POWER Magazine

The post Former Westinghouse Executive Charged with Conspiracy, Fraud in Connection with V.C. Summer Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Former Westinghouse Electric Co. Senior Vice President Jeffrey A. Benjamin was charged with 16 felony counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, securities fraud, and causing a publicly traded company to keep a false record, for his part in failing to truthfully report information regarding construction of new nuclear units at the V.C. Summer nuclear plant in […]The post Former Westinghouse Executive Charged with Conspiracy, Fraud in Connection with V.C. Summer Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vistra Finishes Second Phase of California Energy Storage Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Vistra, the Texas-based integrated retail electricity and power generation company, said it has completed the second phase of its Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility expansion project in California. The group on Aug. 19 announced it has added 100 MW/400 MWh to what at present is the world’s largest battery energy storage facility. “This facility provides […]The post Vistra Finishes Second Phase of California Energy Storage Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post EIA: Large-Scale U.S. Battery Power Capacity Slated for Fourfold Expansion in Two Years appeared first on POWER Magazine. Large-scale battery power capacity in the U.S. surged 35% over 2020 to reach 1,650 MW, and according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), utilities are planning to ramp up that capacity by 10 GW over the next two years. In a newly released report, Battery Storage in the United States: An Update on Market Trends, […]The post EIA: Large-Scale U.S. Battery Power Capacity Slated for Fourfold Expansion in Two Years appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Is the World on the Brink of a Mass Extinction Event? appeared first on POWER Magazine. It’s not unusual for species to go extinct; it happens all the time. In fact, scientists estimate that at least 99.9% of all species of plants and animals that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. That’s pretty amazing, considering how many species still exist—up to 8.7 million, according to some experts. Mass extinction […]The post Is the World on the Brink of a Mass Extinction Event? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Not Always Plug and Play—Challenges Utilities Face Managing DERs on Their Grids appeared first on POWER Magazine. The proliferation of renewable energy is necessary for communities and countries to meet their goals of reducing carbon emissions, but it also presents new challenges for those managing power distribution. Much of the world’s renewable energy is now generated and stored by distributed energy resources (DERs), such as residential solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles […]The post Not Always Plug and Play—Challenges Utilities Face Managing DERs on Their Grids appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Seizing the Opportunity to Supply Better Energy Solutions via Carbon Capture appeared first on POWER Magazine. Clean firm power, which refers to carbon capture and storage (CCS)-enabled, baseload, dispatchable electricity, is critical to achieving emission reduction goals and meeting energy demands affordably and reliably. New plant designs and retrofitting of existing power plants should be advanced rapidly, while at the same time building jobs and wealth creation across many parts of […]The post Seizing the Opportunity to Supply Better Energy Solutions via Carbon Capture appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Using Asset Data to Create Effective Maintenance Strategies appeared first on POWER Magazine. Relationships between asset data utilization and maintenance strategies often get complicated, especially in cases where data collection practices are designed to merely follow and not build strategies. In the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) sector, the best approach is to optimize the strategy from time to time, which requires comprehensive analysis of asset data collection […]The post Using Asset Data to Create Effective Maintenance Strategies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post PSEG Agrees to Sell 6.8-GW Fossil Fleet to ArcLight Capital appeared first on POWER Magazine. Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has agreed to sell its 6.8-MW portfolio of non-nuclear generating assets—a fleet of 13 gas plants—to a fund controlled by ArcLight Capital Partners LLC for about $1.92 billion. The sale, which effectively sets up its exit from the competitive generation business, is expected to be completed late in the fourth […]The post PSEG Agrees to Sell 6.8-GW Fossil Fleet to ArcLight Capital appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Gas Exploration and Production Company to Buy Gas-Fired Power Plant in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine. BKV Corp., a privately held natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, said it will purchase the Temple 1 power plant in Temple, Texas. The deal, valued at $430 million and subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. “We’re excited about this acquisition, and […]The post Gas Exploration and Production Company to Buy Gas-Fired Power Plant in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Decarbonizing the Power Grid with Hydrogen and Advanced Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine. Many leaders around the world are focused on decarbonizing their