POWER Magazine

The post Texas Gov. Declares ERCOT Reform ‘Emergency’; Millions Still Without Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has said reforming the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is an emergency item for state legislators in the current session, as power outages continue across the state for another day due to record cold temperatures as part of a massive winter storm. The governor on Feb. 16 said he wants […]The post Texas Gov. Declares ERCOT Reform ‘Emergency’; Millions Still Without Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post ERCOT Sheds Load as Extreme Cold Forces Generators Offline; MISO, SPP Brace for Worsening System Conditions appeared first on POWER Magazine. Historically frigid temperatures across Texas forced 34 GW of generation—across all fuel types—off the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) system, prompting the grid operator to initiate rotating outages starting at 1:25 a.m. CST on Feb. 15. ERCOT said it expects outages will likely last at least through Feb. 16. This article has been updated […]The post ERCOT Sheds Load as Extreme Cold Forces Generators Offline; MISO, SPP Brace for Worsening System Conditions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE Turbines Will Supply Europe’s Largest Onshore Wind Farm appeared first on POWER Magazine. GE Renewable Energy and independent asset manager Luxcara announced an agreement to develop Europe’s largest onshore wind farm, an installation that includes a 25-year full-turbine service and maintenance contract. Luxcara has begun infrastructure work on the project in Sweden. GE Renewable Energy on Feb. 15 said it expects to begin installing the first of 137 […]The post GE Turbines Will Supply Europe’s Largest Onshore Wind Farm appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Attracting the New Utility Workforce appeared first on POWER Magazine. The global energy sector, including utilities, is looking at a talent drain. As older workers retire, the competition to recruit younger workers to replace them has heated up. The power generation industry today is more digitized, reliant on expertise in analyzing data and developing software. That means many workers who could move into positions at […]The post The POWER Interview: Attracting the New Utility Workforce appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hitachi ABB Power Grids Reshapes COVID-Challenged Customer Engagement appeared first on POWER Magazine. In a pioneering effort to overcome pandemic challenges that have hampered its interaction with customers, partners, and other stakeholders, Hitachi ABB Power Grids on Feb. 9 inaugurated a “customer experience” center at the company’s North American headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina. The North America Customer Experience Center, which is located in a state-of-the-art facility on […]The post Hitachi ABB Power Grids Reshapes COVID-Challenged Customer Engagement appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Is Nuclear Power Poised for a Resurgence? appeared first on POWER Magazine. Since 1990, nuclear power has consistently supplied about 19% to 20% of the electricity used in the U.S. However, very few nuclear plants have been added to the U.S. fleet over that time. Currently, the only new nuclear project in the U.S. is Southern Company’s Plant Vogtle expansion, which is expected to add two new […]The post Is Nuclear Power Poised for a Resurgence? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE Gas Turbines Will Replace Coal at Colorado Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. The plan to retire the last coal-fired units at a power plant in Colorado has moved a step closer to completion, with the announcement that Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) has chosen General Electric (GE) technology to keep the plant operating at least temporarily as a gas-fired facility. GE on Feb. 10 announced that six of […]The post GE Gas Turbines Will Replace Coal at Colorado Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Honeywell to Reopen Sole U.S. Uranium Conversion Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. Honeywell is gearing up to reopen the Metropolis Works plant in Metropolis, Illinois—the U.S.’s sole uranium conversion facility—and restart production of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) by early 2023. The Charlotte, North Carolina–based global technology giant told POWER in a statement on Feb. 9 it has communicated to employees and officials its intent to reopen the facility, which […]The post Honeywell to Reopen Sole U.S. Uranium Conversion Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE, Labs Join Project for 3D-Printed Wind Turbine Blades appeared first on POWER Magazine. Three GE business units will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) to develop and demonstrate an integrated additive manufacturing process for high-performance blade designs as part of a $6.7 million project funded by the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO). Under the AMO’s proposed “Additive […]The post GE, Labs Join Project for 3D-Printed Wind Turbine Blades appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Siemens, Air Liquide Join in Hydrogen Effort appeared first on POWER Magazine. Air Liquide SA, the French industrial-gas supplier, and Germany’s Siemens Energy AG announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop electrolysis and hydrogen technology. The companies on Feb. 8 said they will collaborate on industrial-scale hydrogen projects. They said the joint venture is designed to support the development and mass manufacturing of […]The post Siemens, Air Liquide Join in Hydrogen Effort appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: AI, Big Data, and Efficiency appeared first on POWER Magazine. The increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the power generation sector has a goal of making electricity production both more efficient, and