POWER Magazine

The post Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion appeared first on POWER Magazine. Officials in South Africa and across the African continent continue to explore new nuclear power generation projects, and the region provides an opportunity for other countries to export their advanced nuclearThe post Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Algeria Targets Renewables to Diversify Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine. Algeria, like other countries that are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), wants to diversify its electricity production, and is looking to solar power for the bulk of itsThe post Algeria Targets Renewables to Diversify Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Cuba’s First Biomass-Fired Power Plant Inaugurated appeared first on POWER Magazine. The first biomass-fired power plant in Cuba—located adjacent to Ciro Redondo sugar mill in the central province of Ciego de Ávila—recently synchronized its two boilers to the grid. The 60-MW plant isThe post Cuba’s First Biomass-Fired Power Plant Inaugurated appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Advantages of Dual Linear Array Probes for Corrosion Inspection appeared first on POWER Magazine. The power generation industry is among those whose aging infrastructure contributes to increased safety concerns, and can lead to costly unscheduled maintenance and shutdowns. Facilities must be vigilant aboutThe post Advantages of Dual Linear Array Probes for Corrosion Inspection appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post POWER Digest [July 2020] appeared first on POWER Magazine. Germany Adopts National Strategies for Energy, Climate, Hydrogen. Twenty days before Germany commandeers the European Union Council presidency, Germany on June 12 adopted two national strategies that couldThe post POWER Digest [July 2020] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Rethinking Hydropower Eligibility for State Renewable Incentive Programs appeared first on POWER Magazine. In the absence of a comprehensive federal renewable energy policy, many states have established regulatory frameworks that incentivize or require utilities to purchase or develop a percentage of renewableThe post Rethinking Hydropower Eligibility for State Renewable Incentive Programs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Optimizing Operations with IoT Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine. Some experts have predicted there will be as many as 50 billion connected devices in service by the end of this year. That number basically includes all of the equipment, sensors, and gadgets around the world that together make up the internet of things (IoT). But how are they all connected, what allows them to […]The post The POWER Interview: Optimizing Operations with IoT Technology appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Waste-to-Hydrogen Project Set for California appeared first on POWER Magazine. A California company that produces renewable hydrogen has joined with a Louisiana construction group on a project to build a modular waste-to-hydrogen production facility. Ways2H, based in Long Beach, California, and Ford, Bacon & Davis, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based engineering, procurement, and construction firm, on June 30 announced a joint effort to design and build […]The post Waste-to-Hydrogen Project Set for California appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Unit at Largest U.S. Coal Plant Will Close appeared first on POWER Magazine. A Georgia power plant that has held the title of the largest coal-fired facility in the U.S. will give up that title by 2022, as the board of directors of a utility that owns a portion of the plant has agreed to a deal that will result in the closure of Unit 4 at the […]The post Unit at Largest U.S. Coal Plant Will Close appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Last Reactor at Oldest French Nuclear Plant Going Offline appeared first on POWER Magazine. The last operating reactor at France’s oldest nuclear power plant is scheduled to shut down June 30, some 43 years after the plant entered commercial operation. The French government, though, on June 27 ruled out further full closures of nuclear plants, according to Reuters, which cited sources in the country’s energy ministry. France had said […]The post Last Reactor at Oldest French Nuclear Plant Going Offline appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post $122 Million Earmarked for Coal ‘Innovation Centers’ appeared first on POWER Magazine. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is ready to make about $122 million available to establish what the DOE calls “innovation centers” for coal. Brouillette and the DOE on June 26 said these centers will focus on the manufacturing of value-added, carbon-based products from coal. The facilities also would work […]The post $122 Million Earmarked for Coal ‘Innovation Centers’ appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Colorado Utility Will Close Last Two Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. Two coal plants operated by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) will close early after the agency’s board voted June 26 to retire the facilities. The move will leave Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility, as the only group still operating coal-fired units in the state after 2030. The CSU board in a 7-2 vote Friday decided to […]The post Colorado Utility Will Close Last Two Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Pennsylvania Site Latest Gas Plant Online in Building Surge appeared first on POWER Magazine. Gas-fired power generation in the U.S. remains the top source of electricity production, even as renewable energy continues to take market share. A POWER analysis of projects shows nearly 180 gas-fired units are either under construction or in development nationwide, with more than 2,000 gas-fired plants currently in operation. One of the most-recent plants to […]The post Pennsylvania Site Latest Gas Plant Online in Building Surge appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NRC Accepts Crucial Advanced Nuclear Applications from Centrus, Oklo appeared first on POWER Magazine. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on June 23 accepted for formal review Centrus Energy Corp.’s application to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) at its Piketon, Ohio, facility. The move marks a third major regulatory milestone for advanced nuclear over the past month. The NRC’s acceptance of Centrus’ application follows a 4-0 vote by the commission on […]The post NRC Accepts Crucial Advanced Nuclear Applications from Centrus, Oklo appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Three Big Players Work Together on Bulgarian Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine. Russian state atomic energy corporation Rosatom is working with Paris-based Framatome and GE Steam Power, which is headquartered in the U.S., to secure contracts to construct the Belene nuclear power plant in northern Bulgaria near the Danube River, which forms the country’s border with Romania. An On-Again Off-Again History The Belene project has a long […]The post Three Big Players Work Together on Bulgarian Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hydrogen Fueling Turbines at Japan Refinery appeared first on POWER Magazine. A pilot hydrogen project has begun providing fuel for the gas turbines at a facility near Tokyo, Japan. Chiyoda Corp. on June 25 said the project using imported hydrogen is now powering generators at the Toa Oil Co. refinery in Kawasaki. Chiyoda, along with Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., and Nippon Yusen, has been working […]The post Hydrogen Fueling Turbines at Japan Refinery appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post [VIDEO] POWER Insights: Why Digitalization Has Been a Lifeline for Power During COVID appeared first on POWER Magazine. The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the power sector has so far been immense, resulting in supply chain disruptions, labor constraints, construction delays, restrictions on business activities, and, crucially, financial challenges. But according to Dr. Colin Parris, senior vice president and chief technology officer (CTO) at GE Digital, the sector’s response has been adaptive, and digitalization […]The post [VIDEO] POWER Insights: Why Digitalization Has Been a Lifeline for Power During COVID appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Rural Electric Cooperatives Get Big Money to Improve Infrastructure appeared first on POWER Magazine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it will provide loans and loan guarantees to rural electric cooperatives and utilities to build or improve infrastructure in 21 states. The funding was announced on June 22 and amounts to more than $1.6 billion, including nearly $386 million for investments in smart grid technology, which uses digital […]The post Rural Electric Cooperatives Get Big Money to Improve Infrastructure appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Infrastructure Plan Supports Solar Power, Energy Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine. Energy industry analysts have said government support will be needed to help the sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced legislation that includes measures to help the solar and energy storage industries. The $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill introduced in the House on June 22, known as […]The post Infrastructure Plan Supports Solar Power, Energy Storage appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Big Lift for Newly Launched Siemens Gamesa 14-MW Offshore Wind Turbine appeared first on POWER Magazine. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has conditionally received an order for 100 units of its newly launched SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbine model—one of the largest wind turbine models ever introduced to date. The 14-MW units are to be installed at innogy’s proposed 1.4-GW Sofia Offshore Wind Farm in the UK starting in 2024. […]The post Big Lift for Newly Launched Siemens Gamesa 14-MW Offshore Wind Turbine appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Big Data: The New Age of ‘Fortune Telling’ Requires Human Collaboration More Than Ever appeared first on POWER Magazine. Ancient Chinese fortune tellers used heated metal pokers to create cracks in bones or empty turtle shells. By reading the patterns in the cracks, they attempted to calm the unease that comes with the innate uncertainty of the world—especially the ancient world. They predicted the future and doled out advice that affected the fate and […]The post Big Data: The New Age of ‘Fortune Telling’ Requires Human Collaboration More Than Ever appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post How AI is Making Virtual Home Energy Audits