POWER Magazine

The post The Benefits of Flow Batteries Over Lithium Ion appeared first on POWER Magazine. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the most commonly talked about battery storage technology on the market these days, and for good reason. Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, and they are the preferred option when mobility is a concern, such as for cell phones, laptop computers, and electric vehicles. But there are different energy storage technologies […]The post The Benefits of Flow Batteries Over Lithium Ion appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: A Marketplace for Energy Collaboration appeared first on POWER Magazine. The digitization of power generation is among the technology advancements transforming the way electricity is produced and distributed. Utilities have always sought ways to improve the efficiency of their operations, along with lowering the cost of maintenance while streamlining asset management. The digital transformation has brought numerous challenges, as utilities seek to upgrade their legacy […]The post The POWER Interview: A Marketplace for Energy Collaboration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Groups Announce Renewable Energy Microgrid Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. A joint venture of energy management company Schneider Electric and Huck Capital, a power sector investment firm, has announced a partnership with energy infrastructure developer ClearGen to build and operate standardized on-site renewable energy microgrid systems. The deal made public May 25 is designed to “accelerate the ability for commercial and industrial customers to transition […]The post Groups Announce Renewable Energy Microgrid Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Project Will Burn Ammonia with Coal to Cut Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine. Japan’s largest power generation company plans to begin using ammonia as a fuel at one of its coal-fired plants as part of an effort to reduce the facility’s emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). JERA Co., a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power, and IHI Corp., a Japanese engineering […]The post Project Will Burn Ammonia with Coal to Cut Emissions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Testing Problems Push Vogtle Start to 2022 appeared first on POWER Magazine. Southern Co. has moved the startup date for the first unit of its two-reactor expansion at the Vogtle nuclear power plant to the first quarter of 2022, citing problems found during testing. The company on May 18 notified Georgia state regulators of the delay. Analysts with Mizuho Group, an investment banking company, on May 21 […]The post Testing Problems Push Vogtle Start to 2022 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post USNC’s MMR Project Becomes First SMR in Canada to Enter Formal Licensing Phase appeared first on POWER Magazine. Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.’s (USNC’s) 5-MWe (15 MWth) Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) has entered formal licensing review with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as part of its proposed project spearheaded by Global First Power (GFP). The small modular reactor (SMR) is the first to mark that milestone. Seattle-based USNC marked its newest milestone for […]The post USNC’s MMR Project Becomes First SMR in Canada to Enter Formal Licensing Phase appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Are NRC Fees Limiting Innovation in the Nuclear Industry? appeared first on POWER Magazine. As multiple advanced reactor vendors enter the licensing process to build first-of-a-kind demonstration projects, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA)—a nonprofit “think-and-do tank” that supports the nuclear power industry—has said issues with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) current user fee cost-recovery model could slow innovation. In a report released on May 19, the NIA identified how […]The post Are NRC Fees Limiting Innovation in the Nuclear Industry? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Looking for Carbon-Free Energy Resources? Don’t Forget Nuclear Power appeared first on POWER Magazine. As leaders around the world take steps to decarbonize energy supplies, many people have focused their attention specifically on wind and solar power. What they may fail to recognize is that nuclear power provides more electricity in the U.S. than all other carbon-free sources combined. This is true in some other countries, such as France, […]The post Looking for Carbon-Free Energy Resources? Don’t Forget Nuclear Power appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NuScale Exploring Marine-Deployed SMR Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. NuScale Power and Prodigy Clean Energy, a Canadian designer of small modular reactor (SMR) marine power stations, have completed the conceptual design and economic assessment phases of a potential “marine-deployed” NuScale Power module (NPM) nuclear power plant. Building on an August 2018 memorandum of understanding (MoU) in which the companies set out to investigate the […]The post NuScale Exploring Marine-Deployed SMR Power Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Increasing Accuracy on Power Line Surveys appeared first on POWER Magazine. Large-Scale Mapping in Plains of Nebraska Kevin Kenna has lots of experience with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and major projects for utilities, government agencies, and large-area mapping. He’s