countries’ energy supplies. For most, that means adding renewable energy resources to their electricity mix, and developing a path aimed at retiring coal and other fossil-fueled power plants. Yet, these are not the only decarbonization options. Research and development (R&D) efforts are also ongoing to […]The post Decarbonizing the Power Grid with Hydrogen and Advanced Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post A Guide to Valve Selection: The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Ball Valves appeared first on POWER Magazine. Before selecting an engineered solution for any fluid control application, it is crucial to understand the unique application and overall value that each ball valve provides. Ball valves come in a wide variety of styles, materials and actuation types, with each form offering different results. Here’s a guide to help you learn what you need […]The post A Guide to Valve Selection: The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Ball Valves appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Korean Group Buying Renewable Energy Giant in $855M Deal appeared first on POWER Magazine. South Korea-based Hanwha Solutions announced it plans to acquire renewable energy developer RES France in an $855.2 million deal expected to be finalized in the next two months. RES France is a subsidiary of UK-based RES Group, which calls itself the world’s largest independent renewable energy company. The agreement announced Aug. 9 is led by […]The post Korean Group Buying Renewable Energy Giant in $855M Deal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post New GE Gas-Fired Plant Part of Taiwan’s Energy Transition appeared first on POWER Magazine. A new combined heat and power gas-fired plant, designed to support increased power generation as part of Taiwan’s developing energy policy, has entered commercial operation. General Electric (GE) on Aug. 10 said the 535-MW Chia Hui facility, using GE’s advanced HA technology, is located in Minxiong Township in Chiayi County, the sixth-largest county in Taiwan. […]The post New GE Gas-Fired Plant Part of Taiwan’s Energy Transition appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Nuclear First: 3D-Printed Safety-Related Components Installed at Browns Ferry appeared first on POWER Magazine. Marking a notable milestone for nuclear component additive manufacturing, four 3D-printed fuel assembly channel fasteners have been installed and are now operational at Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 2 in Athens, Alabama. Channel fasteners are a type of bracket that attaches to the top of the nuclear fuel assembly to hold […]The post Nuclear First: 3D-Printed Safety-Related Components Installed at Browns Ferry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Icebreaker Reactor Approved for Ground-Based Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. The international business arm of Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company has received a license that will allow construction of small modular reactors (SMRs), based on the design used in the country’s icebreaker shipping fleet, at ground-based nuclear power plants. Rusatom Overseas JSC (RAOS JSC), the company representing parent company Rosatom’s international interests, on Aug. 9 […]The post Icebreaker Reactor Approved for Ground-Based Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hydropower Levels Under Careful Watch as Drought Ravages the West appeared first on POWER Magazine. Intensifying drought conditions in California and historically low water levels at the Oroville Dam on Aug. 5 forced the state’s Department of Water Resources (CDWR) to shut down the 644-MW Edward Hyatt Power Plant—the fourth largest energy producer of all California’s hydroelectric facilities. Similar conditions across the West are prompting a careful watch over hydropower facilities.The post Hydropower Levels Under Careful Watch as Drought Ravages the West appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Urgency Ramping Up to Commercialize Nuclear Accident Tolerant Fuels by 2025 appeared first on POWER Magazine. Marking another milestone in an industry-led accelerated quest to commercialize accident tolerant fuels (ATF), nuclear fuel test rods containing Westinghouse’s EnCore technologies that completed their inaugural cycle at Exelon’s Byron nuclear plant have shipped to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). While initial visual inspections show “no signs of degradation,” the irradiated fuel will now be […]The post Urgency Ramping Up to Commercialize Nuclear Accident Tolerant Fuels by 2025 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Why UK Businesses Should Invest in New Machinery and Plant Equipment Now appeared first on POWER Magazine. After more than 12 months of unprecedented working conditions and extremely tough challenges for power companies, the most sensible route for businesses in the coming year seems, on the face of it, to be to consolidate and let things settle whilst the economy stabilises. However, economic predictions for the next year tell us that savvy […]The post Why UK Businesses Should Invest in New Machinery and Plant Equipment Now appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post 4 Commonly Found Problems in Power Distribution Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine. Like any equipment, each piece of a power distribution system has a chance of failing at some point. Even if installed properly, there are several factors that can cause failures, such as extreme currents and voltages, animal interference, inclement weather, and so on. Here are four problems that you