secure. Developing ways to more quickly analyze ever-larger amounts of data is driving innovation among those people responsible for the operation of power plants and generation equipment. Many […]The post The POWER Interview: AI, Big Data, and Efficiency appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post South Korea Has Plan for $43 Billion Offshore Wind Farm appeared first on POWER Magazine. The South Korean government has announced a major part of the country’s effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. President Moon Jae-in on Feb. 5 attended a ceremony in which contracts were signed for a 48.5 trillion won ($43.2 billion) plan to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm by 2030, an installation that would […]The post South Korea Has Plan for $43 Billion Offshore Wind Farm appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Retirement Set for Wisconsin’s Second-Largest Coal Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Columbia Energy Center, a two-unit 1,100-MW coal-fired station located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, south of Portage, will be permanently retired by the end of 2024. Alliant Energy, which co-owns the facility with Wisconsin Public Service Corp. (a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group) and Madison Gas and Electric Co., made the announcement on Feb. […]The post Retirement Set for Wisconsin’s Second-Largest Coal Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Montana District Court Vacates EPA’s ‘Secret Science’ Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) “Secret Science” rule establishing new standards for consideration of certain “pivotal” scientific studies, which was slated to go into effect on Jan. 6 of this year, has been vacated and remanded by the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. The decision reached Feb. 1 impacts the power generation […]The post Montana District Court Vacates EPA’s ‘Secret Science’ Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Big Boost for Framatome’s Accident-Tolerant Nuclear Fuel appeared first on POWER Magazine. In another significant boost to commercial deployment of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) at existing nuclear reactors, the first 18-month fuel cycle test of Framatome’s GAIA Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF) at Southern Co.’s Vogtle 2 has “demonstrated expected results and excellent performance,” Framatome said on Feb. 2. Southern Nuclear installed four GAIA lead fuel assemblies (LFAs) […]The post Big Boost for Framatome’s Accident-Tolerant Nuclear Fuel appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post BOEM, Bolstered by Biden Offshore Wind Agenda, Resumes Vineyard Wind Review appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will resume an environmental review for the 800-MW Vineyard Wind project offshore Massachusetts as part of a larger push by the Department of Interior (DOI), its parent agency, to accelerate development of renewables on public lands and waters. BOEM, an agency that manages U.S. offshore energy and mineral […]The post BOEM, Bolstered by Biden Offshore Wind Agenda, Resumes Vineyard Wind Review appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Morgan Stanley: Coal-Fired Power Off U.S. Grid by 2033 appeared first on POWER Magazine. A report from Morgan Stanley, a global wealth management company, said coal-fired power generation is likely to disappear from the U.S. power grid by 2033, largely displaced by renewable energy resources. The report published Feb. 1 said renewable energy such as solar and wind power will provide nearly 40% of U.S. electricity in 2030, and […]The post Morgan Stanley: Coal-Fired Power Off U.S. Grid by 2033 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Siemens Will Cut 7,800 Jobs From Gas and Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. Siemens Energy announced it will cut 7,800 jobs from its gas and power division by 2025 as the company attempts to be more competitive in a global energy market that is moving away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. The company on Feb. 2 in its latest earnings release said it plans to jettison […]The post Siemens Will Cut 7,800 Jobs From Gas and Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hualong One Reactor Now Operating in China appeared first on POWER Magazine. The first of two new reactors at a nuclear power plant in China has entered commercial operation, becoming that country’s 50th operating reactor, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA). Hualong One is a third-generation pressurized water reactor, developed by China National Nuclear Corp. (CNNC) and China General Nuclear Power. It is the fifth […]The post Hualong One Reactor Now Operating in China appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Using Data for Smarter Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine. Power plant operators continually search for ways to make electricity production and transmission more efficient. With more generation sources coming online, the use of artificial intelligence and machineThe post Using Data for Smarter Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Countries Roll Out Green Hydrogen Strategies, Electrolyzer Targets appeared first on POWER Magazine. Countries are increasingly embedding green hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors within ambitious strategies. In December, Canada joined a long list of countries, which includes FranceThe post Countries Roll Out Green Hydrogen Strategies, Electrolyzer Targets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Renewable Energy Insiders Remain Optimistic About the Future appeared first on POWER Magazine. It was about a year ago that COVID-19 gained the world’s attention. The first laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 22The post Renewable Energy Insiders Remain Optimistic About the Future appeared first on 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.