POWER Magazine

Last Energy, a U.S.-based micro modular nuclear technology firm and project developer, has secured power purchase agreements (PPAs) for 34 PWR-20 small modular reactor (SMR) units with four industrial partners in the UK and Poland. The deals, which represent a combined $18.9 in power sales, mark “the largest pipeline of new nuclear power plants under […]The post Last Energy Secures PPAs for 34 SMR Nuclear Power Plants in Poland and the UK appeared first on POWER Magazine.

When you study the history of hydropower, you expect to learn about people like British-American engineer James Francis, who developed the first modern hydro turbine in 1849. A testament to his genius is that the Francis turbine continues to be the most widely used water turbine in the world today. Or you assume American inventor […]The post Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and FDR: Big Players in U.S. Hydropower History appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Japan’s largest power generation group is moving into renewable energy in a big way, agreeing to a deal to buy Belgium’s biggest player in offshore wind. JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power, on March 22 said it has a definitive agreement with Belgium’s Virya Energy to […]The post Japan’s JERA Buying Offshore Wind Developer in $1.7 Billion Deal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The first of two 300-MW units being built as part of the expansion of a coal-fired generating station in Zimbabwe has come online. The Zimbabwe Power Co. (ZPC) said the unit began sending electricity to the national grid late on March 20. ZPC in a statement said, “Power will be progressively fed into the grid […]The post New Coal-Fired Unit Operating at Zimbabwe’s Largest Thermal Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An Italy-based renewable energy group said it will develop three floating offshore wind projects over the next several years that will provide about 2 GW of power generation capacity to the country. GreenIT, a joint venture between Plenitude and CDP Equity, part of CDP Group, on March 22 announced an agreement for design and construction […]The post Group Outlines Plan for Three Italian Offshore Wind Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Georgia Power announced that hot functional testing for Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear power plant has begun, as the utility moves closer to bringing both reactors of the two-unit expansion at the facility online. Hot functional testing marks the last series of major tests for Unit 4 prior to the initial loading of fuel […]The post Hot Functional Testing Begins on Unit 4 at Vogtle Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A new 840-MW natural gas-fired power plant in Greece will use equipment from General Electric (GE), with GE also providing services for the facility that is expected to come online in 2026. GE on March 20 announced the plant in Alexandroupolis will feature a 9HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, and a W88 generator. […]The post GE Will Supply Turbine and More for New Gas-Fired Plant in Greece appeared first on POWER Magazine.

El Salvador is taking steps to add nuclear power to the country’s energy mix, as the nation of about 6.5 million people looks to diversify its electric power generation fleet. In support of that effort, the government of El Salvador and the Thorium Energy Alliance, a Harvard, Illinois–based non-profit advocacy group that endorses thorium-fueled reactors, […]The post El Salvador Sets Sights on Joining the ‘Nuclear Power Club’ appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Sampling is a technique in which samples are drawn at random (without any favor or bias). For this, suitable measures or procedures may be laid down and adopted according to the nature and configuration of parts under inspection for ensuring complete randomness in sample selection. The term sample implies a subset chosen from the population. […]The post Sampling Procedures for Inspection and Sampling Plans for Lot Inspection Using ISO 2859 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

For water and energy providers, consistent customer engagement has become a critical aspect of daily operations and overall success. Why? Modern convenience and technology have dramatically altered the expectations of today’s consumers. The silent energy provider is an antiquated concept, and modern customers expect more from their utility companies. They demand the same speed and […]The post Customer Engagement and Infrastructure Projects: The Missing Link appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The global market for energy storage is experiencing rapid growth, in part because the technology is being included in decarbonization and sustainability programs. It also is being used to support the grid integration of more renewable energy resources, and has been touted as an important piece of electricity transmission and distribution system upgrades. Enertis Applus+, […]The post The POWER Interview: Challenges for the Energy Storage Market appeared first on POWER Magazine.