need to know about. Overhead Line […]The post 4 Commonly Found Problems in Power Distribution Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post China Brings ACPR-1000 Reactor Online at Hongyanhe appeared first on POWER Magazine. The first reactor in the second phase of an expansion at the Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant in China has entered commercial operation, with five reactors now online at the site in Liaoning Province in eastern China. China General Nuclear (CGN) on Aug. 1 announced the 1,080-MW Unit 5 at Hongyanhe is now in its steady-state […]The post China Brings ACPR-1000 Reactor Online at Hongyanhe appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post 1.2-GW Dedicated Hydrogen-Fired Power Plant Starts Taking Shape in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine. Entergy Texas will seek approval for a 1.2-GW hydrogen and natural gas–fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power facility in Orange County, Texas. The Beaumont-based Entergy Corp. subsidiary on July 29 announced it intends to file a Certificate for Convenience and Necessity with the Public Utility Commission of Texas “within the coming months” to build […]The post 1.2-GW Dedicated Hydrogen-Fired Power Plant Starts Taking Shape in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Group Buys Pennsylvania Coal Refuse Plants to Power Bitcoin Mining appeared first on POWER Magazine. A digital mining company has an agreement to purchase a second power plant in Pennsylvania, as the group increases its coal refuse reclamation operations in the state to provide energy for its bitcoin mining operations. Stronghold Digital Mining, a bitcoin (BTC) miner headquartered in Kennerdell, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 3 said its purchase of the Panther […]The post Group Buys Pennsylvania Coal Refuse Plants to Power Bitcoin Mining appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Remarkable Responsibility of Coal Refuse Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. West Virginia’s only remaining coal refuse–fueled facility, the 80-MW Grant Town Power Project, is a 2021 Top Plant winner for powering on, despite challenges, to remediate 530,000 tons of coal refuse annually while reclaiming roughly 30 acres of land per year. The post The Remarkable Responsibility of Coal Refuse Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Cause for Celebration–Plant Provides Power, Economic Boost to Pakistan appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Engro Powergen Thar Ltd. power station is transforming a desert region that has long sought reliable electricity to support its economy, create jobs, utilize an abundant natural resource, and help solve anThe post Cause for Celebration–Plant Provides Power, Economic Boost to Pakistan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Taean IGCC: Continued Operation, Continued Achievement appeared first on POWER Magazine. Korea Western Power’s Taean Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plant this year marked 4,000 hours of consecutive accident-free operations, setting a new world record for IGCC power plantsThe post Taean IGCC: Continued Operation, Continued Achievement appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Solar and Wind Power Cost-Value Conundrum appeared first on POWER Magazine. The costs for wind and solar power generating systems have decreased dramatically over the past decade. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global weighted-average levelizedThe post The Solar and Wind Power Cost-Value Conundrum appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Communities Benefit from Microgrid Milestones appeared first on POWER Magazine. A remote area in Australia recently recorded an important power generation achievement, as the region received all its electricity from solar power and battery energy storage. The town of Onslow, located inThe post Communities Benefit from Microgrid Milestones appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Future Electric Grid: How HVDC Could Transform the U.S. Power System appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. electric grid is a complex web of interconnected power lines. It functions remarkably well, considering that it is a constant work in progress. Yet, what has served adequately in the past may not beThe post The Future Electric Grid: How HVDC Could Transform the U.S. Power System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post China Starts Up Turbines at 16-GW Hydro Project After Four-Year Construction Period appeared first on POWER Magazine. China in late June began operating two of the world’s first 1-GW hydropower turbines at the Baihetan Hydropower Station in southwest China. When the project’s 16 generating units are completed by July 2022The post China Starts Up Turbines at 16-GW Hydro Project After Four-Year Construction Period appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Perspectives on Energy Recovery from U.S. Plastic Waste appeared first on POWER Magazine. The truth about plastic placed in recycling bins is that most ends up in landfills. Converting the energy stored in plastic into electricity via waste-to-energy power plants offers a beneficial optionThe post Perspectives on Energy Recovery from U.S. Plastic Waste appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Fuel Loading Only Major Milestone Left for Vogtle Unit 3 Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Tom Fanning, CEO of Southern Company, reported during the company’s earnings call on July 29 that hot functional testing (HFT) had been completed on Vogtle Unit 3, and that