a Reality appeared first on POWER Magazine. One of the most dramatic lifestyle and business outcomes of the pandemic has been the acceleration of digitalization and online engagement. Tasks and interactions once predominantly conducted in-person have moved online, and digital and virtual lifestyles are normalizing. For utilities and energy retailers, this evolution has sparked the need to drive a more resilient approach […]The post How AI is Making Virtual Home Energy Audits a Reality appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Judge Approves PG&E Bankruptcy Exit appeared first on POWER Magazine. A federal judge in California has approved Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to exit bankruptcy, clearing the way for the utility to compensate victims of a series of wildfires in the state that left more than 100 people dead in 2017 and 2018. The action by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali on June 20 authorized […]The post Judge Approves PG&E Bankruptcy Exit appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Analysis Supports Coal-Like Fuel for Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine. A British company that manufactures a fuel that it says mimics coal said it “has received a significant endorsement” for the use of its product in the power generation sector. An analysis by Uniper Technologies said Helvellyn Group’s alternative fuel, known as SERF, “is technically suitable for use in large scale thermal power plants in […]The post Analysis Supports Coal-Like Fuel for Power Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Siemens Gamesa Has New Head After Terminating CEO appeared first on POWER Magazine. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has announced Andreas Nauen, who has led the growth of the company’s offshore wind power business, is taking over leadership of the company after the board of directors and CEO Markus Tacke “mutally agreed to terminate” Tacke’s contract. SGRE made the announcement June 17, saying Nauen immediately will assume the […]The post Siemens Gamesa Has New Head After Terminating CEO appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post GE’s 7F Gas Turbine Turns 30 with New Plant Commissioned in Mexico appeared first on POWER Magazine. The first GE 7F gas turbine began commercial operation 30 years ago this month. Since coming on the market, more than 950 7F machines have been commissioned, including four 7F.04 units that entered service recently at Techint’s Norte III combined cycle power plant in Mexico. The 907-MW Norte III facility is located in the municipality […]The post GE’s 7F Gas Turbine Turns 30 with New Plant Commissioned in Mexico appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Colorado Utility Will Close Coal Plant 16 Years Early appeared first on POWER Magazine. A Colorado-based electric utility owned by the four communities it serves announced it will close its remaining coal-fired plant by the end of the decade, a facility that had a planned retirement date of 2046. The Platte River Power Authority on June 16 said the 280-MW Unit 1 at its Rawhide Energy Station near Fort […]The post Colorado Utility Will Close Coal Plant 16 Years Early appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post PG&E Pleads Guilty in 84 Wildfire Deaths appeared first on POWER Magazine. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter for its role in a 2018 wildfire considered the most devastating in California history. The Camp Fire, which began when a transmission line broke from an aged PG&E tower, destroyed the town of Paradise. The utility on Tuesday acknowledged its negligence […]The post PG&E Pleads Guilty in 84 Wildfire Deaths appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vectren Will Close Coal Units, Add Renewables appeared first on POWER Magazine. Vectren Corp., the electric utility that serves much of southern Indiana, has announced a plan to shutter its remaining coal-fired power plants and transition to renewable energy. The utility also said it would add gas-fired generation to back up those renewable resources. Vectren’s June 15 announcement comes about two years after Northern Indiana Public Service […]The post Vectren Will Close Coal Units, Add Renewables appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post OPG Becomes First Utility to Snag Ownership Stake in Nuclear Microreactor Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. Marking the first time a utility has taken an ownership stake in a small modular reactor (SMR) project, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) formed a joint venture with Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) to build, own, and operate a proposed Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) demonstration at the Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) site in Ontario, Canada. […]The post OPG Becomes First Utility to Snag Ownership Stake in Nuclear Microreactor Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post [VIDEO] POWER Insights: Finding the Best Solar Power System appeared first on POWER Magazine. Direct Solar America is a solar energy brokerage. The company helps customers find and install the best available solar energy system, working with both residential and commercial and industrial clients. It’s a question often posed to POWER: What is the best solar energy system for my home or business? In this edition of POWER’s Insights […]The post [VIDEO] POWER Insights: Finding the Best Solar Power System appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post UK Energy Giant Will Cut 5,000 Jobs appeared first on POWER Magazine. Centrica, the major UK utility and the biggest supplier of energy to British homes, on June 11 said it would cut 5,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort. CEO Chris O’Shea, who took over the company three months ago, said he also wants to simplify the utility’s business model. The company Thursday said the […]The post UK Energy Giant Will Cut 5,000 Jobs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Power Line Management in the Time of Coronavirus appeared first on POWER Magazine. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has put communities on lockdown and created a need for social distancing. Many are staying at home, but that’s not an option for the frontline workers running critical power transmission infrastructure and keeping the lights on. How can utilities keep up with their operational and safety obligations with a reduced onsite […]The post Power Line Management in the Time of Coronavirus appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Hydrogen May Be a Lifeline for Nuclear—But It Won’t Be Easy appeared first on POWER Magazine. Four U.S. nuclear generators—Energy Harbor, Xcel Energy, Exelon, and Arizona Public Service (APS)—are making headway on projects to demonstrate hydrogen production at nuclear plants, but scaling those efforts up to net new end-users and sources of revenue is still ridden with hurdles, company officials said in a panel discussion at the American Nuclear Society’s (ANS’s) […]The post Hydrogen May Be a Lifeline for Nuclear—But It Won’t Be Easy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post IEA: COVID-19 Crushed Global Natural Gas Demand appeared first on POWER Magazine. Hit hard by response to the COVID-19 pandemic, global gas demand in 2020 is set to to tumble by twice the amount lost after the 2008 global financial crisis—its largest annual decline in history—the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in its latest annual market report Gas 2020. As of June 2020, the fall has been […]The post IEA: COVID-19 Crushed Global Natural Gas Demand appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Developers Make Progress on Solar-Powered Hydrogen Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine. Two projects focused on solar-powered hydrogen production made notable steps forward recently. One project, supported by Ricardo plc and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), will investigate “using existing solar capacity to produce hydrogen as an alternative to high-carbon fossil fuels.” While the other, developed by HyperSolar Inc., will begin the manufacturing process for its […]The post Developers Make Progress on Solar-Powered Hydrogen Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The Importance of a Resilient Power System [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine. It’s hurricane season in the U.S., which runs from June 1 through the end of November, and there have already been three named storms. The most recent was Tropical Storm Christobal, which was the earliest third-named Atlantic storm on record when it formed on June 2. It made landfall in the U.S. along the northern […]The post The Importance of a Resilient Power System [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Alabama PSC Backs Plan for New Gas Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine. Alabama Power’s plan to add about 2 GW of natural gas-fired power generation capacity to its portfolio was approved by the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) on June 9. The PSC also supported the utility’s request to acquire 240 MW of gas-fired generation under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) that should begin this year, […]The post Alabama PSC Backs Plan for New Gas Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Another Court Challenge for Nuclear Waste Storage Site appeared first on POWER Magazine. Another legal challenge has been filed against the ongoing effort to build a storage site for U.S. nuclear waste in the New Mexico desert. Beyond Nuclear, among the environmental and other groups opposed to the project that would be built by Holtec International, on June 4 filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court […]The post Another Court Challenge for Nuclear Waste Storage Site appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Senior Exec Will Plead Guilty to Fraud in Abandoned Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine. The man considered second-in-command at the former SCANA Corp. has agreed to plead guilty to criminal conspiracy fraud charges stemming from his role in the failed V.C. Summer nuclear power plant construction project. Stephen A. Byrne, SCANA’s former chief operating officer, will plead guilty for his alleged criminal actions, according to a document filed June […]The post Senior Exec Will Plead Guilty to Fraud in Abandoned Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Vogtle Project ‘Highly Unlikely’ to Meet Deadlines appeared first on POWER Magazine. An official monitoring the progress of the Vogtle nuclear expansion project in Georgia said in testimony filed June 5 with the state’s Public Service Commission that the two new reactors are “highly unlikely” to meet state-approved deadlines, and also will probably have additional cost overruns. The expansion project involves construction of two, 1,100-MW