POWER Magazine

Utilities across the country are gearing up for an attack on the power grid November 15 and 16. Thankfully, it’s only a drill. But in the event of an actual emergency, a real physical and cyberattack on the U.S. electricity infrastructure, GridEx IV—a biennial exercise conducted by the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC)—will help […]The post Utilities Prepare for Simulated Attack on U.S. Power Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In the next 25 years, the world will turn increasingly to renewables and natural gas to meet energy demand, turning away from coal, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2017 (WEO). As in previous years, the report makes predictions based on different scenarios. This year’s include a New Policies Scenario, which […]The post IEA Paints Picture of World Dominated by Renewables and Natural Gas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Officials in India say the the death toll from the November 1 explosion at an NTPC thermal plant in Unchahar has risen to 43, with seven more deaths reported in the past week. Dozens of workers at the plant were injured when flue gases and steam were released from a 500-MW coal-fired unit at the […]The post Death Toll Rises to 43 in Wake of India Coal Plant Blast appeared first on POWER Magazine.

ExGen Texas Power (EGTP) Holdings LLC and ExGen Texas Power LLC, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp., on November 7 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware is aimed at reducing the company’s debt, and four of EGTP’s five natural gas-fired power plants in Texas would be owned by lenders […]The post Exelon Subsidiary Files Bankruptcy; Lenders Would Take Over Four Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

India’s Power Ministry has established a committee to investigate the November 1 explosion at NTPC’s thermal power plant in Unchahar. The death toll from the blast is at 36, and dozens more workers at the plant were injured when flue gases and steam were released from a 500-MW coal-fired unit at the plant. Several remain […]The post India Launches Probe of Power Plant Blast; Death Toll at 36 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Officials in India on November 6 said the death toll has risen to 35 after an explosion and fire November 1 at NTPC’s Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Station in Uttar Pradesh state. NTPC, the nation’s largest power utility, said flue gases and steam were released in the blast, which occurred in a 500-MW coal-fired unit […]The post Death Toll at 35 in India Plant Explosion; Officials Point to High Pressure in Boiler appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. House of Representatives on November 2 proposed a tax bill that would phase out the wind energy production tax credit (PTC), extend a tax credit for the nuclear power industry, add credits for geothermal and fuel cell programs, and end a tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles. Wind energy proponents decried […]The post House Proposed Tax Bill Ends Wind PTC, Extends Nuclear Credit appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A Missouri utility has filed an application with the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) to build a $1.5 billion wind power project and accelerate the closure of a coal-fired power plant. Empire District Electric Co. on October 31 asked the PSC to approve its plan, citing cost savings for customers of more than $300 million […]The post Missouri Utility Closing Coal Plant, Adding Wind Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

POWER magazine has been the voice of the industry for 135 years—and its rich archive is a rare chronicle of the uncertainties that the power sector has always faced. In September 1939, two months before this piece was published, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, prompting the UK—and within hours—Australia, India, New Zealand, and France to declare […]The post From POWER’s Archives: On the Precipice of War appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An explosion at a coal-fired power plant in India has killed as many as 29 people and injured more than 100, according to officials in Lucknow, India. The blast, which occurred November 1 at the Feroze Gandhi Unchahar Thermal Power Station, was apparently caused when a boiler pipe burst in a 500-MW generating unit that […]The post Death Toll at 29 After Explosion at India Thermal Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A bitter dispute concerning subsidies for nuclear generation that has divided the power sector grew more intense over the past week as Connecticut, Ohio, and Pennsylvania advanced efforts to keep nuclear plants operating. At the same time, legal challenges to existing measures in Illinois and New York continued in two federal courts. In Connecticut, Gov. […]The post Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania Make Substantive Gains for State Nuclear Subsidies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The operating expenses at major U.S. investor-owned electric utilities have shifted over the last decade or so, owing primarily to changing fuel costs.The post THE BIG PICTURE: Power Expenses (Infographic) appeared first on POWER Magazine.

J-seals are an integral part of efficient steam turbine operation. The failure of a J-seal can cause significant damage to the turbine rotor as material migrates downstream. For that reason, plant staff shouldThe post Mitigating and Managing J-Seal Failure Risks in Turbine Steam Path Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The PJM Interconnection, the largest regional transmission operator in the U.S., faces many problems: adapting to state policies designed to skew power markets in the face of natural gas and renewableThe post PJM: Can the Big Dog Deal with State Interference? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