the “next and final major milestone” is fuel load. “We project fuel load to occur sometime near year-end 2021 or early in 2022,” he said. The […]The post Fuel Loading Only Major Milestone Left for Vogtle Unit 3 Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Leveling the Market Playing Field for Hybrid Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is an independent agency that, among other things, regulates the interstate transmission of electricity. Its ultimate mission is to “Assist consumers in obtaining economically efficient, safe, reliable, and secure energy services at a reasonable cost through appropriate regulatory and market means, and collaborative efforts.” In the past, FERC has […]The post Leveling the Market Playing Field for Hybrid Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Exelon Set to Decommission Illinois Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. Exelon Generation has filed plans to decommission its Dresden and Byron nuclear power plants in Illinois, citing a lack of action from state lawmakers on clean energy legislation that would help save the facilities. The nation’s largest operator of nuclear power plants on July 28 said it has submitted its plans to the Nuclear Regulatory […]The post Exelon Set to Decommission Illinois Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Biden Signs National Security Memo Addressing Industrial Control System Cybersecurity appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Biden administration is moving to add more safeguards to the nation’s critical infrastructure by establishing a new voluntary public-private collaboration that will focus wholly on industrial control systems (ICS) cybersecurity. The administration formally launched the “Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative” in the “National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems” signed by […]The post Biden Signs National Security Memo Addressing Industrial Control System Cybersecurity appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Data Breaches Cost More Than $4 Million Per Incident, Power Industry at High Risk appeared first on POWER Magazine. IBM Security reported on July 28 that the average cost of recent data breaches was $4.24 million per incident, the highest cost ever recorded by the company in 17 years of tracking the metric. Notably, data breaches in the U.S. were by far the costliest, exceeding $9 million per incident on average. The findings were […]The post Data Breaches Cost More Than $4 Million Per Incident, Power Industry at High Risk appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post EPA Will Strengthen Limits on Wastewater Pollution from Coal-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to establish more stringent standards on water pollution from coal-fired power plants. The EPA on July 26 announced it would reinstate Obama-era regulations that were rolled back by the Trump administration. An EPA official on Monday said the new rule would impact about 100 coal-fired plants. The agency […]The post EPA Will Strengthen Limits on Wastewater Pollution from Coal-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post G20 Environment Ministers: No Consensus on Phasing Out Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S., UK and other countries want world governments to commit to a phaseout of the use and financing of coal-fired power generation, but officials who met at the G20 Environment Ministers Meeting summit in Naples, Italy, this past week ended their talks without an agreement on the future of the fuel. The topic will […]The post G20 Environment Ministers: No Consensus on Phasing Out Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Five Steps to Streamlined Asset Management and a Sustainable Network appeared first on POWER Magazine. How do utility asset managers deal with risks and failures of assets in the long-term? How much should they be budgeting for maintenance, asset renewal, and investments? The answers are not always obvious for asset managers that are faced with increasingly severe weather and the need for strengthened electrical grids. Another layer of unpredictability is […]The post Five Steps to Streamlined Asset Management and a Sustainable Network appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post FirstEnergy Federally Charged in Ohio Nuclear Bailout Scheme appeared first on POWER Magazine. Facing a federal charge for honest services wire fraud in a corruption case related to the billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout in Ohio, FirstEnergy Corp. has agreed to abide by the terms of a three-year deferred prosecution settlement to get the charge dismissed. In court filings on July 22, the Akron, Ohio-based public utility holding company […]The post FirstEnergy Federally Charged in Ohio Nuclear Bailout Scheme appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post American Clean Power and Energy Storage Associations Pursuing a Merger appeared first on POWER Magazine. The American Clean Power Association (ACP)—a 2021-launched pan-renewables trade group—may be poised to merge with the U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) starting on Jan. 1, 2022. The groups’ intent to pursue a merger, announced on July 22, still requires ESA’s member approval. If successful, it would combine the two trade association’s staff programs and members, […]The post American Clean Power and Energy Storage Associations Pursuing a Merger appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Progress on Kairos Power’s Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Leaders in Tennessee and officials from Kairos Power