POWER Magazine

The post West Virginia Natural Gas Power Project Shelved appeared first on POWER Magazine. A developer has shelved a 920-MW natural gas-fired power plant planned for Brooke County, West Virginia, citing “changing conditions in the energy and financial markets” and alleged coal industry interference. Energy Solutions Consortium (ESC), a single purpose entity engaged in developing natural gas-fired power plants in West Virginia and Pennsylvania that has been active since […]The post West Virginia Natural Gas Power Project Shelved appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post China Brings 2.2-GW Solar Park Online appeared first on POWER Magazine. A Chinese company announced it has brought the world’s second-largest solar farm into commercial operation. Sungrow, which supplies inverters for renewable energy projects, and the state-owned utility Huanghe Hydropower Development on Oct. 9 said a 2.2-GW capacity solar park in the northwest province of Qinghai is now online. The Qinghai project trails only the 2.3-GW […]The post China Brings 2.2-GW Solar Park Online appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Energy-Sector Threat: How to Address Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities appeared first on POWER Magazine. Electric-power and gas companies are especially vulnerable to cyberattacks, but a structured approach that applies communication, organizational, and process frameworks can significantly reduce cyber-related risks. In our experience working with utility companies, we have observed three characteristics that make the sector especially vulnerable to contemporary cyberthreats. First is an increased number of threats and actors […]The post The Energy-Sector Threat: How to Address Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE Has Chosen Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Winners appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Department of Energy (DOE) on Oct. 7 notified Congress that it has chosen recipients for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and will make its selections public “next week.” The ARDP program, which the DOE officially launched on May 14, will essentially focus DOE and non-federal resources (through cost-shared agreements with industry) to enable […]The post DOE Has Chosen Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Winners appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Taking Lithium-Ion Batteries to the Next Level appeared first on POWER Magazine. Although the first lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery was conceived more than 50 years ago, the technology continues to be refined and improved today. Scientists and engineers are constantly modifying and testing electrolytes, anodes, and cathodes in an effort to make Li-ion batteries more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and safer. Chicago, Illinois-based NanoGraf Technologies is one company working to […]The post Taking Lithium-Ion Batteries to the Next Level appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post In Boost to Canada’s Nuclear Roadmap, OPG Advances Work with Three SMR Developers appeared first on POWER Magazine. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) took another step to bolster plans to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) in Ontario, announcing it is advancing engineering and design work with three major advanced nuclear reactor developers: GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), Terrestrial Energy, and X-energy. The announcement on Oct. 6 stems from a “due diligence” process OPG held […]The post In Boost to Canada’s Nuclear Roadmap, OPG Advances Work with Three SMR Developers appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE Supports CCUS Retrofit for San Juan Coal Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a report that says retrofitting the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station (SJGS) in New Mexico with carbon capture technology would bring more jobs and tax revenue to the region than replacing the power plant with renewable energy. Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes presented the report’s findings […]The post DOE Supports CCUS Retrofit for San Juan Coal Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Mixed Reactions on Looming DOE NOPR for Bulk Power System Security appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Department of Energy (DOE) will issue a notice of proposed rule-making (NOPR) to implement President Trump’s broad bulk power system (BPS) security executive order (EO) “later this fall,” a DOE official confirmed to POWER on Oct. 5. Though the NOPR is delayed beyond the 150-day timeframe set by the EO, various BPS stakeholders are […]The post Mixed Reactions on Looming DOE NOPR for Bulk Power System Security appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Feb. 26 EPA and Utilities Are “On the Wrong Track,” Say Experts (AL) Feb. 5 NRC Completes Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report (AL) Activists Show Up in Droves for EPA Ozone Hearing (AL) Jan. 29 New NRC Chairman Identifies Priorities and Challenges (AL) MIT Study: Carbon Sequestration May Not Work as Advertised (AL) Jan. […]The post POWERnews Stories [DO NOT PUBLISH] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Cleaning Up a Radiologically Contaminated Site appeared first on POWER Magazine. In the 1940s, the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant was built in unprecedented secrecy as part of