If funds were unlimited, digital technology could be utilized in countless ways to improve plant performance and reduce downtime. But costs do matter, so taking a graded approach to managing risks and costsThe post Asset Performance Management: Strategies to Mitigate Risk appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Power plants are designed to operate at their highest efficiency. Once a plant goes into operation, however, real life takes over and sometimes design outcomes are not regularly realized. Improving plantThe post Improve Power Plant Efficiency Using Design Documents and Five Basic Parameters appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Predictive analytics software offers many benefits when appropriately selected. However, finding the best solution for a given situation can be tricky. The tips provided here could help power companies avoidThe post Best Practices for Choosing a Predictive Maintenance Partner appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Challenges abound for nuclear power plants in today’s world, with increased competition from other fuels, stricter safety regulations, divided public opinion, and low electricity prices providing anThe post Ringhals Delivers Record Output Despite Tough Economics appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Organizations across every industry today face a wide range of cyber threats and serious security challenges from various vectors. A top concern among these is the persistence cybersecurity experts are seeingThe post Why CrashOverride Is a Red Flag for U.S. Power Companies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The once seemingly insurmountable technical challenges of dismantling a commercial nuclear plant have been largely eliminated through experience. Decommissioning processes have been standardized and optimizedThe post No Longer an Afterthought, Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Industry Matures appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Dynegy Inc.’s pending merger with Vistra Energy will create a company of a significant diversification and scale designed to weather volatile markets. Over the past year, at least eight other major power companies have embarked on various strategies to guard against distress in unregulated markets. Duke Energy. Three years ago, Duke Energy announced it would move away from organized […]The post How Eight Major Power Companies Are Dealing with Market Turmoil appeared first on POWER Magazine.

To strengthen balance sheets and thwart market woes afflicting generators in competitive markets, Dynegy Inc. and Vistra Energy will merge, creating a company that is projected to have a value greater than $20 billion. Dynegy, which operates a power plant fleet of 27 GW, will merge into Vistra Energy, the parent company of TXU Energy […]The post Dynegy Will Merge with Vistra Energy to Beat Market Volatility appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The U.S. wind industry reported 29,634 MW of generation capacity was under construction or in advanced development at the end of the third quarter of 2017, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) U.S. Wind Industry Third Quarter (Q3) 2017 Market Report released October 26. The 29,634 MW is spread across 149 projects in […]The post Wind Industry Shows Significant Growth, AWEA Market Report Says appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) says the need for cheap electricity in Southeast Asia will drive global demand for coal for power generation through 2040, even as many countries continue to retire coal-fired plants and cancel projects for new coal facilities. IEA, which is set to release its World Energy Outlook 2017 on November 14, […]The post IEA Says Southeast Asia Will Keep Coal Demand High appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Michigan regulators on October 25 gave their support to Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp.’s (UMERC) plan for two new natural gas-fired plants in the state’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.). The plants approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) would be built in Baraga and Negaunee townships. The plants are designed to produce a combined 183 […]The post Michigan Backs Gas Plants for Upper Peninsula appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Comments on the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) proposed grid resiliency rule from an assortment of state agencies, trade groups, environmental organizations, and organized market entities flooded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC’s) docket before the tight three-week timeframe expired Oct. 23. The DOE’s “Grid Resiliency Pricing Rule” proposed on Sept. 29 directs FERC—an independent regulatory […]The post What States Told FERC About the DOE’s Grid Resiliency Rule [INFOGRAPHIC] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A report released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) outlines a number of solutions and general best practices to thwart infiltration by the ongoing Dragonfly cyberattack campaign, which it says is targeting operational technology personnel. (For an in-depth story on that report, see: “DHS, FBI Identify Tactics in Cyberattack […]The post General Best Cybersecurity Practices to Thwart a Dragonfly Attack appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned in an e-mail on October 20 that an ongoing cyberattack campaign is targeting the nuclear, energy, and other critical infrastructure sectors since at least May 2017—with results ranging from cyber espionage to the ability to disrupt energy systems in the event of […]The post DHS, FBI Identify Tactics in Cyberattack Campaign Targeting Industrial Control Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Western Power Summit provides a three-day opportunity for leaders across the energy sector to discuss, debate, and gain new perspectives on the pressing issues facing the West’s electric power sector. Experience insightful panel discussions and expert presentations on topics including energy efficiency, energy storage, renewable energy grid integration, water/energy challenges, reliability, emerging technology and much more.The post Western Power Summit – 4th Annual appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The world’s first floating offshore wind farm, located roughly 25 kilometers off the coast of Peterhead, Scotland, powered up October 18, delivering electricity to the Scottish grid. Hywind Scotland was developed by Norwegian oil company Statoil based on the results of an eight-year demonstration project located off the shore of Karmøy, Norway. The new farm […]The post World’s First Floating Wind Farm Powers Up off Scottish Coast appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Florida Power & Light (FPL), which recently sustained a blow to its nuclear expansion plans, on October 19 said it’s about halfway through an ambitious plan to add eight new solar plants in the state by early 2018, as it continues to increase its photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity as part of a larger strategy to […]The post FPL Halfway Through 600-MW Solar Power Expansion appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Construction of two nuclear plants in South Korea, halted this July by President Moon Jae-in’s announced policy to phase out nuclear power, will continue after a citizens’ jury voted to resume the projects. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) was building Shin Kori 5 and 6, two AP1400 units, but the company decided to suspend […]The post Citizens’ Jury Recommends Resuming Nuclear Construction in South Korea appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Stricken by falling orders for large gas turbines, global technology conglomerate Siemens AG is reportedly moving to downsize its Power and Gas segment. The changes may include closure or sale of major sites globally and result in thousands of job cuts. The company will likely embark on a reorganization plan this November that could result […]The post Siemens Reportedly Downsizing Power and Gas Business appeared first on POWER Magazine.