announced last week that a privately funded project to establish a low-power demonstration reactor at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge is moving forward. Alameda, California-based Kairos Power plans to invest $100 million and create 55 jobs to deploy its demonstration reactor, called Hermes. The […]The post Progress on Kairos Power’s Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Years in the Making, GE’s Recent GT26 Gas Turbine Upgrade Exceeds Expectations appeared first on POWER Magazine. GE recently announced the completion of the first implementation of its GT26 High-Efficiency (HE) upgrade for the GT26 gas turbine fleet. The work was done at Uniper’s Enfield Power Station (Figure 1) in north London. The upgrade was installed to improve the performance and extend the maintenance interval of the combined cycle plant, according to […]The post Years in the Making, GE’s Recent GT26 Gas Turbine Upgrade Exceeds Expectations appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Emergency Valve Repair Helps Power Plant Meet Operational Commitments appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Niagara Falls garbage burning plant recycles waste and transforms it into usable electricity and steam energy for multiple industrial hosts nearby. That energy is generated at the plant through nine boilers and two steam turbines. Steam conditioning valves are utilized at the plant for turbine bypass and to supplement the turbine output if customer […]The post Emergency Valve Repair Helps Power Plant Meet Operational Commitments appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post New GE Digital Tool Part of Grid Management Advancements appeared first on POWER Magazine. Energy companies continue to work on providing solutions to optimize the power grid, part of their efforts to support the integration of renewables and help ensure the reliable delivery of electricity. Such systems are part of the digital transformation of power generation, bringing increased flexibility to the power supply, supporting faster power restoration after outages, […]The post New GE Digital Tool Part of Grid Management Advancements appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post German Flood Damage at Power Plant, Energy Facilities Extensive appeared first on POWER Magazine. Numerous energy facilities were afflicted by the major flooding event that inundated parts of Europe last week, and at least one major power generator has said the damage will likely mount into a “mid-double-digit million euro sum.” The flooding, which was caused by a cold, low-pressure area dubbed “Bernd,” crawled slowly across the continent over two […]The post German Flood Damage at Power Plant, Energy Facilities Extensive appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post TransAlta Completes Second Coal-to-Gas Conversion appeared first on POWER Magazine. A Canada-based energy company has completed the second of three planned coal-to-gas conversions at its thermal power plants in Alberta. TransAlta Corp. on July 19 said the conversion of the 395-MW Unit 2 at the Keephills plant near Wabamun, about 45 miles west of Edmonton, continues the company’s transition away from coal-fired power generation. TransAlta […]The post TransAlta Completes Second Coal-to-Gas Conversion appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Career Tips for Women in Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. The energy industry is booming, and it’s likely to stay that way as it evolves over the coming decades. This is good news for women, who make up a small percentage of workers in the sector: That means there’s plenty of room for growth. As of 2019, women filled just 6% of executive seats on […]The post Career Tips for Women in Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Arizona Solar Project to Supply Microsoft Now Online appeared first on POWER Magazine. A solar energy project that will provide power for Microsoft has begun commercial operation in Arizona, with the project developer announcing term financing has been completed. Longroad Energy, a Boston-based renewable energy developer that also has offices in California and Maine, on July 20 said the 200-MW Sun Streams 2 array—one of four Maricopa County-based […]The post Arizona Solar Project to Supply Microsoft Now Online appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post El Dabaa First of ‘Several’ Nuclear Reactors for Egypt appeared first on POWER Magazine. Construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant is moving forward, and a government official said the country plans to build “several” more reactors “in various regions” to help support economic development and increasing demand for power. Hesham Hegazy, who leads the nuclear fuel sector for Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), made the comments during […]The post El Dabaa First of ‘Several’ Nuclear Reactors for Egypt appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post UK’s First Gas-Fired Allam Cycle Power Plant Taking Shape appeared first on POWER Magazine. The inventor of the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle, a novel power cycle that uses supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), is collaborating with a subsidiary of Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries to potentially develop the UK’s first 300-MW natural gas–fired NET Power station at an existing site at Teesside, northeastern England. Zero Degrees Whitetail Development Ltd. (ZDW), a subsidiary of North Carolina-based […]The post UK’s First Gas-Fired Allam Cycle Power Plant Taking Shape appeared first on POWER Magazine.