POWER Magazine

The post Mini-Grids Making Electricity More Accessible appeared first on POWER Magazine. Mini-grids—smaller off-grid electricity distribution networks—are being recognized as a cost-effective solution to bring power to rural communities that often have no access to a traditional power gridThe post Mini-Grids Making Electricity More Accessible appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Fending Off Forced Power Plant Outages appeared first on POWER Magazine. The changing profile of the power system has added new stressors on conventional power generation and may have raised the potential for forced outages. Addressing them requires a closer look at traditional andThe post Fending Off Forced Power Plant Outages appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Nanogrid Could Hold Key to Clean Energy Future appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Orlando Utilities Commission’s (OUC’s) vision of a green energy future isn’t as far off as some people may think. The utility’s nanogrid is providing a testing ground for several innovative powerThe post Nanogrid Could Hold Key to Clean Energy Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How NRG Energy Uses IIoT Technology to Optimize Asset Performance and Predict Failures appeared first on POWER Magazine. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology is changing how power plants operate. One generating station incorporated new wireless vibration sensors with data from its existing historian system to betterThe post How NRG Energy Uses IIoT Technology to Optimize Asset Performance and Predict Failures appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Understanding Net Positive Suction Head Requirements for Pumps appeared first on POWER Magazine. A centrifugal pump that performs well under steady-state conditions may be found to cavitate when transitioning between operating modes. Resolving a transient cavitation problem can seem daunting because manyThe post Understanding Net Positive Suction Head Requirements for Pumps appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: The Importance of AI and Machine Learning appeared first on POWER Magazine. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are becoming synonymous with the operation of power generation facilities. The increased digitization of power plants, from equipment to software, involves both thermal generation and renewable energy installations. Both AI and ML will be key elements for the design of future energy systems, supporting the growth of smart […]The post The POWER Interview: The Importance of AI and Machine Learning appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Climate Change and Renewable Energy in 2021 appeared first on POWER Magazine. With the start of a new year comes new year resolutions, new campaigns, new administrations, new policy goals, and new initiatives. To kick off 2021, POWER talked with Jens Wolf, vice president and general manager of Europe at Enviva, a renewable energy company and the world’s largest producer of industrial wood pellets. Wolf has more […]The post The POWER Interview: Climate Change and Renewable Energy in 2021 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Inline Oil Condition Analysis on Power Generation Engines appeared first on POWER Magazine. Oil and lubricants play a critical role in the operation of natural gas and biogas power generation engines, for example, in combined cycle (CC) and combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The oil condition gives valuable insight in the running status of the engine and many critical failures can be flagged. Benefits of Real-time Monitoring […]The post Inline Oil Condition Analysis on Power Generation Engines appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Blockchain and Energy Innovation Marches On appeared first on POWER Magazine. Even in a pandemic, energy innovators are developing blockchain technology to implement powerful changes. From automating crude oil trading to amplifying the impact of renewable energy sources, innovations harnessing blockchain technology are likely to change the energy industry in profound ways. Inventors, enterprises, and investors who act today to obtain patent protection for their early […]The post Blockchain and Energy Innovation Marches On appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GM Has Plan to Make All Vehicles Electric appeared first on POWER Magazine. The electrification of the transportation sector has received a boost as General Motors (GM) said it “aspires” to exclusively offer electric vehicles (EVs) by 2035, ending production of its cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with diesel- and gasoline-powered engines. The company has said it wants to be carbon neutral by 2040 across its […]The post GM Has Plan to Make All Vehicles Electric appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Duke Energy Reaches $1.1B Deal to Resolve North Carolina Coal Ash Cost Issues appeared first on POWER Magazine. In a milestone settlement that could resolve Duke Energy’s “last remaining major issues” on coal ash management in North Carolina, the utility has agreed to absorb $1.1 billion in cleanup costs anticipated between 2015 and 2030. The proposed settlement, which Duke Energy filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) on Jan. 25, is a […]The post Duke Energy Reaches $1.1B Deal to Resolve North Carolina Coal Ash Cost Issues appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Role of Digital Insight in a Safer Nuclear Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. The impact of COVID-19 has placed a sharp focus on the importance of not only keeping key personnel safe but also how to better manage risk with fewer resources on site. One unexpected result is the acceleration of interest in digitisation initiatives. Ten years of digital innovation has brought new ways of modelling and managing […]The post The Role of Digital Insight in a Safer Nuclear Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post John Kerry, Gina McCarthy Offer Closer Look at Biden Climate Targets appeared first on POWER Magazine. National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry during a wide-ranging press briefing on Jan. 27 detailed the Biden administration’s next steps to embed climate policy into foreign policy and national security initiatives. Climate action, envisioned for a quick rollout, may entail new clean energy targets at home and abroad. […]The post John Kerry, Gina McCarthy Offer Closer Look at Biden Climate