POWER Magazine

The post THE BIG PICTURE: Future Coal Fleet appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The autonomous region of Xinjiang has an important strategic position in China’s economy—which consumes more energy than any other nation—yet several conditions limit the most effective use of its fuels. This article provides an overview of the situation. Since ancient times, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) has been in a particularly important position in […]The post The Energy Industry in Xinjiang, China: Potential, Problems, and Solutions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Millennials have landed in the workforce. This is the generation that marketing and lifestyle gurus have been attempting to dissect, and now senior executives are starting to internalize what all the fuss was about—Millennials are a little different. At Student Energy, we’re working with university students to create the next generation of energy leaders. We […]The post Engage the Next Generation of Energy Leaders appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country flush with fossil fuels, so why does its government want nuclear power to form the backbone of its electricity supply? POWER interviewed Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi to find the answer and to learn more about the world’s largest in-progress nuclear construction project. Located […]The post Oil- and Gas-Rich UAE Banks on Nuclear Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In mid-November, current members of POWER’ s Generating Company Advisory Team responded by email to a set of questions about their concerns, challenges, and new initiatives as they plan for the year aheadThe post The Generating Company Challenge: Manage Change While Maintaining Reliability appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Another megatrend has hit the power generation industry: the Internet of Things (IoT)—countless devices with embedded electronics, sensors, and connectivity to digitally communicate with one another andThe post Big Data and the Industrial Internet Meet the Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The autonomous region of Xinjiang has a strategic position in China’s economy, yet several conditions limit the most effective use of its fuels. This article provides an overview of the situation. A more detailed version, with maps and tables, appears here under the same title. Since ancient times, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) has held […]The post The Energy Industry in Xinjiang, China: Potential, Problems, and Solutions [PRINT VERSION] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

January has traditionally been POWER’ s forecast issue, and there’s one overriding prediction I feel confident making: The speed of changes will continue to exceed the power industry’s ability to fullyThe post The Journey Ahead appeared first on POWER Magazine.

From issuance of the final Clean Power Plan to mammoth mergers, 2015 will be remembered as a tumultuous year. Twelve months ago, as folks were emerging from an eventful 2014, POWER made some bold predictions, including that fuel economics will drive 2015 U.S. power markets, and the labor crunch will complicate the gas turbine arms […]The post A Look Back at 2015: An Electric Year appeared first on POWER Magazine.

POWER‘s monthly infographic sheds light on power sector trends globally, and in 2015, it highlighted changes in plant retirements, sector revenues, rule costs, workforce, emissions technologies, and electricity costs, among other subjects. January 2015: Baseload Retirements How coal plant retirements compare with retirements of other baseload generation sources. February 2015: Power Revenues How revenues for fossil power […]The post THE BIG PICTURE 2015: The Year in Power Sector Infographics appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Ghana’s Ministry of Power released a statement on Dec. 30 proclaiming the end of the country’s load-shedding program. The news may not be welcomed by all of the nation’s residents however, as many Ghanaians were reportedly looking forward to the power minister’s self-promised resignation, if load shedding had not been terminated by year end. Citi […]The post Power Minister: Load-Shedding Over in Ghana appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Wylfa Nuclear Power Station—the last operating Magnox reactor in the world—came offline permanently on Dec. 30. Located in Anglesey, an island off the northwest coast of Wales in the UK, the plant entered service in 1971. Originally constructed with two 490-MW units, only Reactor 1 has been operating since 2012. The UK pioneered the […]The post World’s Last Magnox Nuclear Reactor Shuts Down for Final Time appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Texas is the latest state to file suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its recently finalized standards for ozone. The state joins Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin, which have legally challenged the final version of the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone since its […]The post Texas Sues EPA over Ozone Standards appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Portland General Electric (PGE) assumed engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) responsibility for the Carty Generating Station on Dec. 18, following the original EPC contractor’s default on its construction agreement. Construction began on the Carty plant on Jan. 9, 2014. It is being built in Oregon next to PGE’s existing Boardman Plant, which is scheduled for […]The post PGE Takes Over Power Plant Construction After Abengoa Filing appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A status update and forecast for solar photovoltaic power in Greece, Croatia, and Italy.The post Greece, Croatia, and Italy Chart a Course to More Solar Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A slowing of the Chinese economy and the diversification of its power sector, combined with a worldwide trend toward policies that favor renewable energy and the retirement of older, less-efficient coal-fired facilities, trumped growth in India and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, resulting in a decline in coal consumption in 2014, which […]The post Global Demand for Coal Shrinks appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Hackers believed to be connected to Iran infiltrated the control system of a small dam outside New York City in 2013, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The Bowman Avenue Dam in Rye Brook, about 20 miles northeast of the city, is small and used only for flood control. While the hackers […]The post Iranian Cyberattack Infiltrated Control System of New York Dam appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Russia and India will finalize a deal for Units 5 and 6 of the Kudankulam nuclear plant during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow this week, according to reports in the Indian media. Russia has been on a major drive to sell its nuclear technology abroad, while India has been on a similar campaign […]The post Russia to Supply Two More Indian Nukes, Reports Say appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As expected, President Obama vetoed two resolutions on Dec. 18 that would have blocked the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) rules on CO2 emissions and halted the administration’s Clean Power Plan. Senate Joint Res. 23 was Congress’ attempt to nullify the EPA’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for new, modified, and reconstructed power plants, while Senate […]The post Obama Vetoes Resolution to Stop Clean Power Plan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