used GPS (Global Positioning System) and GNSS for more than two decades and estimates that he has worked on mapping/surveying more than 20,000 miles of power […]The post Increasing Accuracy on Power Line Surveys appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Solar Powers Onward appeared first on POWER Magazine. Solar power led all generation sources in terms of added generation capacity in 2020, with the U.S. adding a record 19.2 GW of capacity last year, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The SEIA said that was a 43% jump from 2019, with utility-scale installations experiencing a 65% increase last year compared to […]The post The POWER Interview: Solar Powers Onward appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hydrogen from Nuclear Power Test Set at Idaho Lab appeared first on POWER Magazine. A California company that introduced a new electrolyzer technology last year has announced an agreement with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to test how nuclear energy can create clean hydrogen using the product. San Jose-based Bloom Energy on May 18 said INL will use the company’s solid oxide, high-temperature electrolyzer to produce carbon-free hydrogen through electrolysis, […]The post Hydrogen from Nuclear Power Test Set at Idaho Lab appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How Innovative Technology Is Making Waves in the Power Generation Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. Is dual-containment pipe leak detection or effluent compliance keeping you awake at night? There are smart, sustainable solutions to save time and money. Regulators, investors, media, and the general public—as well as the power generation industry itself—are all keenly aware of protecting health and safety in the process of generating power. Coal ash contains toxins, […]The post How Innovative Technology Is Making Waves in the Power Generation Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Big Data Rewrites the Rule Book on Power System Risk Analysis appeared first on POWER Magazine. Extreme weather patterns, net zero acceleration, and shifting regulatory regimes demand a new methodology to assess and mitigate network challenges across both the immediate and long term. The integrity, performance, and flexibility of energy networks have become progressively more important in the face of rapid technological, economic, and environmental change. And the challenges in maintaining […]The post Big Data Rewrites the Rule Book on Power System Risk Analysis appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Coal Shipments to Power Sector at Lowest Level in 14 Years appeared first on POWER Magazine. Shipments of coal to U.S. power plants in 2020 fell 22% year-over-year, according to data released May 13 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The agency said the U.S. power sector received 428 million short tons (MMst) of coal last year, the lowest amount since the EIA began publishing shipment data in 2007. The […]The post Coal Shipments to Power Sector at Lowest Level in 14 Years appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Biden Takes Executive Action to Strengthen National Cybersecurity, Secure Supply Chains appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Biden administration this week issued a new spate of actions to bolster the nation’s cybersecurity, though details of its 100-day plan issued last month to address risks to the U.S. bulk power system (BPS) remain scant. In a May 11 notice, the president said his administration would continue, for one year, a national emergency declared […]The post Biden Takes Executive Action to Strengthen National Cybersecurity, Secure Supply Chains appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Five Ways Utilities Can Leverage Data to Build a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Workforce appeared first on POWER Magazine. Utilities represent one of the least diverse industries in the U.S. today, being 85% white and 80% male, according to a 2020 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. The clarion call from policymakers, shareholders, and communities for significant social change has driven many U.S. utilities to create diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals in response. […]The post Five Ways Utilities Can Leverage Data to Build a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Workforce appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Critical Juncture: Collaboration Fast-Tracks New Madrid Power Station Plant Upgrade appeared first on POWER Magazine. The New Madrid Power Plant is an important facility in the Associated Electric Cooperative’s portfolio of assets and is fundamentally important to the company’s mission to provide affordable and reliable power to member systems. The plant and grounds cover about 3,900 acres on the Mississippi River, where approximately 175 people are employed. Originally built in […]The post Critical Juncture: Collaboration Fast-Tracks New Madrid Power Station Plant Upgrade appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Germany Shifts Net-Zero Target to 2045, Sets Tougher Limits for Energy Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine. Germany has moved its climate neutrality target up from 2050 to 2045 and adopted new interim binding targets that will require greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of 65% by 2030 and 88% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels. After 2050, notably, the country—which is Europe’s biggest economy—envisions it will achieve