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s (GEH’s) BWRX-300 design has cleared the first two phases of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Vendor Design Review (VDR) process, marking a first for a small modular reactor (SMR). The Canadian nuclear regulator’s VDR process is an optional pre-licensing mechanism that allows CNSC staff to give applicants feedback early in the […]The post BWRX-300 Becomes First SMR to Clear Two Phases of Canadian Nuclear Design Review appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Microgrids are localized power grids that can be disconnected from the traditional grid to operate autonomously. Because they are able to operate while the main grid is down, microgrids can strengthen resilience and help prevent grid disturbances. They also function as a reliable resource for faster system response and recovery. Microgrids enable the integration of […]The post Microgrids Provide Reliable Power During Emergencies and Help Decarbonize the Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Nevada utility NV Energy is ready to add two natural gas-fired units to the existing Silverhawk Generating Station as part of the group’s plan to increase the state’s energy supply during the hottest months of the year. The $353 million project, the first phase of an $827 million plan the utility filed with state regulators […]The post NV Energy Adding Two Gas-Fired Units Near Las Vegas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 15 issued the final “Good Neighbor Plan,” its latest iteration of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) that could require coal, oil, or gas steam power plants in 22 states to reduce their nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions levels by 50% by 2027 compared to the 2021 ozone season. […]The post EPA Projects Final ‘Good Neighbor Plan’ Will Result in 14 GW of Coal Retirements appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Enel Group and nuclear technology company newcleo signed an agreement under which they will work together on Generation-IV (Gen-IV) nuclear technology projects. Under the deal, Enel will collaborate with newcleo by providing “specialized expertise” through the sharing of “a number of the company’s qualified personnel.” newcleo, for its part, will secure an option for […]The post Enel and Newcleo Agree to Partner on New Gen-IV Small Modular Reactors appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The global competition to build ever-larger offshore wind turbines continues to ramp up, with General Electric (GE) announcing the company’s renewable energy arm is developing a 17- to 18-MW model that could rival those currently being launched by Chinese groups. “Now we are getting a very positive reception from the market with our 17-MW to […]The post GE Developing 18-MW Offshore Wind Turbine appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The solar power industry seems to be caught in the crosshairs of competing legislative agendas. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created incentives to increase solar capacity via tax credits, but the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) limits the effectiveness of those credits by restricting the importation of any goods that were mined, produced, […]The post Solar Energy Caught in Crosshairs of New Legislation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Ukrainian energy company DTEK Group said it has finished construction of the first 114 MW of a planned 500-MW wind farm in the country, as DTEK continues to work on energy projects despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The company on March 10 said it is seeking international help to complete the Tyligulska wind […]The post Ukraine Group Completes First Phase of Wind Farm Despite Ongoing War appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Several executives in the energy industry have spoken with POWER in recent months about how utility-scale solar power projects benefit from the addition of energy storage. Many have noted how installing storage systems alongside solar arrays supports the integration of renewable energy to the power grid, and also enhances the economic potential of any such […]The post The POWER Interview: IRA, Economics Support Solar-Plus-Storage Market appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Climate change and the dangers posed to the environment by increasing levels of CO2 have led to a greater focus on a non-polluting energy source: renewable hydrogen. Described as the “most abundant clean fuel in the universe,” the application of hydrogen as a fuel for transportation, including plans for a hydrogen-powered aircraft in the next […]The post Energy Sustainability: The Emerging and Effective Use of Hydrogen appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions (DESS), an arm of major U.S. utility Duke Energy, said commercial operation has begun on the group’s largest solar power plant. DESS on March 8 said the 250-MW Pisgah Ridge Solar farm in Navarro County, Texas, is online, supplying power to at least three groups as part of virtual power purchase […]The post Duke Energy Group Brings Texas Solar Farm Online appeared first on POWER Magazine.

