POWER Magazine

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. […]The post How Utilities Can Solve ‘Time of Use’ Rate Rollout Puzzle in Just Three Steps appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post PacifiCorp, TerraPower Evaluating Deployment of Up to Five Additional Natrium Advanced Reactors appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Southern Company Cuts Its Cost Forecast for Vogtle Expansion, Provides Update on Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Nuclear Fuel Facility Unveiled for Natrium Fast Reactor Demonstration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post U.S. Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing May Be Making a Comeback—Here’s Why appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Stronger Cybersecurity Key to Utility Infrastructure appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Investment Bank ‘Mobilizing’ up to $115 Billion for Renewables, Energy Storage and More in EU appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Canada Bank Group Pledges Millions Toward Nuclear Power Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post A Pillar in the Community and Collaborator Around the World: DLC Powers Pittsburgh appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Blue Ammonia Production Efforts for Fuel Supply, Exports in High Gear Along U.S. Gulf Coast appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Inflation Reduction Act: Increased Electrification and Resulting Utility Implications appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Shift to Specialty Fuels—A Driving Force to Build Supply Chain Resilience appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Environmental pressure is ramping up. Countries have issued targets to reduce or even eliminate the use of traditional fossil fuels in order to reduce emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2. Gas turbine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are responding by investing in hydrogen (H2) combustion. They are spending heavily on the development of combustors and […]The post How Hydrogen Blends Will Impact HRSG Operation, Maintenance, and Performance appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post How Satellite Connectivity Can Improve Visibility and Communication Throughout the Energy Sector appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Investing Green: Driving a Higher ROI through the Green Hydrogen Boom and Wasted Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Ukraine Grid Operator Issues Call for Help, Needs Equipment to Keep Lights On appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post U.S. Announces First Sale of Rights for California Offshore Wind Development appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Evolving Extreme Weather Risks Posing Unprecedented Insurance Woes for Renewables appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post BP Buying Leading RNG Production Group in $4.1 Billion Deal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Canada’s OPG and Czech Republic’s ČEZ Partner to Advance SMR and Other Nuclear Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post China Will Add Two More AP1000 Nuclear Reactors appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post New Report Says ‘Historic Expansion’ Coming for U.S. Offshore Wind appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Nuclear Giant Westinghouse Acquired by Renewable Power Company and Uranium Fuel Supplier appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Massive Projects Move Forward as Groups Celebrate Global Hydropower Day appeared first on POWER Magazine.

General Electric (GE) has notified staff that it plans to lay off about 20% of the workforce in its U.S. onshore wind business. A report from NASDAQ this week said the cuts are part of a plan to restructure and resize the onshore wind division, as the group “is grappling with weak demand and rising […]The post GE Will Cut 20% of U.S. Onshore Wind Workforce appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An energy storage system (ESS) co-located with solar and wind power assets is now online at a research center in the Netherlands. The project, commissioned in a ceremony on Oct. 6, is a 24-MW/48-MWh that includes equipment from the Wärtsilä technology group. The GIGA Buffalo battery installation is at the Wageningen University & Research test […]The post Netherlands Commissions Country’s Largest Energy Storage System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA’s) ground-breaking STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) prototype fusion energy plant will be built at the site of the West Burton power station, a 1-GW coal-fired plant owned by EDF in North Nottinghamshire, in the East Midlands region of England, the UK government announced on Oct. 6. UKAEA, which carries out […]The post UK Picks Coal Power Plant as Site for Nuclear Fusion Energy Prototype appeared first on POWER Magazine.

There have been historic initiatives within the U.S. to create a sustainable energy economy and to address major environmental concerns created by fossil fuels. The Inflation Reduction Act contains $369 billion in climate and energy provisions, which will have a meaningful impact on climate change. Meanwhile, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law seeks to remedy environmental issues […]The post Balancing the Scales: Disparities in Decommissioning Practices for Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Mitsubishi Power has declared complete a 2,650-MW natural gas–fired power plant in Chonburi province, Thailand, delivering its four M701JAC power trains to the plant’s joint owners Gulf Energy Development PCL, one of the largest independent power producers (IPPs) in Thailand, and Tokyo-based conglomerate Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The Gulf SRC (GSRC) power plant, located about 130 […]The post Thailand Starts Up First of Two Giant 2.7-GW Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) will install 250 MW of temporary reserve power—via eight trailer-mounted GE Gas Power TM2500 mobile aeroderivative gas turbine units—to secure critical power supplies this winter. GE Gas Power said the units, which will be located at GE’s Manufacturing Center in Birr, in the Swiss canton of Aargau, near […]The post Switzerland Secures 250-MW GE Gas Power Temporary Power Plant For Crucial Winter Reserve appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Bitcoin mining is the process used to generate new coins and verify new transactions. The process involves vast, decentralized networks of computers around the world that verify and secure blockchains, the virtual ledgers that document cryptocurrency transactions. In return for contributing their computing power, miners are rewarded with new coins. The process ultimately requires a […]The post How Bitcoin Mining Can Help Power Companies Optimize Generation Assets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Westinghouse and Ansaldo Energia’s Switzerland-based nuclear arm, Ansaldo Nucleare, will cooperate in developing a nuclear power plant based on lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology. The two companies, which have separately spearheaded the development of fast-reactor designs, said they will advance a common design “to maximize synergies, combine experience in design, testing and licensing, and align […]The post Ansaldo, Westinghouse Partner on Nuclear Plant Based on Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor Design appeared first on POWER Magazine.