the Manhattan Project. Its purpose was to provide enriched uranium for the world’s first atomic bomb, and it expanded operations during the Cold War, producing enriched uranium for defense and commercial purposes. Uranium enrichment operations were halted at […]The post The POWER Interview: Cleaning Up a Radiologically Contaminated Site appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Economics Drive Design of DER Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine. Distributed energy systems are transforming the way power is produced and distributed. The decentralized model of power generation, where energy is produced closer to where it will be used, rather than at a large plant elsewhere and sent through the traditional grid, has several advantages, including reducing transmission losses and lowering carbon emissions. An Oct. […]The post Economics Drive Design of DER Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Integrating Battery Storage with Renewable Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine. Most new utility-scale renewable energy projects, such as installations of solar and wind generation, are now including battery storage. The growing trend of integrating storage is making such projects more financially attractive, as it enhances the generation profile of the installation. Storage helps smooth the power supply, enabling electricity to flow from a project even […]The post Integrating Battery Storage with Renewable Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Microgrids Increase Reliability, Resiliency appeared first on POWER Magazine. Increasing the reliability and resiliency of the electricity supply is a focus of today’s power generation industry. In concert with that, more and more utilities, companies, and institutions are establishing internal clean energy goals, wanting to reduce their carbon footprint while ensuring a consistent supply of power for their operations. An (date) session of Experience […]The post Microgrids Increase Reliability, Resiliency appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Utilities Challenged by Shortfall From Unpaid Bills appeared first on POWER Magazine. As many as 179 million Americans are at risk of losing utility services as the country heads toward winter, and electric and gas utility companies are looking at $24.3 billion in unpaid bills, according to an analysis released Oct. 1 by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA). Many utilities at the start of the […]The post Utilities Challenged by Shortfall From Unpaid Bills appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post It’s Fair to Say – New Plant Brings Benefits to Pennsylvania appeared first on POWER Magazine. Competitive Power Ventures is known for building efficient and technologically advanced gas-fired facilities. The company’s Fairview Energy Center is its latest achievement, transforming a brownfield siteThe post It’s Fair to Say – New Plant Brings Benefits to Pennsylvania appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Promising Power Plant Plots Province’s Future appeared first on POWER Magazine. The once coal-heavy Canadian province of Saskatchewan wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its power generation sector, and a new combined cycle natural gas-fired plant is a key part of that effortThe post Promising Power Plant Plots Province’s Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Global Offshore Wind Capacity Slated to Multiply Eight-Fold by 2030 appeared first on POWER Magazine. Offshore wind capacity is slated to surge to more than 234 GW by 2030—a remarkable boost when compared to the current 29.1 GW that was installed worldwide at the end of 2019, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said in an August-released analysis of the sector. In the second edition of its Global Offshore Wind […]The post Global Offshore Wind Capacity Slated to Multiply Eight-Fold by 2030 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post THE BIG PICTURE [Infographic]: The LNG Trade Shakeup appeared first on POWER Magazine. In 2019, global liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports reached 482 billion cubic meters, up 13% from 2018, according to BloombergNEF figures cited in the International Gas Union’s August–released Global Gas Report 2020. Last year, the world also saw a definitive shakeup in rankings of importers and exporters. Compared to 2018, LNG imports by Japan and […]The post THE BIG PICTURE [Infographic]: The LNG Trade Shakeup appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post A Holistic Model for Industrial Gas Power: Dearborn Central Energy Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. DTE’s new Central Energy Plant will energize a flexible and high-tech revamp of Ford Motor Co.’s Research and Engineering campus in Dearborn, Michigan. Because it goes beyond the envelope of modernThe post A Holistic Model for Industrial Gas Power: Dearborn Central Energy Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The 470-MW Floating Powership That Buoyed Ghana appeared first on POWER Magazine. Karpowership’s 470-MW floating power plant deployed at two locations in Ghana demonstrated how robust an impact the innovative “plug-and-play” electricity delivery model can have on a power-hungry country’s economy and society.The post The 470-MW Floating Powership That Buoyed Ghana appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Upgrades and Interconnection Make Gas-Fired Plant a Winner appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Termica