negative GHG emissions. Germany’s federal […]The post Germany Shifts Net-Zero Target to 2045, Sets Tougher Limits for Energy Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Carbon Capture Eyed for New Scottish Gas-Fired Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. Two major European energy companies said they will jointly develop a new natural gas-fired power plant that features carbon capture technology. The 900-MW Peterhead CCS Power Station would be built as part of Scotland’s Net Zero Infrastructure program. SSE, a British utility, and Norwegian energy firm Equinor announced the new plant on May 11. The […]The post Carbon Capture Eyed for New Scottish Gas-Fired Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Offshore Milestone as Feds Back Vineyard Wind Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. The first large-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. has received the go-ahead from the federal government, with industry insiders saying the milestone decision is likely to spur more rapid development of the nation’s offshore wind projects. The Vineyard Wind installation, an 800-MW project that will use GE’s Haliade-X turbines, on May 11 received the […]The post Offshore Milestone as Feds Back Vineyard Wind Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Rattles Power Industry, Renews Vulnerability Concerns appeared first on POWER Magazine. The post Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Rattles Power Industry, Renews Vulnerability Concerns appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post ERCOT Program Cut Natural Gas Supply During Winter Storm appeared first on POWER Magazine. A program designed to save power during periods of high electricity demand actually cut off some of Texas’ natural gas supply to customers during the severe winter storm that caused massive blackouts across the state in February. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the power grid for much of the state, has […]The post ERCOT Program Cut Natural Gas Supply During Winter Storm appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post TVA, Kairos Partner to Deploy Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor Demonstration appeared first on POWER Magazine. In a notable, dedicated effort by a major U.S. utility to boost the development of an advanced reactor technology, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Kairos Power, developer of a novel fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature nuclear reactor, on May 6 said they will team to demonstrate Kairos’ Hermes test reactor at the East Tennessee Technology Park […]The post TVA, Kairos Partner to Deploy Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor Demonstration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Surry Nuclear Plant Gets 20-Year Extension as Indian Point Goes Dark appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved 20-year subsequent renewed licenses (SRLs) for Dominion Energy Virginia’s Surry Power Station Units 1 and 2 near Newport News, Virginia, making them only the fifth and sixth reactors in the U.S. cleared to operate for 60 to 80 years. But the number of operating U.S. nuclear reactors fell […]The post Surry Nuclear Plant Gets 20-Year Extension as Indian Point Goes Dark appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How Artificial Intelligence Is Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings appeared first on POWER Magazine. A lot of energy is consumed by buildings. In fact, the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit energy efficiency advocacy group, says buildings account for about 40% of all U.S. energy consumption and a similar proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. Some estimates suggest about 45% of the energy used in commercial buildings is consumed by […]The post How Artificial Intelligence Is Improving the Energy Efficiency of Buildings appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post TVA, Eyeing Coal Phaseout by 2035, Will Rely on Nuclear appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) expects to phase out its coal generation by 2035, but achieving net-zero carbon emissions without raising power prices or adversely affecting reliability will require substantial investments in energy storage and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). TVA also will need to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power, and adopt the […]The post TVA, Eyeing Coal Phaseout by 2035, Will Rely on Nuclear appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Argonne Lab Advancing Nuclear Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine. Argonne National Laboratory is at the forefront of research into the design of portable nuclear reactors, working to make the technology viable for use at places such as military bases and remote communities. Micro-reactor concepts are being developed that could fit power generation into a small area, such as in the back of a truck, […]The post The POWER Interview: Argonne Lab Advancing Nuclear Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post ERCOT Unveils Plan for Invoicing Default Uplift Charges appeared first on POWER Magazine. ERCOT market participants are grappling with the resulting financial fallout from winter storm Uri, which devastated Texas in February. Many are now familiar with actions the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUCT) took during the weather event, moves made with the intent to bring and maintain as much generation online as possible. Most notable, the commission […]The post