It seems like industry insiders have been lamenting the aging power workforce for decades. Yet, there is still a large percentage of workers in the current workforce that are retirement eligible—some studies suggest the percentage is as high as 40%. Meanwhile, the energy transition has created a large number of new jobs building and operating […]The post Help Wanted: Retirements and the Energy Transition Lead to Job Openings in the Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing more stringent discharge standards for three types of coal power plant wastewater as part of an update to its Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELGs). However, the agency also proposed compliance flexibilities, and in a separate direct final rule, moved to extend a deadline to allow more coal plants to […]The post EPA Rolls Out More Stringent Effluent Limitations Guidelines for Coal Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A Utah-based energy developer has filed a final license application for construction of a major pumped-hydro storage project in Nevada. rPlus Hydro on March 8 said it made the filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the company’s 1,000-MW White Pine Pumped Storage installation in White Pine County. White Pine, the first pumped-hydro […]The post Major Pumped-Hydro Storage Project Moves Forward in Nevada appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Vogtle 3, one of two 1,117-MW Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors Southern Nuclear Operating Co. is building in Georgia, has reached initial criticality. The event marks a pivotal milestone for the Generation III+ pressurized water reactor (PWR)—the first of its kind built in the U.S. “Initial criticality is a key step during the startup testing sequence […]The post Vogtle 3 Reaches Initial Criticality, Marking Pivotal Nuclear Startup Milestone appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp. is adding to its nuclear power generation capacity. The group on March 6 announced it would buy Ohio-based Energy Harbor Corp. in a $3.4 billion deal that includes ownership of three nuclear power stations. The transaction includes $3 billion in cash, with Energy Harbor shareholders receiving a 15% stake in […]The post Vistra Expands Nuclear Portfolio in $3.4 Billion Deal for Energy Harbor appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Biden administration has pledged another $1.2 billion to help extend the operating life of older or distressed nuclear power plants, with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm saying nuclear power is needed to support the nation’s clean energy goals. The funding, announced by the Dept. of Energy (DOE) on March 2, is the second tranche of […]The post Biden Administration Pledges $1.2 Billion to Keep U.S. Nuclear Reactors Online appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A 1.2-GW hydrogen-capable combined cycle power project that Entergy Texas has proposed to build in Orange County, Texas, will be spearheaded by an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) consortium led by Mitsubishi Power, Sargent & Lundy, and TIC. Construction of the $1.19 billion Orange County Advanced Power Station (OCAPS), which received the Public Utility Commission […]The post Entergy Picks EPC Team for Massive Hydrogen-Capable CCGT Project in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California can continue operating while Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) seeks a license renewal for the 2,300-MW facility that would extend its lifecycle. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on March 2 approved PG&E’s request for an exemption to keep Diablo Canyon open past 2025. Thursday’s move is a […]The post NRC Approves Move to Keep Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Open appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Despite a steep hike in the project cost estimate for the proposed 462-MWe Carbon-Free Power Project (CFPP), 26 of 27 public power entities have voted to continue development of the first-of-its-kind six-module NuScale Power VOYGR-6 small modular nuclear (SMR) plant. The 26 project participants—subscribers who could eventually offtake portions of the project’s power—lodged financial commitments […]The post Novel UAMPS-NuScale SMR Nuclear Project Gains Participant Approval to Proceed to Next Phase appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Government officials in Sri Lanka said they will work with Russia to bring nuclear power to the country as part of its effort to increase the supply of electricity for the island nation. Professor S.R.D. Rosa, chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, told local media the country is looking at offshore and onshore […]The post Russia Ready to Bring Nuclear Power to Sri Lanka appeared first on POWER Magazine.

It’s not uncommon for nuclear power plants to be sited relatively close to large metropolitan areas (within 50 miles, for example), after all, that is where the biggest loads are, but reactors are rarely placed near the center of large cities. This is mainly due to the risks associated with a meltdown, or even a […]The post Is a Nuclear Reactor Headed to the Heart of Your City? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Asset owners want to get the most out of their solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which is why many today are adding energy storage to an installation or upgrading a project through repowering. Companies working in the space recognize that both new and older solar power systems can be optimized, thanks to innovative technologies and new […]The post The POWER Interview: DC-Coupled Storage Optimizing Solar PV Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

X-energy will demonstrate its four-unit 320-MWe Xe-100 advanced nuclear reactor facility under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) at a Dow site in the U.S. Gulf Coast region by the end of the decade—not in Washington State as originally planned. The shakeup stems from a joint development agreement (JDA) the nuclear […]The post X-energy and Dow Will Deploy a 320-MWe Xe-100 Nuclear Facility at Gulf Coast Site appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Few power-generating resources present the combination of workhouse abilities that combined heat and power (CHP) does. But, powered predominantly by fossil fuels, will CHP find its unique footing within theThe post A Complex Landscape for the Future of Combined Heat and Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Advancements in energy storage, including new battery types and longer-duration batteries, are driving innovation in the sector. Retired power generation plants are being repurposed as storage sites, and theThe post New Technologies, New Sites Supporting Growth of Energy Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

