POWER Magazine

Hurricane Ian, which struck Florida in late September last year, was a devastating storm and a harsh reminder of the impact of Mother Nature’s wrath. Unfortunately, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and powerful, and our aging grid is struggling to keep up. COMMENTARY Sanibel Island on Florida’s west coast, for example, lost power […]The post The Next Step for Utilities in Workforce Transformation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted Abilene Christian University’s (ACU’s) construction permit application for a 1-MWth nuclear non-power Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) facility planned for the university’s campus in Abilene, north-central Texas. The acceptance—which essentially marks the NRC “docketing” of the application—formally kicks off the regulatory agency’s review of ACU’s proposed Nuclear Energy […]The post NRC Begins Construction Permit Review for Pioneering Nuclear Molten Salt Research Reactor appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Officials from Russia and Egypt marked another milestone in construction of the latter’s first nuclear power plant, with a ceremony Nov. 19 to announce pouring of the “first concrete” for Unit 2 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Saturday’s event came three weeks after a construction permit was issued for that unit by the Egyptian […]The post Russia Says Construction of Egypt’s First Nuclear Plant Ahead of Schedule appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Power shortfalls could be rife over the next three months across a large portion of the North American bulk power system (BPS), particularly during extreme and prolonged cold conditions, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) has warned. The nation’s designated Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) in its latest Winter Reliability Assessment, issued on Nov. 17, said […]The post NERC Warns of Tight Generation Resources, Fuel Supply Issues This Winter appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) is a national Department of Energy (DOE) program led by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) that allows collaborators to harness the world-class capabilities of the U.S. National Laboratory System. NRIC supports the construction and demonstration of advanced reactor systems through a suite of services and capabilities. “Our vision is […]The post How NRIC Is Helping Advance Technology for the Nuclear Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

European energy giant EnBW will pilot switching a 114-year-old coal-fired waste incineration and district heating power plant in Stuttgart-Münster, Germany, to gas-fired technology while ensuring the regionally significant plant will be ready to combust hydrogen “as quickly and completely” as possible. Siemens Energy on Nov. 17 sealed an agreement with the utility for an overall […]The post Siemens Energy Seals Deal for Hydrogen-Ready Coal-to-Gas Switch appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have settled to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act with four separate large-scale solar farm owners in Alabama, Idaho, and Illinois. The solar farm owners—all subsidiaries of large international finance and investment companies—used a common construction contractor for their farms. The federal […]The post Four Large-Scale Solar Projects Fined $1.34M for Alleged Clean Water Act Violations appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Hydropower projects frequently face resistance from environmental groups for a variety of reasons. One of the more common objections to hydro is the high turbine-induced mortality of fish. The passage of fish through hydroelectric turbines can quickly prove fatal—a danger that increases with the size of the fish. Furthermore, if several hydropower plants are located […]The post Fish Friendly Hydro: Natel Energy Is Proving It’s Possible appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An installation that at present is considered the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm has produced its first power, providing electricity for oil and gas exploration operations in the North Sea. Hywind Tampen on Nov. 13 began powering Equinor’s drilling at the Gullfaks oil and gas field. The wind farm is located about 87 miles […]The post ‘Largest’ Floating Offshore Wind Farm Comes Online in North Sea appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. and other countries have announced a $20 billion financing plan to help Indonesia more quickly shutter the country’s coal-fired power plants and decarbonize its power generation sector. “We’ve built a platform for cooperation that can truly transform Indonesia’s power sector from coal to renewables and support significant economic growth,” U.S. Special Envoy on […]The post U.S., Others Tout $20 Billion Plan to Move Indonesia Away from Coal, Toward Renewables appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Government officials in the small South American country of Guyana have given the go-ahead for construction of a 300-MW natural gas-fired power plant, a facility that would represent a major expansion of the nation’s power generation capacity. Cabinet members on Nov. 10 approved the project, which President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said will help reduce […]The post New Gas-Fired Plant Will Nearly Double Guyana’s Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An independent power producer (IPP) formed earlier this year and backed by a leading global renewable energy investment firm announced it will build what is expected to be the largest solar photovoltaic power plant in Europe. Rezolv Energy on Nov. 4 said it had acquired the rights to build and operate a 1,044-MW solar PV […]The post Group Readies for Construction of Europe’s Largest Solar Farm appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will pursue a first-of-its-kind pilot program at the Shawnee Fossil Plant in West Paducah, Kentucky, to determine if closed coal ash sites are suitable for utility-scale solar projects. The self-funded U.S. corporate agency’s board on Nov. 10 unanimously approved a $216 million pilot project to explore repurposing the 1,071-MW coal-fired power […]The post TVA Will Explore Building Utility-Scale Solar on Closed Coal Ash Sites appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A group of researchers found that “Adopting electric end-use technologies instead of fossil-fueled alternatives, known as electrification, is an important economy-wide decarbonization strategy that also reduces criteria pollutant emissions and improves air quality.” Findings from the study conducted by nine researchers—four from EPRI, four from Ramboll, and one from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory—were published […]The post New Study Finds Electrification Reduces Emissions and Improves Air Quality appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Hamilton, a city in Ontario, Canada, will host a pilot project to demonstrate a new technology designed to capture excess hydrothermal energy from its district heating and cooling plant and convert it into grid-quality power. The pilot hosted by Hamilton Community Enterprises (HCE)—the city’s utility solutions arm— will use Extract Energy’s “Heat Engine,” whose core […]The post Waste Heat-to-Power Capture Pilot Launched in Ontario appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Companies involved in energy production continually look to maximize their investments, and today are tasked with navigating increasingly volatile energy markets. These companies must choose where and how to compete as the world transitions to a low-carbon future. Where are the best opportunities for investment? How important is seeking out positions that reduce exposure to […]The post The POWER Interview: A Renewed Shift in Energy Investing appeared first on POWER Magazine.