Milazzo cogeneration combined cycle power plant completed an extensive upgrade and integration project with a nearby refinery in Sicily, Italy. The successful project, which spanned about threeThe post Upgrades and Interconnection Make Gas-Fired Plant a Winner appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Power Plant Decommissioning Tips to Save Time, Money, and Hassle appeared first on POWER Magazine. All power plants have a finite useful life. Thus, there will come a time at every facility when the unit must be retired and the decommissioning process undertaken. Decisions must be made on who will do theThe post Power Plant Decommissioning Tips to Save Time, Money, and Hassle appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Trump’s Drilling Ban Also Blocks Offshore Wind appeared first on POWER Magazine. President Trump’s action to ban oil and gas drilling off the East Coast and through much of the Gulf of Mexico also eliminates leases for offshore wind farms, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Trump earlier this month issued two memos withdrawing the potential to lease land for oil and gas extraction on […]The post Trump’s Drilling Ban Also Blocks Offshore Wind appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Cultivating a Safety Culture Amid Constant Change appeared first on POWER Magazine. Developing a power plant safety culture takes time and constant effort, but the payoff is priceless, safety leaders at three major power companies said during a morning session at the Experience POWER virtual event on Sept. 30. Jeffrey Mullins, safety and health consultant for the 2.6-GW coal-fired Gavin Power Plant owned by Lightstone Generation, kicked […]The post Cultivating a Safety Culture Amid Constant Change appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Are DERs an Opportunity, or Threat? appeared first on POWER Magazine. Distributed energy resources (DERs) are physical and virtual assets that are deployed across the power distribution grid. They are typically close to load, and though they initially began as behind-the-meter assets, today may be as likely to be deployed in front of the meter. DERs include renewable energy, and are the key component in microgrids, […]The post The POWER Interview: Are DERs an Opportunity, or Threat? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Key Challenges and Opportunities Facing Residential Clean Energy for the Rest of 2020 appeared first on POWER Magazine. Asia now accounts for the most growth in renewable electricity generation, at a whopping 40% of the global production, while Europe and North America are each at 20%, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Particularly, solar power was at its peak at the start of 2020, with a record-breaking first quarter in the […]The post Key Challenges and Opportunities Facing Residential Clean Energy for the Rest of 2020 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How to Effectively Manage Power Plant Maintenance appeared first on POWER Magazine. If you’ve worked in the maintenance department at a power plant, you know how important planning and scheduling are to success. There’s an old saying that goes, “plan the work, and work the plan.” Effective teams do that well, but it’s not easy. “Planning drives scheduling, not surprisingly, but planning is not scheduling,” Keith Berriman, […]The post How to Effectively Manage Power Plant Maintenance appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vistra Shuttering More Coal, Adding Solar and Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine. Vistra has announced seven new renewable energy projects that will add about 1,000 MW of solar and energy storage to the company’s generation fleet. The company also said it would retire its coal-fired power plants in Illinois and Ohio as part of an effort to reduce carbon emissions as it established new long-term emissions reduction […]The post Vistra Shuttering More Coal, Adding Solar and Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Leveraging the Benefits of Microgrids and DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine. The digitalization of power generation includes many new technologies, all designed to increase efficiency, along with reliability and resiliency. A group of energy industry experts came together Sept. 30 at Experience POWER, the virtual event supported by POWER magazine, to discuss “Microgrids and DERs—Leveraging the Benefits.” The session explored how data analytics and the Industrial […]The post Leveraging the Benefits of Microgrids and DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Cubicle Inspection and Repair Safety Device Is a Winner appeared first on POWER Magazine. A team of innovators from Consolidated Edison (ConEd) took home the Real-World Safety Solutions award during the Experience POWER event on Sept. 28. The invention the group created is called a Cubical Inspection and Repair Safety (CIRS) device. The team that designed and developed the solution includes Eric Fell, senior safety specialist with ConEd; Joe […]The post Cubicle Inspection and Repair Safety Device Is a Winner appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Despite Dead DOE Rule, Grid Resiliency Persists as a Major Concern appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. power industry lacks forward-looking ways to measure grid resiliency and traditional reliability metrics could become irrelevant as more intermittent generation inundates the bulk power system. But rather