructure operator and local municipal utility have entered into a first-of-its-kind Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG) pilot project with Project Canary, a Denver-based B-Corp focused on providing continuous emissions monitoring data and technologies across the energy sector. The unique wellhead to burner-tip RSG pilot extends across the […]

  • Japan Plant Adding New Gas-Fired Units in Massive Project

    JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, has submitted a scoping document to begin assessing the environmental impact of its plan to add two gas-fired units at the Chita Thermal Power Station, while decommissioning five existing units at the facility. The company filed the report with government officials on March 16, with a 30-day public comment […]

  • Siemens Energy’s gas turbine technology to support cleaner, more efficient energy production on island of Cyprus

    MARCH 9, 2021 — As the Republic of Cyprus eyes a system of cleaner, more efficient and less costly energy production, Cyfield Construction Ltd., one of the leading construction companies in Cyprus, and Siemens Energy are working together to support the island’s much-anticipated transition toward decarbonization moving from expensive, environmentally unfriendly heavy fuel oil to […]

  • Texas PUC Chair Resigns as Outage Probe Continues

    The chairwoman of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas has resigned, stepping down after the state’s lieutenant governor earlier on March 1 called for her resignation, along with that of the CEO of the state’s power grid operator. DeAnn Walker, the PUC chair, in her resignation letter Monday to Gov. Greg Abbott, defended her […]

  • Siemens Studies Hydrogen Production, Storage at Utah Plant

    Siemens Energy said it is joining with a power generation cooperative on a plan to integrate hydrogen production and storage at a Utah power plant. Siemens on March 1 said it has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support a conceptual design study, which is set to begin […]

  • Great Winter Storm of 2021 Will Live in Grid History

    It will be some time before we know every detail that aligned to cause the tremendous number of sustained power outages in Texas, or the spiking power prices across all markets in the central states. Some things we do know. Some natural gas supply was frozen in. Some wind turbines froze up, and ice damaged some […]

  • GE Gas Turbines Will Replace Coal at Colorado Plant

    The plan to retire the last coal-fired units at a power plant in Colorado has moved a step closer to completion, with the announcement that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has chosen General Electric (GE) technology to keep the plant operating at least temporarily as a gas-fired facility. GE on Feb. 10 announced that six of […]

  • NTE Energy to develop 5 GW of clean energy projects; nationwide portfolio to include solar, BESS assets

    SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla., Feb. 9, 2021 – NTE Energy plans to develop more than 5 GW of clean energy projects in the next five years, the company announced today. NTE is currently working with investment partners to advance development of a clean energy project pipeline that includes 1.2 GW of solar and 3.9 GW of […]

  • The Biden Administration Can Help Set American Energy on a Winning Course

    The 46th president of the United States has officially been sworn in. During his inauguration address President Joe Biden spoke of unity, empathy, and the challenges Americans must face together. Challenges indeed abound for Biden’s incoming environmental and energy team, including New Mexico congresswoman Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm as […]

  • Biden’s Orders Focus on Climate, Emissions

    President Biden has signed executive orders designed to move the U.S. to carbon neutrality by midcentury, part of a $2 trillion plan that would overhaul the nation’s electricity and transportation sectors. The president’s plan, outlined Jan. 27, focuses on climate change and includes a White House task force that would direct policies on greenhouse gas […]

  • Competitive Power Ventures Announces Closure of Acquisition by OPC Energy

    Silver Spring, MD (Jan. 25, 2021) – Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) today announced that its acquisition by OPC Energy (OPC) received regulatory approval and has closed. The Israeli company, partnered with three Israeli institutional investors, agreed in October to acquire 100 percent of  CPV from Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), and now fully owns CPV’s operating […]

  • Ethane-Fueled Plant Planned for North Dakota

    A natural gas exploration company working in the Bakken Shale has announced plans to build a $400 million power plant in North Dakota that would run on ethane. Bakken Midstream Natural Gas (BMNG) on Jan. 12 said it hopes to begin construction of the Williston Basin Energy Center in 2022. The company in a news […]

  • Big New Gas-Fired Plant Enters Commercial Operation in Texas

    The Montgomery County Power Station, a two-unit 993-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle plant, achieved commercial operation on Jan. 1, Entergy Texas Inc. and McDermott International Ltd. reported on Jan. 13. The plant—located at Entergy’s existing Lewis Creek site near Willis, Texas, about 50 miles north of Houston—was reportedly brought online “well ahead of schedule,” according […]

  • Montgomery County Gas-Fired Power Station Begins Commercial Operation

    HOUSTON, Jan. 13, 2021 — McDermott International, Ltd today announced the beginning of commercial operation of the Montgomery County Power Station, a combined-cycle gas power station in Willis, Texas, owned by Entergy Texas, Inc. “Congratulations to Project Director Drew German and the entire team on the Montgomery County Power Station project for bringing it in […]

  • The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Renewable Energy Growth Continues

    Wind and solar power capacity and generation have been growing steadily for years, as efforts to halt climate change and a desire for clean energy have gained public support around the world. As renewable

  • 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

  • Iran, Siemens Bring First of Several New Gas-Fired Plants Online

    An official with Iran’s Thermal Power Plants Holding Co. (TPPH) said the country’s first government-owned F-class power plant has entered operation, part of Iran’s continuing plan to add more natural gas-fired power generation. The plant is located in Iran’s southern Hormozgan Province, which is across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman from Oman and […]

  • 12 Big Power Stories You May Have Missed in 2020

    With COVID-19 filling the news throughout 2020, it’s very likely you missed some of the most important developments that occurred in the power sector this year. Here’s a look at some of the highlights and big stories covered by the POWER staff this year. MOX Nuclear Fuel Loaded In January, Russian engineers announced the loading […]

  • SaskPower Names Burns & McDonnell as EPC Contractor for Great Plains Power Station

    Construction Expected to Begin in 2021 for New 350-MW Combined-Cycle Facility KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Nov. 24, 2020) – SaskPower has selected Burns & McDonnell as the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor for the new Great Plains Power Station. The new power facility will utilize highly efficient combined-cycle technology and clean-burning natural gas to provide up to 350 […]

  • Siemens, Toshiba Pulling Out of Coal-Fired Generation

    Toshiba Corp. and Siemens Energy are the latest major power industry companies to move away from coal. Toshiba on Nov. 11 announced it will stop taking new construction orders for coal-fired power plants, and Siemens on Nov. 10 said it will stop selling turbines for new coal-fired facilities. The two energy giants join General Electric […]

  • IEA: Renewables Will Lead Global Generation in 2025

    The world’s power generation is about to become even more green, according to a new publication from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The group on Nov. 10 published its “Renewables 2020″ report, and highlighted how generation capacity from both wind and solar will double across the next five years and surpass global generation from both […]