ERCOT Unveils Plan for Invoicing Default Uplift Charges appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Rediscovering Fire: Advancements in Gas Turbine Combustion appeared first on POWER Magazine. Gas power market drivers and a quest for relevance in future decarbonized systems are driving fundamental shifts in gas turbine combustion design approaches. Combustion lies at the heart of gas turbineThe post Rediscovering Fire: Advancements in Gas Turbine Combustion appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Advanced Technology, Innovative Solutions Enhance Nuclear Operations and Maintenance appeared first on POWER Magazine. Incorporating new technology and solutions being used by others could help nuclear power plant staff improve operations and maintenance practices. Nuclear power plants face many challenges. Monitoring heatThe post Advanced Technology, Innovative Solutions Enhance Nuclear Operations and Maintenance appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Groundswell of Support Heats Geothermal Innovation appeared first on POWER Magazine. There’s new interest in one of the world’s oldest resources, as governments and investors worldwide look for advanced ways to tap geothermal energy. Geothermal wells have been producing energy for moreThe post Groundswell of Support Heats Geothermal Innovation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Renewable Natural Gas Emerging as Serious Decarbonized Gas Contender appeared first on POWER Magazine. Last December, two giant Virginia-headquartered firms—energy company Dominion Energy and food manufacturer Smithfield Foods—announced completion of a novel renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in MilfordThe post Renewable Natural Gas Emerging as Serious Decarbonized Gas Contender appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Japan Pulls Back from Coal, Though New Plants Move Forward appeared first on POWER Magazine. Japanese financial institutions and energy companies continue to move away from supporting coal-fired power generation, as the country’s leadership reiterates what it says is an “unwavering resolve toThe post Japan Pulls Back from Coal, Though New Plants Move Forward appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How the Department of Energy Is Helping Keep Nuclear Power Relevant appeared first on POWER Magazine. In the decade following World War II, the U.S. government took a keen interest in helping to create a commercial nuclear power industry. Although there were military leaders and members of Congress whoThe post How the Department of Energy Is Helping Keep Nuclear Power Relevant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Process Control Strategies for Reducing the Minimum Load of Fossil-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. Recent Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) research aims to better understand the potential of process control enhancements, such as load control, sliding pressure control, and steam temperature controlThe post Process Control Strategies for Reducing the Minimum Load of Fossil-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Carbon-Neutral Blue Hydrogen Can Be More Than a Bridge in a Transformed Hydrogen Economy appeared first on POWER Magazine. Many advocates for a hydrogen economy believe “green” hydrogen, which is produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, will eliminate the need to curtail wind and solar generation. However, thereThe post Carbon-Neutral Blue Hydrogen Can Be More Than a Bridge in a Transformed Hydrogen Economy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Alabama Coal Plant Tops List of Emitters appeared first on POWER Magazine. A report from a Colorado-based group that provides analysis and market reports to the energy industry says an Alabama power plant has the highest emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) of any coal-fired facility in the Lower 48 states. BTU Analytics in a report released April 29 ranked the James H. Miller plant in West Jefferson, […]The post Alabama Coal Plant Tops List of Emitters appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Greenhouses and Microgrids Should Grow Together appeared first on POWER Magazine. As consumer preferences continue to shift toward purchasing locally sourced and organic produce, demand is growing for commercial greenhouses, or controlled environment agriculture (CEA), as the industry is labeled. This shift in preference to locally grown food is changing the way supermarkets and restaurants source their fruits and vegetables. COMMENTARY Many restaurants throughout the country […]The post Greenhouses and Microgrids Should Grow Together appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Large-Volume, Long-Duration Power and Water Storage Project Taking Shape in Idaho appeared first on POWER Magazine. Cat Creek Energy, developer of a 1.1-GW “tribrid” renewable power and water storage project planned near Mountain Home, Idaho, has picked Voith Hydro to design and manufacture equipment for the project’s 720-MW ternary pumped storage component. The development announced on April 29 marks a major milestone for the Cat Creek Energy and Water (CCEW) project. […]The post Large-Volume, Long-Duration Power and Water Storage Project Taking Shape in Idaho appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Serious Power Transmission Without Wires Is Closer Than You Think appeared first on POWER Magazine. Most people are aware that wireless charging technology is available today for small electronic devices, such as