NET Power, developer of the novel Allam-Fetvedt supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) power cycle, will build its first 300-MW natural gas–fired power plant at an Occidental-hosted site near Odessa, Texas. The “serial number one” project will demonstrate—at utility scale—NET Power’s potentially revolutionary technology, which promises to provide low-cost gas-fired power generation, no atmospheric emissions, no water […]The post NET Power’s First Allam Cycle 300-MW Gas-Fired Project Will Be Built in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Utility fleet managers faced their share of challenges in recent years. They needed to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations and rising customer expectations while keeping drivers feeling safe and supported. They also needed to maximize the utilization of vehicles while extending lifecycles and complying with regulations—even as they evolve faster than ever. Like […]The post Using Technology to Improve Management of Utilities’ Fleets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A wave of retirements for U.S. coal-fired power plants continues, with the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reporting almost a quarter of the nation’s remaining facilities could be shuttered by the end of 2029. The EIA in its preliminary monthly electric generator inventory report released Nov. 7 said that 23% of the nearly 201 GW of […]The post U.S. Coal Plant Closures Continue, While China Rapidly Builds More appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Two groups involved in innovation for power generation, including Italy’s largest utility, have teamed to build a rock-based energy storage system to capture excess power at a natural gas-fired power plant in Tuscany. Italy’s Enel, along with Israel’s Brenmiller Energy, have said the project aligns with their efforts to test new technologies to increase flexibility […]The post Enel Gas-Fired Plant Will Use Rock-Based Energy Storage System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The world’s largest event centered around climate change is shining a spotlight on one of the most-pressing debates in the Arab world—what to do about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt is the host for this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27 (Conference of Parties), in Sharm El Sheikh, running Nov. 6-18. […]The post Egypt, Hosting COP27, Renews Call for Resolution on GERD Hydro Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A pilot project in the waters off China, featuring two floating solar power arrays connected to a transformer on a moored offshore wind turbine, will test the viability of the technology in an area prone to typhoons. China’s government-owned State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) on Nov. 1 announced it had commissioned the project, calling it […]The post China Unveils World’s First Commercial Offshore Wind-Plus-Solar Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A severe failure on a duct exiting the sulfur dioxide absorber at Unit 1 of Eskom’s massive coal-fired 4.8-GW Kusile power plant, which is under construction in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, has shuttered the 800-MW unit and delayed Unit 2’s return to service. Eskom on Nov. 2 announced the section of the Kusile 1 flue […]The post Chimney Failure Takes Out Unit at Kusile, One of World’s Biggest Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Economic development can be a challenge for leaders in rural communities. Often, it’s hard to attract businesses to rural areas because the local workforce may not have the skills or numbers required to meet companies’ needs. But opportunities that haven’t been widely available in the past exist today for rural communities due to the energy […]The post How Rural Communities Can Benefit from the Energy Transition appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Marking intent interest from the power sector in hydrogen’s decarbonization potential, six major utilities—Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, Louisville Gas & Electric Co. (LG&E), Kentucky Utilities Co. (KU), Southern Co., and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)—have announced they will jointly pursue federal financial support for a Southeast Hydrogen Hub. The utilities, along with Battelle, an independent […]The post Six Major Electric Utilities Join Forces to Pursue a Southeastern Hydrogen Hub appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A supplier of equipment to the e-mobility industry, including electric vehicles (EVs), joined with one of the largest U.S. independent power producers at a groundbreaking for the first of four solar power farms that will provide electricity for the manufacturer’s campus. DENSO, headquartered in Japan and with one of its U.S. manufacturing plants in Maryville, […]The post TVA, Silicon Ranch, DENSO Move Forward on Four Tennessee Solar Sites appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Building on analysis in its February 2021 Public Citizen, Inc. v. Centerpoint Energy, Inc. opinion, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently issued decisions in Evergy Kansas, Inc. (Evergy) and Transalta Energy Marketing (U.S.), Inc. (Transalta) analyzing whether investments that were under 10% of outstanding voting shares, but were paired with appointment of directors that […]The post FERC: Investors with Utility Board Members are Affiliates appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Days after Poland chose Westinghouse to supply its AP1000 technology to the country’s first nuclear plant in Pomerania, northern Poland, the government and two Polish energy firms signed a letter of intent with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) to “push ahead” with development of a second nuclear plant based on APR1400 technology in Pątnów, […]The post Potential Deal Brewing for Second Polish Nuclear Plant Based on South Korean Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Baltimore Gas & Electric set out to build the 1.8-GW Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in 1967 because fossil energy was becoming expensive and controversial. Over its nearly 50 years of operationThe post A Half-Century of Reliability: Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An innovative design, emphasizing safety and economic efficiency, is key to the reactor technology at China’s newest—and now largest—nuclear power plant. China’s nuclear power program has utilizedThe post New Units at Hongyanhe Further China’s Nuclear Ambition appeared first on POWER Magazine.