WattBridge, a relatively new independent power producer that evolved out of a non-OEM aeroderivative gas turbine solutions provider, completed its first power facility based on a standardized LM6000 plantThe post A New Breed of Energy Security: HO Clarke Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

You must be a power guy or gal to consider a generating station an attraction. If you are, you won’t find a better place to visit than the Cane Island Power Park. The facility is in a picturesque locationThe post Fun in the Sun: Cane Island Is a Central Florida Treasure appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A combined heat and power (CHP) plant in South Korea successfully completed a project to improve its output and overall operation, with updated gas turbine technology supporting its reliability. South KoreaThe post Innovation, Efficiency at Heart of CHP Plant Upgrade appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Long Ridge Energy Terminal in Hannibal, Ohio, is one of the first power plants in the U.S. to be purpose-built for generating power with hydrogen fuel. But embarking on the pioneering journey that couldThe post Harnessing an H-Class for Hydrogen: Long Ridge Energy Terminal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The addition of a 500-MW gas-fired unit at the Muara Karang facility near Jakarta is among the steps Indonesia is taking to satisfy the country’s growing need for electricity as demand for power continues toThe post Expansion Project Furthers Indonesia’s Increase in Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Whether you need to do maintenance or are having trouble with a permanently installed boiler at your plant, or you’re finding your regular equipment just can’t keep up with an increase in demand, a rentalThe post Rental Boilers Fill Process Steam Gaps During Crucial Production Periods appeared first on POWER Magazine.

European nations are looking at ways to increase their imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), including from Russia, as concerns about a shortage of natural gas across the European Union (EU) continue aheadThe post Europe Turns to LNG to Avert Energy Crisis appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The rise and rapid adoption of the circular economy—a systems solution framework that seeks to keep materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible—is triggering an interestingThe post Can Power Plant Wastewater Be Valuable? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Renewable energy giant Siemens Gamesa announced it will cut nearly 3,000 jobs as the company tries to turn around its financial fortunes. The group in a statement on Sept. 29 said, “In order to realize the company’s projections for growth, Siemens Gamesa is working to strengthen specific areas within key leading markets to capitalize on […]The post Siemens Gamesa Will Cut Nearly 3,000 Jobs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Four large solar power projects, including two that will feature battery energy storage systems (BESS), are moving forward after the closing of financing commitments for the installations. Intersect Power, an Oregon-headquartered development and engineering group for renewable energy, on Sept. 29 announced it has closed $3.1 billion in financing to complete a near-term portfolio of […]The post Financing Committed for Major California, Texas Solar Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 the conversion of CO2 to methanol. The carbon capture plant, built by UK-based carbon capture solutions provider Carbon Clean and Green Power International, an engineering, procurement, […]The post Carbon Capture Begins at India’s Largest Coal Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

More than 2.5 million electricity customers in Florida were without power early Sept. 29 as Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on the state’s power grid and continued to cause damage with high winds and heavy rain, even after being downgraded to a tropical storm early Thursday. The storm, which made landfall in southwest Florida on Wednesday […]The post More Than 2.5 Million Without Power in Florida Due to Hurricane Ian appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A month after Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Japanese power generator JERA set out to jointly explore developing a 60-MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant fueled with 100% ammonia on Singapore’s Jurong Island, MHI announced it is partnering with another Singapore industrial heavyweight to explore the feasibility of an ammonia-fired gas turbine in the […]The post Boost for Mitsubishi Power Ammonia Gas Turbines in Singapore, Indonesia appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Aero-derivative gas turbines are widely used in the power industry. As the name implies, aero-derivative gas turbines evolved from innovations to proven technologies used in airplane jet engines. These gas turbines provide anywhere from 30 MW to 140 MW of efficient, reliable power, and deliver operational savings to energy providers worldwide. According to Harsh Shah, […]The post Four Important Ways Aero-Derivative Gas Turbines Are Being Utilized in Power Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Only about 1% of the 250 million cars, SUVs, and light-duty trucks on American roads are electric vehicles (EVs). But that’s about to change. While it’s difficult to estimate future sales, an analysis by IHS Markit projects that up to 30% of new car sales could be electric by 2030, rising to up to 45% […]The post Can the Power Grid Handle More EVs? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The leader of India’s power sector has said the country is preparing to add as much as 56 GW of coal-fired generation capacity by 2030 in order for the country to meet growing demand for electricity. He also said India must invest in energy storage, in concert with supporting more wind and solar power development, […]The post India Power Minister Says Country Will Add More Coal-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A pioneering GE aeroderivative gas turbine project to demonstrate hydrogen combustion as part of a retrofit at an existing U.S. natural gas power plant has successfully utilized blends of 5% to 44% hydrogen with natural gas—some of the highest volumes of hydrogen blended into a commercially operating gas turbine. The project spearheaded by New York […]The post NYPA, GE Successfully Pilot Hydrogen Retrofit at Aeroderivative Gas Turbine appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has initiated community outreach to facilitate consent-based siting, management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), and interim storage facility siting. The effort, outlined in a series of steps the DOE expects to take in response to a recent request for public input, marks a significant first step toward advancing the agency’s […]The post DOE Unveils Next Steps for Nuclear Waste Consent-Based Siting Process appeared first on POWER Magazine.