cell phones and watches, but when it comes to larger-scale power systems, the concept of wireless transmission of electricity probably seems like science fiction. The truth, however, is that systems have been developed and are being tested that […]The post Serious Power Transmission Without Wires Is Closer Than You Think appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Heavy Push by Industry, Biden Administration to Jumpstart Transmission Expansion, Grid Modernization appeared first on POWER Magazine. Bolstering the Biden administration’s recently announced initiatives to modernize the nation’s grid and improve its resilience, the Department of Energy (DOE) on April 27 made up to $8.25 billion in loans available to expand transmission capacity nationwide, while the Department of Transportation (DOT) offered new guidance to help speed the siting and permitting of transmission […]The post Heavy Push by Industry, Biden Administration to Jumpstart Transmission Expansion, Grid Modernization appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post $8 Billion Proposals Could Bring New Gas-Fired Plants to Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine. An energy investment group told Texas regulators the company has a plan to help solve some of that state’s electricity reliability issues, proposing a plan similar to one put forth by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Energy in March. Starwood Energy Group on April 23 sent the state’s Public Utility Commission a proposal to build […]The post $8 Billion Proposals Could Bring New Gas-Fired Plants to Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Engineering on Flexible Green Hydrogen Generation Facility Design Complete appeared first on POWER Magazine. Engineering and construction firm McDermott International and pipeline technology developer New Energy Development Co. have wrapped up engineering for two modular 50-MW hydrogen energy projects that they said could enable “grid-scale” hydrogen blending with natural gas pipelines as well as potentially integrate existing or new power plants with energy storage. The “Green Hydrogen” facilities, which […]The post Engineering on Flexible Green Hydrogen Generation Facility Design Complete appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Automated Powerline Inspection: How Preparation Is the Key to Combating Wildfires During the Off Season appeared first on POWER Magazine. 2020 was a catastrophic year for wildfires across the U.S. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported that almost 60,000 fires ran rampant across more than 9 million acres in the U.S. last year, nearly 1.5 times the 10-year average of 6.6 million acres. Not only this, California saw its first-ever “gigafire,” a devastating single […]The post Automated Powerline Inspection: How Preparation Is the Key to Combating Wildfires During the Off Season appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post 3 Ways Remote Assistance Can Limit Power Downtime appeared first on POWER Magazine. Innovation and power generation have always gone hand in hand. For almost 140 years, the industry has evolved through a steady stream of emerging technologies, shifting policies, infrastructure investments, and an assortment of crises. The power industry has weathered a lot over this time and been forced to adapt. The latest example: COVID-19. Over the […]The post 3 Ways Remote Assistance Can Limit Power Downtime appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vogtle Unit 3 Starts Hot Functional Testing appeared first on POWER Magazine. Georgia Power announced two more milestones for its Vogtle nuclear power plant expansion project, including the start of hot functional testing for Unit 3 at the facility in Waynesboro, Georgia. The utility on April 26 also said the last major crane lift project at the site was completed, as a massive water tank was placed […]The post Vogtle Unit 3 Starts Hot Functional Testing appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post More Coal Cuts—AEP, Mississippi Power Detail Closures appeared first on POWER Magazine. American Electric Power (AEP), which in 2019 reached an agreement to close Unit 1 of the two-unit, 2.6-GW coal-fired Rockport power plant in Indiana, has now announced a plan to close Unit 2 of the facility. Both units at Rockport are now expected to be shuttered by year-end 2028. AEP, the parent of Indiana Michigan […]The post More Coal Cuts—AEP, Mississippi Power Detail Closures appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post DOE Earmarks $109.5 Million to Support Coal Workers appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it will provide $109.5 million in funding for projects that directly support job creation in communities impacted by the energy transition, particularly for workers and areas struggling due to closures of coal-fired power plants and coal mines. The DOE in the April 23 announcement, made in connection with […]The post DOE Earmarks $109.5 Million to Support Coal Workers appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Hydrogen Rainbow: Elected Officials Focus on Green appeared first on POWER Magazine. Blue, green, turquoise, yellow, pink, blue, grey and brown/black. Hydrogen is currently beset by a host of colorful adjectives, but what part of the hydrogen rainbow is most likely to lead to a pot of gold (and environmental benefits)? Elected officials across the country are more and more focused on promoting green hydrogen, which is […]The post The Hydrogen Rainbow: Elected Officials Focus on Green appeared first on POWER Magazine.