I haven’t always believed carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology would play a big role in the energy transition. While I knew the technology was sound and has been used atThe post Deployment of Carbon Capture Technology Likely to Explode in Coming Years appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A pioneering horizontal, six-nozzle Pelton turbine developed by Voith Hydro at the 326-GWh Gerlos 1 pumped storage facility in the Ziller Valley, Austria, is setting new benchmarks for the 140-year-oldThe post Trial Operation of Innovative Horizontal Pelton Hydropower Turbine Underway in Austria appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The energy crisis in South Africa has prompted continued calls for government action, and officials in January said an energy action plan announced last year is starting to be implemented. The plan was laidThe post South Africa Energy Crisis at Critical Stage as Load-Shedding Continues appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The power system is changing and electricity suppliers need to adapt or get left behind. Experts weigh in on what leaders should be focusing on and how these items will affect utilities in the future. TheThe post The Challenges and Opportunities Facing Power Companies Today appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) has entered into a partnership with the government of Kinshasa, a city-province and capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Africa, for construction and operationThe post Solar Power/Hydrogen Project Underway in DRC appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Power companies across the nation are being pressured to retire fossil-fueled power plants and transition to cleaner energy resources. But many existing fossil plants have not been completely paid off orThe post Understanding How Securitization Can Help with Power Plant Retirements appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A California-based group said it has completed the first-ever hydrogen-boron fusion experiments to produce a sustainable fuel for utility-scale fusion power. TAE Technologies on Feb. 28, in a peer-reviewed paper published by the scientific journal Nature Communications, said its research supports the path to providing electricity from nuclear reactors fueled with hydrogen-boron, also known as […]The post Group Touts Milestone for Hydrogen-Boron Fusion Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Madagascar has significant hydropower potential, but to date less than 20% of the country’s energy comes from hydroelectric facilities. The Economic Development Agency of Madagascar (EDBM) estimates the island nation, located in the Indian Ocean off the cost of Southeast Africa, could produce as much as 7.8 GW of power from hydro resources, but at […]The post Madagascar Ready to Ramp Up Hydropower Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A new report from a two global energy research groups found that China last year approved its most new coal-fired power generation projects since 2015. The report from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) shows the Chinese government approved permits for 106 GW of new coal-fired […]The post China Approves 106 GW of New Coal-Fired Capacity appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The global market for energy storage is driven by several factors, with power producers continually looking for ways to improve their storage systems and enhance performance. Battery technologies for energy storage are becoming more important as project developers look for ways to control costs and optimize battery energy storage systems (BESS). Advancing technology supports lowering […]The post The POWER Interview: Chemistry Crucial for Global Growth in Energy Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Ammonia could be a potentially lower-cost alternative fuel for gas turbines in Japan than liquid hydrogen if the full import value stream is considered, suggests a joint study between GE Gas Power and Japanese heavy industry manufacturer IHI Corp. As part of the year-long study, the companies mapped a value stream for hydrogen and ammonia […]The post Ammonia Gas Turbine Combustion Has Economic Potential, GE-IHI Study Suggests appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Indonesia’s efforts to decarbonize the country’s power generation sector took a major step on Feb. 22 as the government launched the first phase of mandatory carbon trading for coal-fired power plants. Officials in the capital of Jakarta have said they want to increase electricity production from renewable energy resources and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by […]The post Indonesia Begins Carbon Trading Program for Coal-Fired Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Biden administration on Feb. 22 announced the first-ever lease sale for offshore wind power development in the Gulf of Mexico. The Dept. of the Interior, through its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), said it would open more than 300,000 acres in the Gulf, an area that long has been a major part of […]The post Biden Administration Announces First Offshore Wind Lease Sales for Gulf of Mexico appeared first on POWER Magazine.