Targets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Bigelow Tea Enhances Sustainability with a Vehicle-to-Grid System appeared first on POWER Magazine. Sustainability is a buzzword that’s being bantered about up and down Wall Street, and corporate leaders have taken notice. Many companies have adopted environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, which are often tied to sustainability goals. In some cases, the pressure to do so has come from customers and/or investors, but in others, CEOs and […]The post Bigelow Tea Enhances Sustainability with a Vehicle-to-Grid System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Costs Rise as Virus Delays Hinkley Nuclear Build appeared first on POWER Magazine. The developer of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project said impacts from the coronavirus pandemic may delay construction of the new reactors by six months, and raise the project’s costs by nearly £500 million ($700 million). EDF Energy in a Jan. 27 update on the plant’s progress said the total cost for the […]The post Costs Rise as Virus Delays Hinkley Nuclear Build appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Biden’s Orders Focus on Climate, Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine. 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 […]The post Biden’s Orders Focus on Climate, Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Corporate Clean Energy Purchases Hit Record appeared first on POWER Magazine. The coronavirus pandemic and resulting global economic slowdown curtailed some energy projects in 2020, but corporations worldwide still bought a record 23.7 GW of clean power through long-term purchase agreements. That’s according to research published Jan. 26 by BloombergNEF (BNEF). The group in its “1H 2021 Corporate Energy Market Outlook” said more than 130 companies, […]The post Corporate Clean Energy Purchases Hit Record appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Report: Utilities Plan to Keep Coal Plants Running appeared first on POWER Magazine. A report from a major environmental group said that coal-fired power generation will continue to play a large role in U.S. electricity production for at least another 10 years. The Sierra Club report published Jan. 25, based on a review of integrated resource plans (IRPs) from the 50 U.S. utilities most invested in coal-fired and […]The post Report: Utilities Plan to Keep Coal Plants Running appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NRC’s New Chairman Urged to Heed Agency’s Climate Policy Role appeared first on POWER Magazine. Christopher Hanson, a nuclear energy government and industry veteran, has taken the helm of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The designation by President Joe Biden on Jan. 23 may provide a boost to the administration’s climate initiatives, experts told POWER. Hanson, a Democrat, is expected to fill the role for remainder of his five-year term […]The post NRC’s New Chairman Urged to Heed Agency’s Climate Policy Role appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post 5 Cybersecurity Best Practices to Protect Your OT Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine. Over the last several years, cyber actors and online criminal gangs have used cyber warfare to disrupt business and infrastructure across the globe. Today, they are becoming even more aggressive and are using their resources to target Operations Technology (OT) and Industrial Control System (ICS) networks. According to the Canadian government’s Canadian Centre for Cyber […]The post 5 Cybersecurity Best Practices to Protect Your OT Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Solar Microgrids Offer Pathway to Decarbonize Mining appeared first on POWER Magazine. Mining is an energy-intensive industry; digging, crushing, and processing minerals takes a lot of power, and mines often operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Like other industries, mining companies are seeking solutions to reduce their emissions; both for the sake of the planet and in response to increasing pressure from customers to […]The post Solar Microgrids Offer Pathway to Decarbonize Mining appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Five Reasons Remote Technology Makes Sense Even If You Never Plan to Operate Your Power Plant Remotely appeared first on POWER Magazine. The case for advanced analytics and remote diagnostics During the last 25 years significant advancements have been made in remote monitoring capabilities for power plants. A number of operations and maintenance (O&M) functions can routinely be managed remotely, and it is also becoming more common for peaking and renewable energy plants to be remotely operated […]The post Five Reasons Remote Technology Makes Sense Even If You Never Plan to Operate Your Power Plant Remotely appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE Will Have New, Diverse Leadership Team appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) new leadership team is a diverse group of individuals with a wide range of experience across the power sector and academia. The names announced Jan. 21 include Kelly Speakes-Backman, who has served as the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association (ESA) and was a keynote speaker at POWER’s […]The post DOE Will Have New, Diverse Leadership Team appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Ørsted Launches Pioneering Offshore Wind–to-Hydrogen Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Danish renewable energy giant Ørsted issued a final investment decision on the H2RES renewable hydrogen demonstration project, a pivotal power-to-mobility project that will use 2 MW of offshore wind–fed electrolyzing capacity to produce around 1,000 kilograms (kg) of green hydrogen daily. The decision on Jan. 20 is a major boost for the H2RES project, which […]The post Ørsted Launches Pioneering Offshore Wind–to-Hydrogen Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Is a Microgrid Right for You? appeared first on POWER Magazine. A microgrid is a discrete energy system consisting of distributed energy resources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, backup generators, and battery storage systems, and loads capable of operating in parallel with, or independently from, the main power grid. A microgrid generally operates while connected to the grid, but importantly, it can break off and […]The post Is a Microgrid Right for You? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Biden Effects Regulatory Freeze, Revokes Trump Actions, Rejoins Paris Agreement appeared first on POWER Magazine. President Joe Biden just hours after his inauguration effected an immediate freeze on several Trump-era deregulatory actions that directly affect the power sector, and revoked a long list of rules and executive actions affecting the bulk power system. The president on Jan. 20 also kickstarted America’s return to the Paris Agreement, sending a brief letter […]The post Biden Effects Regulatory Freeze, Revokes Trump Actions, Rejoins Paris Agreement appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Court Kills Trump Rule on Power Plant Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine. A federal appeals court has vacated the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era greenhouse gas emission standards for power plants. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Jan. 19 said the measure intended to replace those standards, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, “rested critically on a mistaken […]The post Court Kills Trump Rule on Power Plant Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: ‘Dispatchable Power Through Commercial Fusion’ appeared first on POWER Magazine. The goal of economic power generation from fusion has been elusive, but that hasn’t deterred researchers from exploring ways to develop the technology in a way that would support commercial electricity production. POWER magazine has covered the evolution of fusion research and development for many years, and nuclear experts now think we could be just […]The post The POWER Interview: ‘Dispatchable Power Through Commercial Fusion’ appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NuScale SMR Chosen for UK Wind-Nuclear Hybrid appeared first on POWER Magazine. A British company announced it is joining with U.S.-based NuScale Power to develop a hybrid project using wind energy and small modular reactor (SMR) technology to produce power and green hydrogen. Shearwater Energy, a global energy services company, on Jan. 15 said it and NuScale have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on […]The post NuScale SMR Chosen for UK Wind-Nuclear Hybrid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE Suing Siemens, Alleging ‘Stolen Trade Secrets’ appeared first on POWER Magazine. General Electric (GE) has filed a lawsuit accusing “willful and malicious misappropriation of GE’s trade secrets” by Siemens Energy, charging that a current Siemens employee “knowingly and surreptitiously” received GE intellectual property, which led to Siemens using the information to improve its own bids for lucrative contracts supplying gas turbines to utilities. GE in the […]The post GE Suing Siemens, Alleging ‘Stolen Trade Secrets’ appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Ethane-Fueled Plant Planned for North Dakota appeared first on POWER Magazine. 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 […]The post Ethane-Fueled Plant Planned for North Dakota appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Total Grabs U.S. Solar and Storage, Joins Bid for Offshore Wind appeared first on POWER Magazine. French energy major Total has signed an agreement to develop 12 utility-scale solar and energy storage projects in the U.S., announcing the deal Jan. 14, the same day the company said it has joined with Spain’s Iberdrola in a bid for one of the world’s largest offshore wind projects. The moves continue Total’s diversification from […]The post Total Grabs U.S. Solar and Storage, Joins Bid for Offshore Wind appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vistra Energizes Massive 1.2-GWh Battery System at California Gas Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. Vistra Energy, the nation’s largest competitive generator, has begun operating a 300-MW/1,200-MWh lithium-ion battery storage system on its 1,020-MW combined cycle gas turbine Moss Landing power plant site in Monterey County, California. The battery storage system is the largest of its type in the world in terms of size and scale, and it towers over […]The post Vistra Energizes Massive 1.2-GWh Battery System at California Gas Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Big New Gas-Fired Plant Enters Commercial Operation in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine. 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 […]The post Big New Gas-Fired Plant Enters Commercial Operation in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Increase in COVID Cases Brings More Vogtle Delays appeared first on POWER Magazine. Georgia Power is adjusting the work schedule for the expansion of the Vogtle nuclear plant, with the company saying hot functional testing and fuel loading of the new Unit 3 will be delayed due to “a significant increase in COVID-19 cases” at the worksite near Waynesboro, Georgia. The utility, part of Southern Company, on Jan. […]The post Increase in COVID Cases Brings More Vogtle Delays appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE Rolls Out Nuclear Innovation ‘Blueprint’ Ahead of Biden Administration Takeover appeared first on POWER Magazine. As it readies for a leadership shuffle, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has rolled out an ambitious “blueprint” that urges continued technology innovation for existing nuclear, advanced nuclear, nuclear waste, and fuel cycles by the incoming Biden administration. At its core, the NE’s “Strategic Vision” released on Jan. 8 posits […]The post DOE Rolls Out Nuclear Innovation ‘Blueprint’ Ahead of Biden Administration Takeover appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post First Turbine Module Delivered for Turkish Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. Turkey’s first nuclear power plant reached a milestone with delivery of the first steam turbine module for the project, four months ahead of schedule. GE Steam Power, which is supplying all the major equipment for the plant’s four turbine islands, on Jan. 12 announced it had delivered the module to Atomenergomash, an engineering company and […]The post First Turbine Module Delivered for Turkish Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NuScale, UAMPS Kick Off Idaho SMR Nuclear Plant Licensing appeared first on POWER Magazine. NuScale Power, Fluor Corp., and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) have executed a series of major agreements to prepare for licensing of the Carbon Free Power Project (CFPP) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, effectively driving forward the nation’s first small modular reactor (SMR) plant. Fluor Corp., the majority investor in NuScale […]The post NuScale, UAMPS Kick Off Idaho SMR Nuclear Plant Licensing appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Understanding PAG- and PAO-Based Lubricants appeared first on POWER Magazine. Polyalkylene glycol (PAG) and polyalphaolefin (PAO) are two synthetic lubricant options for industrial applications. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each can help end-users decide which option is best for a given application. Why Synthetic Lubricants? According to analysis conducted by Kline & Co., more than 78% of all lubricant requirements in the world annually […]The post Understanding PAG- and PAO-Based Lubricants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Evaluating Energy Investments appeared first on POWER Magazine. Global upheaval in energy markets has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and by ever-changing political winds, with energy investors at times torn between finding the best returns while also considering the impact of climate change. Many economies depend on fossil fuels, so moves away from coal-fired power and other forms of thermal generation can […]The post The POWER Interview: Evaluating Energy Investments appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Final DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Awards Announced appeared first on POWER Magazine. Wrapping up an eventful year for advanced nuclear, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Nuclear Energy announced $20 million in awards for the third of three pathways under its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). The ARDP program, which the DOE officially launched on May 14, will leverage Congressionally appropriated funding to enable actual construction of […]The post Final DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Awards Announced appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Enhancing Operations and Maintenance with an EAM System appeared first on POWER Magazine. Enterprise asset management (EAM) involves a combination of software, systems, and services that are used to maintain and control operational assets and equipment. The aim is to optimize the quality and utilization of assets throughout their lifecycle, increase uptime, and reduce costs. EAM involves work management; asset maintenance; planning and scheduling; supply chain management; and […]The post Enhancing Operations and Maintenance with an EAM System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Gas-to-Power Emerging as Central to Africa’s Economic, Industrial Future appeared first on POWER Magazine. The energy industry in Africa is staging a comeback after the pandemic’s significant economic impact over 2020. In 2021 and beyond, according to the Africa Energy Chamber (AEC), the revival will focus heavily on gas for power. While much progress has been achieved in the region’s vast and diverse power space, Africa’s power sector continues […]The post Gas-to-Power Emerging as Central to Africa’s Economic, Industrial Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Natural Gas Power Reliance Factors Heavily in Massachusetts Net-Zero Actions appeared first on POWER Magazine. Lawmakers in Massachusetts have passed a bill that eyes net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions statewide by 2050, setting interim GHG reduction targets to achieve reductions of least 85% below 1990 levels within the next 30 years. On Jan. 4, both chambers of legislature passed S.2995, “An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy,” […]The post Natural Gas Power Reliance Factors Heavily in Massachusetts Net-Zero Actions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Biden Presidency Promises Change for Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. As we get closer to the presidential inauguration, and with President-elect Biden’s announcement of his Cabinet picks for the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of the Interior (Interior), we begin the inevitable hypothesizing about which “Day 1 actions” will be taken, which actions will be among the administration’s “100 […]The post Biden Presidency Promises Change for Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post South Korea Lenders Will End Support for Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine. Affiliates of one of South Korea’s largest business conglomerates announced they no longer will provide financial support for coal projects, putting in jeopardy plans to finish a 2,100-MW coal-fired power plant project that has been expected to come online in 2024. The six financial affiliates of the Hanwha Group, during a video conference on Jan. […]The post South Korea Lenders Will End Support for Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post A Look at the Year Ahead and How Microgrids Are Shaping the Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. 2020 was a transformative year for the power sector, underlining both new challenges and potential opportunities. We not only saw how severe weather event threats, such as the wildfires and public safety power shutoffs in California, continued to illustrate the fragility of our existing centralized electric distribution system, but we simultaneously experienced the struggle of […]The post A Look at the Year Ahead and How Microgrids Are Shaping the Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Renewable Energy Growth Continues appeared first on POWER Magazine. 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 renewableThe post The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Renewable Energy Growth Continues appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Eight International Power Sector Trends to Watch in 2021 and Beyond appeared first on POWER Magazine. Roiled over 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic, two much-watched international power market outlooks surveying short-term and long-term implications caution the road ahead will be ridden by complexity. TheThe post Eight International Power Sector Trends to Watch in 2021 and Beyond appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post A Reactive Solution to Renewables’ Growth on the Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine. Electricity transmission network operators are being tasked with adding more renewable energy resources to the power grid. The use of static VAR compensators (SVCs) is growing as a means to control voltageThe post A Reactive Solution to Renewables’ Growth on the Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.