than continually looking backward to learn from ever-increasing emergencies or close-shaves, power system operators must work to cultivate a balanced portfolio that considers all aspects of […]The post Despite Dead DOE Rule, Grid Resiliency Persists as a Major Concern appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Adapting to the Use of DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine. Distributed energy resources (DERs) have become a major part of today’s power generation landscape. DERs are physical and virtual assets that are deployed across the grid. They are typically close to load, and can be deployed both in front of and behind the meter. Bill Strohecker, Country Managing Director, Canada, for Hitachi ABB Power Grids, […]The post The POWER Interview: Adapting to the Use of DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Team and Individual Award Winners Recognized at Experience POWER appeared first on POWER Magazine. Winners of individual and team awards were revealed at Experience POWER as the virtual event kicked into full swing on Sept. 28. Among the recipients were a number of exceptional leaders and innovators drawn from the power industry. Top Young Professional. Meriem Bellizim, senior manager, Business Development, ACWA Power, was chosen as 2020’s Top Young […]The post Team and Individual Award Winners Recognized at Experience POWER appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Decarbonization, Decentralization Driving Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. Technological innovation has forever been part of the power generation sector, as electricity producers strive for more efficient and more economic ways to deliver power. The POWER magazine editorial staff, in a “State of the Industry” presentation on Sept. 28 to open the virtual 2020 Experience POWER conference, identified four trends in power generation that […]The post Decarbonization, Decentralization Driving Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post China Promotes Climate Goal, and Builds New Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. Chinese President Xi Jinping said he wants his country to “achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.” It will not be an easy task for the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG). China, though it has canceled some planned thermal power plants over the past several years, has as much as 200 GW of coal-fired facilities […]The post China Promotes Climate Goal, and Builds New Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Versatile Test Reactor Moves into Engineering Design Phase appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Versatile Test Reactor (VTR), a planned experimental fast neutron reactor that the Department of Energy (DOE) says is crucial to support domestic advanced nuclear reactor research and development has cleared “Critical Decision 1,” paving the way for the engineering design phase to begin. Critical Decision 1—also known as “Approve Alternative Selection and Cost Range”—is […]The post Versatile Test Reactor Moves into Engineering Design Phase appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Leaders in the Smart City Movement appeared first on POWER Magazine. What is a “Smart City”? According to one definition, it’s an urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data, with insights gained from that data used to manage assets, resources, and services efficiently. Clint Vince, chair of Dentons’ U.S. Energy Practice and co-chair of Dentons’ Global Energy Sector, was […]The post Leaders in the Smart City Movement appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Power Sector, Federal Entities Scramble to Close Supply Chain Security Gaps appeared first on POWER Magazine. Marking another major federal effort to address potential supply chain risks to the bulk power system (BPS), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Sept. 17 sought industry’s perspective on a number of important considerations, including possible actions the regulatory body could take to address security gaps. The U.S.-based power sector, meanwhile, has moved quickly […]The post Power Sector, Federal Entities Scramble to Close Supply Chain Security Gaps appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Entergy Moves Heavily on Hydrogen for Gas Turbines, Nuclear appeared first on POWER Magazine. Entergy Corp., an integrated energy company with a 30-GW power generating fleet, took a bold step toward decarbonization on Sept. 23, announcing it would join forces with Mitsubishi Power to integrate green hydrogen into utility businesses in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy will focus on developing hydrogen-capable combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) facilities and […]The post Entergy Moves Heavily on Hydrogen for Gas Turbines, Nuclear appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Former SpaceX Engineers Tout New Microreactor appeared first on POWER Magazine. A California company is gathering funding for development of a portable nuclear microreactor, designed for use in areas where other forms of power generation are not practical. Radiant, founded by former SpaceX engineers, on Sept. 22 said it has raised $1.2 million from angel investors as it designs what the company calls a “clean energy […]The post Former SpaceX Engineers Tout New Microreactor appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE Throws in the Towel on Coal-Fired Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. GE said