North America’s reserve margins are trending downward, even though electricity demand has generally fallen, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) warned in a new report. The international regulatory authority established to gauge and improve the reliability of North America’s bulk power system (BPS) said in its annual long-term report that electricity demand has dropped […]The post NERC: Unprecedented Changes to Power Mix, EPA Rules Pose Reliability Challenges appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In a major boost to the wind and solar industries, Congressional leaders agreed on a multiyear extension of renewable energy tax credits, which could provide several years of predictable policies, encouraging investment in new projects. The tax credits are part of a 2,009-page omnibus-spending bill unveiled by the House Appropriations Committee on Dec. 15. The […]The post Spending Bill Extends Wind, Solar Tax Credits—Provides Money for Coal, Gas, Nuclear, and Power Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) will remain in effect as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works on a final cost finding, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered on Dec. 15. The court noted in a two-page order that the EPA “has represented that it is on track to issue […]The post D.C. Circuit Leaves MATS Rule In Place as EPA Tackles Cost Consideration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Coal ash utilization, which had stalled between 2009 and 2013 as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepared a final federal coal ash rule, increased significantly in 2014. According to the American Coal Ash Association’s (ACAA’s) most recent “Production and Use Survey,” 62.4 million tons of coal combustion products were beneficially used in 2014—up from 51.4 […]The post Coal Ash Utilization Surged in 2014 After Half-Decade of EPA Rule Uncertainty appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a decision concluding that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) use of Thunderclap—a crowd-speaking social media platform that allows a single message to be mass-shared, flash-mob style—constituted “covert propaganda,” in violation of the publicity or propaganda prohibition. The decision was issued in response to a request from Sen. James […]The post GAO: EPA Used Covert Propaganda to Promote WOTUS Rulemaking appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Delegates of 195 nations, including the U.S., on Dec. 12 reached a landmark deal at the Paris COP21 conference that commits the world to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in an effort to combat the effects of climate change. Though scientists have said global temperature increases need to kept below 2 degrees C to avoid […]The post COP21 Climate Deal Draws Praise, Fire appeared first on POWER Magazine.

American Electric Power (AEP), through its subsidiary AEP Ohio, announced on Dec. 14 that it had filed a stipulated agreement with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) in support of the company’s expanded power purchase agreement. Details of the Agreement The stipulated agreement, which the company expects the PUCO to rule on in early […]The post AEP Reaches Settlement on Ohio Coal-Fired Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

American Electric Power (AEP), one of the biggest coal generators in the U.S., is withdrawing funds and staff resources from heavy lobbying efforts against the Clean Power Plan, sinking them instead into preparations for compliance with the controversial climate rule. The company has informed the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that it will not be […]The post AEP to Withdraw From ALEC, Cut Funding for Clean Coal Coalition appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan (CPP) is likely to be complicated at least as much by political and legal opposition as by technological challenges in reducing carbon emissions, several speakers at POWER magazine’s inaugural conference on legal issues in the generation industry noted on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. “Navigating Legal Implications of […]The post Political Opposition to Clean Power Plan Looms Large, Experts Say appeared first on POWER Magazine.

FirstEnergy Corp., which may enter into a settlement with Ohio to safeguard the future of its Davis-Besse nuclear plant—a deal critics have blasted as “corporate welfare”—just got the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s permission to operate the 1978-built reactor until 2037. The 20-year license extension marks a milestone for Akron-headquartered FirstEnergy, which has warned it might have […]The post Amid “Corporate Welfare” Flak, FirstEnergy Gets Davis-Besse Extension appeared first on POWER Magazine.

New rules from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have several unintended consequences for the power sector, an expert said at a POWER magazine event on Dec. 7. Floyd Self, an attorney with Florida-based law firm Berger Singerman, said that the bevy of new EPA rules have helped forged mergers between electric and gas utilities and necessitated […]The post Unintended Consequences from EPA Rules appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Shaken financially by low natural gas prices and subsidized renewables, the nuclear industry has launched a new initiative to reduce nuclear power plant operating costs to make them more economically viable. Industry group the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) said on Dec. 8 it is coordinating a multifaceted effort in tandem with member utilities, the Institute […]The post Nuclear Rescue Initiative Launched to Slash Operating Costs, Improve Economic Viability appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Climate change litigation in the U.S. has far outpaced climate litigation in any other jurisdiction. In fact, according to Teri Donaldson, partner with DLA Piper, more lawsuits concerning climate change have been decided or settled in the U.S. than in the rest of the world combined. “The success rate in these cases is very low,” […]The post Climate Change Litigation: Implications for States and Power Generators appeared first on POWER Magazine.