It’s kind of exciting to be able to write that events are back in full swing. In case you missed it, POWER hosted the co-located Experience POWER, Distributed Energy Conference, and HydrogeNext events, OctThe post Idiot or Maniac: Where Does Your Power Company Fit in the Discussion? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A company that has corporate roots that go back to the Colonial era, Dominion Energy has been shaped by acquisitions and market forces. It is now in the midst of an extraordinary transformation to expand itsThe post History of Power: Dominion Energy’s Fluid Transition appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Governments and power generators continue to work to improve access to electricity on the African continent. Engie Energy Access, a subsidiary of French energy major Engie, recently signed a $60 millionThe post Mini-Grids Powering Energy Access in Africa appeared first on POWER Magazine.

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Aug. 2 gave Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) the green light to commission the experimental 2-MWth thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR-LF1) atThe post China Approves Commissioning of Thorium-Powered Reactor appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Sulfur oxides (SO x ) have several harmful effects both to the environment, and to human and animal health. Much of the SO x in the atmosphere comes from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and otherThe post Why Sulfur Oxides Are Bad and How Flue Gas Desulfurization Technology Works appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A project known as Netzbooster, or Grid Booster, is being deployed in Germany, designed to improve the efficiency of the country’s existing power grid infrastructure. Fluence Energy GmbH, a subsidiary ofThe post Storage-as-Transmission Project Announced for Germany appeared first on POWER Magazine.

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 […]The post Poland Picks Westinghouse to Build Country’s First Nuclear Reactors appeared first on 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.