it will exit the new-build coal power market, subject to applicable consultation requirements. “GE’s Steam Power business will work with customers on existing obligations as it pursues this exit, which may include divestitures, site closings, job impacts and appropriate considerations for publicly held subsidiaries,” the company said in a Sept. 21 announcement. It […]The post GE Throws in the Towel on Coal-Fired Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Improve Wind Turbine Safety with a Piston Accumulator Retrofit appeared first on POWER Magazine. Wind turbines are designed to maximize power production based on the predicted wind speeds found at the plant site. However, excessive wind speeds are experienced at times, so it is crucial to limit power generation at those times to avoid spontaneous runaway turbine situations that may cause damage to the turbine rotor or other parts […]The post Improve Wind Turbine Safety with a Piston Accumulator Retrofit appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Cyber Risks Are Top of Mind Throughout the Power Sector appeared first on POWER Magazine. The electric power sector in the United States has a long history of facing threats to our infrastructure—whether they are natural or man‐made. While cyberthreats are indeed much more complex, particularly when you consider that some of our cyber adversaries are nation states, the industry has a strong foundation of preparedness, resilience, and response. Though […]The post Cyber Risks Are Top of Mind Throughout the Power Sector appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Past, Present, and Future of Powerline Inspection Automation appeared first on POWER Magazine. “Tedious.” If you ask electric utilities for one word on powerline inspection, that would probably be it. “Time-consuming” and “expensive” would probably also feature. Yet, “vital” would be just as valid: there is no way to safely operate a transmission and distribution network without inspecting lines for damage or risk from factors such as vegetation. […]The post The Past, Present, and Future of Powerline Inspection Automation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Summer 2020 Brought ERCOT Market Challenges, But Nothing Like 2019 appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Texas power market made headlines in August 2019 when wholesale prices for electricity repeatedly spiked close to and even hit the $9,000-per-megawatt-hour (MWh) cap. This August, average hourly prices peaked at “just” $1,700 per MWh, the afternoon of Aug. 15. There were many reasons for the reduced price volatility in Texas this year. First, […]The post Summer 2020 Brought ERCOT Market Challenges, But Nothing Like 2019 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ Report Highlights Greening of the Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine. The use of coal for North American power generation will continue to decline, natural gas will continue as the leading source of power, and the use of renewable resources to provide electricity will continue to grow, according to a report from Hitachi ABB Power Grids. The outlook, titled “North America Power Reference Case: Spring 2020” […]The post Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ Report Highlights Greening of the Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post FERC Order Backs Grid Market for DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order that advocates for distributed energy resources (DERs) say will enable DERs, including renewable energy such as solar, wind, and battery storage, to compete on a more-level playing field in the organized capacity, energy, and ancillary services markets run by regional grid operators. FERC Order No. 2222, […]The post FERC Order Backs Grid Market for DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hitachi Out of UK Nuclear Business appeared first on POWER Magazine. Hitachi will formally end business operations on the Horizon Nuclear Power Plant in the UK, citing an “investment environment” that has become “increasingly severe due to the impact of COVID-19.” The Tokyo, Japan–headquartered conglomerate’s move comes 20 months after it first suspended plans to build the plant in Wylfa Newydd in Wales as part of […]The post Hitachi Out of UK Nuclear Business appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Is Carbon Capture Technology a Viable Solution? [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine. Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is widely viewed as a necessary technology to facilitate the continued use of fossil fuels in light of climate change concerns around the world. One company that has been highly focused on CCUS research and development, as well as deployment of the technology, is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Tiffany […]The post Is Carbon Capture Technology a Viable Solution? [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE-Backed Hydrogen Project Underway in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine. A California energy company is collaborating with its parent and the University of Texas on a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project to show that renewable hydrogen can be a cost-effective fuel with several applications, including for both the transportation and power generation sectors. Frontier Energy, headquartered in San Ramon, California, and a subsidiary of […]The post DOE-Backed Hydrogen Project Underway in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.