This story is being written as world leaders gather in Paris for the COP-21 climate summit. Much of the reason they are meeting is because of the widespread burning of coal and the resulting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are altering the planet’s biosphere. Though the burning of coal is not the only reason the […]The post Europe’s New Coal Curtain: Eastern Europe Embraces Coal as Western Europe Deserts It—and Russia Is Still All In appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The power sector should view the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recent drive to tighten regulations on air and water emissions as an opportunity to improve its efficiency and environmental footprint rather than as an obstacle, said EPA General Counsel Avi S. Garbow at POWER magazine’s inaugural conference on legal issues in the generation industry. “We want […]The post Don’t Fear the Clean Power Plan, Chief EPA Lawyer Says appeared first on POWER Magazine.

NRG Energy announced on Dec. 3 that David Crane is stepping down as president and CEO of the company effective immediately. Crane had served in the position since 2003. During more than 12 years at the helm of NRG, he led the company through its emergence from bankruptcy to its current position as a leader […]The post NRG CEO David Crane Steps Down, Joins The B Team appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed two joint resolutions on Dec. 1 designed to nullify the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan. The House votes come just two weeks after the Senate passed both resolutions on Nov. 17. Senate Joint Res. 23—sponsored by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.)—provides for congressional […]The post Much Ado About Clean Power Plan Vote appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Germany’s largest power generator RWE, following in the footsteps of its competitor E.ON, plans to split its company to bank on renewable energy and grid operations, which it says is the future for utility companies. If approved by RWE’s supervisory board, the Essen-headquartered company that produces more than 40% of its power from hard coal […]The post RWE CEO: Conventional Power Role Shifting from Baseload to Renewables Back Up in Europe appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Editors note: Corrected (Dec. 7). A previous version of this infographic listed Russia’s nuclear total as 1.9 GW. It is 2.9 GW.The post THE BIG PICTURE: Nuclear Spins appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A regional haze program final rule for Texas expected soon from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could speed up the retirement of about 4.7 GW of coal-fired capacity, warns the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) in a new generation outlook. The grid operator’s Dec. 1–released “Report on the Capacity, Demand and Reserves (CDR) in […]The post ERCOT Braces for Regional Haze Rule, Earlier Coal Retirements appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The 21st annual Conference of Parties (COP21) to review the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began in Paris, France, on Nov. 30, 2015. COP21 is expected to be one of the largest international conferences ever held. There are hopes that COP21 will achieve a legally binding and universal agreement […]The post 15 Must-See Tweets from the 2015 Paris Climate Conference appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Florida’s Seminole Electric Cooperative faces what may be the most difficult generation transition in the nation as a result of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. One of the nation’s largest generation and transmission rural electric cooperatives, Seminole owes its origins and its current position primarily to a single coal-fired plant. When electric utility veteran […]The post Seminole Electric Cooperative Sees Big Challenges from Clean Power Plan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Germany’s nuclear power–producing companies will be able to shoulder the costs of the nuclear phase-out—including costs for decommissioning and the disposal of radioactive waste. That’s according toThe post Germany: Utilities Must Shoulder Nuclear Phase-Out Costs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

One of the world’s largest biomass-fed organic rankine cycle (ORC) plants is getting ready to begin operations. Italian firm Turboden is preparing to put online an 8-MW power unit in Athens, Maine, that willThe post Biomass-Fed Organic Rankine Cycle Units Make It Big appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Siemens, the only provider of direct-current (DC) offshore wind connection projects, in October unveiled a potentially game-changing technology that it says enables cheaper and simpler grid connection of windThe post “Revolutionary” Grid Connection for Offshore Wind Turbines Unveiled appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Battery storage firms and energy storage experts at the Energy Storage North America (ESNA) conference in San Diego Oct. 13–15 were effusive in their praise of battery storage’s potential whileThe post The Potentials and Pitfalls of Battery Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In water-stressed regions outside the U.S., power producers and other industrial water users are incorporating higher levels of water reuse, some to the point of zero liquid discharge (ZLD), due to heightenedThe post Water-Stressed Regions Provide Proving Grounds for Advanced ZLD Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Ethiopia’s generation capacity got an immense boost as operations began at the 1.87-GW Gibe III hydroelectric power plant in the middle reach of the Omo River basin this October. The plant—Ethiopia’sThe post Ethiopia Begins Generating Power from 1.87-GW Gibe III Hydro Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Coal pulverizers are the heart of a pulverized coal-fueled boiler. Often, the root causes of nonoptimized combustion lie with the pulverizers. Capacity; reliability; and environmental issues such as slaggingThe post Coal Pulverizer Maintenance Improves Boiler Combustion appeared first on POWER Magazine.