AP1000 reactors […]The post Vogtle Project ‘Highly Unlikely’ to Meet Deadlines appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Modernizing the Grid with DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine. Energy industry experts have for years talked about the need to modernize the power grid. The focus can be on replacing and upgrading infrastructure, improving the efficiency of power delivery through digitization and smart grid technologies, or on the dispatch of renewable energy resources. Often, it’s all of the above. Industry analysts know that a […]The post The POWER Interview: Modernizing the Grid with DERs appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Using Geospatial Data to Strengthen the Grid Against Extreme Weather appeared first on POWER Magazine. Extreme weather events are hitting more often and harder than ever before, and storm-hardening regulations are prompting utilities to strengthen the electrical grid to withstand storm-force winds. As part of this effort, leading utilities are using drone-based data collection and analysis to assess how their electrical grids can withstand Mother Nature’s punishment. Aerial robotics and […]The post Using Geospatial Data to Strengthen the Grid Against Extreme Weather appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post World’s First Integrated Hydrogen Power-to-Power Demonstration Launched appeared first on POWER Magazine. A consortium of European companies, research institutes, and universities have launched the world’s first demonstration of a fully integrated power-to-hydrogen-to-power project, at industrial scale and in a real-world power plant application. The four-year project to demonstrate HYFLEXPOWER, which has achieved a technology readiness level of 7, will convert a 12-MWe combined heat and power (CHP) […]The post World’s First Integrated Hydrogen Power-to-Power Demonstration Launched appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post NERC: Summer 2020 Reliability Rife With Unknowns appeared first on POWER Magazine. Despite COVID-19’s impact on power demand, disrupted pre-season generation preparation, and an expected highly active hurricane and wildfire season, industry appears well-positioned to meet peak demand this summer under anticipated weather in nearly all parts of the North American bulk power system (BPS). Other than in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), anticipated reserve […]The post NERC: Summer 2020 Reliability Rife With Unknowns appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Is COVID-19 a Force Majeure Event That Excuses Performance on Renewable Construction Projects? appeared first on POWER Magazine. Like other segments of the economy, the renewable energy industry is dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several states still have restricted business activities and are only now considering lifting those restrictions. Many equipment suppliers, contractors, and project owners have sent or received force majeure notices under their respective contracts and disputes may […]The post Is COVID-19 a Force Majeure Event That Excuses Performance on Renewable Construction Projects? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Tips for Check Valve Selection and Installation [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine. Check valves are installed in many piping systems. Their purpose is to allow flow in only one direction, which can be critical for plant safety and to protect equipment from damage. There are a few different check valve designs, including swing check valves and spring-loaded poppet-style check valves. Understanding which type is best for a […]The post Tips for Check Valve Selection and Installation [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Reduced Cost for Renewables Supports Sector Growth appeared first on POWER Magazine. A new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows costs for renewable power are increasingly cheaper than those for generation from coal, reinforcing the trend of increased investment in solar and wind power and away from fossil fuel-powered electricity production. The IRENA report—Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019—showed that more than half of […]The post Reduced Cost for Renewables Supports Sector Growth appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post The POWER Interview: Ameresco’s CEO on Efficiency, Renewables, and Resilience appeared first on POWER Magazine. The present and future of power generation is and will be driven by new technologies, those designed to increase the efficient use of electricity while limiting emissions and supporting resiliency. It’s a challenging time for those in energy. Developing solutions to solve issues in the power sector involves navigating an uncertain and ever-changing regulatory landscape, […]The post The POWER Interview: Ameresco’s CEO on Efficiency, Renewables, and Resilience appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post Germany Brings Last New Coal Plant Online appeared first on POWER Magazine. What is expected to be the last new coal plant to come online in Germany entered commercial operation on May 30, more than a decade after it was first planned. The 1,100-MW Datteln 4 power plant, owned by Uniper and located in Datteln in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, opened despite the German government’s stated plan […]The post Germany Brings Last New Coal Plant Online appeared first on POWER Magazine.