More than 300 solar employees laid off this summer following a recent surge of U.S. photovoltaic (PV) panel imports may be eligible for federal entitlement, including income support and allowances, the Department of Labor (DOL) has determined. In petitions for Trade Adjustment Assistance filed with the DOL’s Employment and Training Administration by laid-off solar workers […]The post Labor Department: Solar Workers Laid Off by Import Surge Eligible for Aid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

SCANA Corp., already under federal and state scrutiny for how it handled the now-abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear expansion, has been served with a document subpoena by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). SCANA said in a news release that it intends to fully cooperate with the investigation of the nuclear project. The development follows […]The post SCANA Hit with New Subpoena From SEC appeared first on POWER Magazine.

NRG Energy has stopped development of a proposed natural gas plant in Oxnard, California, after two state regulators earlier this month recommended the California Energy Commission (CEC) reject the project. NRG on October 16 asked the CEC to suspend its review of the plans for the Puente Power Project, or P3, a proposed $300 million, […]The post NRG Stops Plan for California Gas Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

[Ed. note: This post was first published on October 5, 2017, and was updated on October 17, 2017, with embedded video from the DRONEWEEK television show.] DRONEWEEK is a television program that will air on the Viceland network beginning Monday, October 9, 2017, and continuing each night throughout the week. Each episode will feature footage […]The post Droneweek [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An analysis by the University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute shows wind power generation capacity in Texas may already have surpassed coal-fired capacity in the state, and wind almost certainly will have leapfrogged coal by early next year, as wind farms continue to dot the landscape while more coal plants in the state are […]The post Wind Generation Capacity Outpacing Coal in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Fourteen power plants in New Hampshire, including nine hydroelectric facilities, will soon have new owners as Eversource Energy divests its holdings in the state to satisfy an agreement with state regulators. Eversource outlined the sale of the hydro assets, along with three fossil fuel-fired plants and two combustion peaker units, in an October 12 filing […]The post Eversource Will Sell 14 New Hampshire Power Plants, Completing Deregulation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Vistra Energy moved to halt a financial hemorrhage stemming from unprofitable conditions in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), announcing plans to shutter two more coal-fired power plants—the 1.1-GW Sandow Power Plant (which includes a 2009-built unit) and the 1.2-GW Big Brown plant—in early 2018. The company’s decision made public on October 13 comes on […]The post Vistra Closing Two More Giant Uneconomic Coal Plants in Texas appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Criticism for Secretary of Energy Rick Perry’s recent notification of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) directing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to show favor to coal and nuclear plants was in no short supply during an October 12 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Energy. The hearing, which focused on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) missions and […]The post Perry Hammered on FERC Order During House Subcommittee Hearing appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Continued problems with construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Finland have pushed the facility’s expected start date into 2019, meaning operations will not begin until at least 10 years after the original proposed start of commercial service. Project owner Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) on October 9 announced further delays. TVO project director […]The post Startup of Olkiluoto 3 Nuclear Plant Delayed Again appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Two members of the California Energy Commission (CEC) on October 6 said they would recommend the full five-member group oppose construction of a new natural gas-fired power plant in Oxnard. The two commissioners said environmental impacts of the plant could not be mitigated, and the plant would not be able to conform to local ordinances […]The post California Agency Opposes New Gas-fired Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Netherlands, a country that recently commissioned three state-of-the-art coal plants and has been reluctant to close them, on October 10 moved to phase out coal power by 2030. Meanwhile, the UK and Canada this week jointly urged other nations to drop coal from their power profiles. The countries are part of a growing list […]The post The Netherlands to Quit Coal Power; UK and Canada Champion Global Transition Away from Coal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Mexico’s energy reform began in 2013. It has opened up key parts of the country’s electricity sector to new market participants, foreign investors, and innovative technology. Prior to the reform, Mexico operated under a traditional, vertically integrated model with the state-owned Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) responsible for all power supply functions from generation to distribution. […]The post How Power Sector Deregulation Is Affecting Mexico [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A week after the Department of Energy (DOE) proposed a rule to bolster uneconomic coal and nuclear generators in competitive power markets, Luminant announced that an “unprecedented low power price environment” will force it to retire a 1.9-GW coal-fired power plant operating in the Texas market. The plant’s economic woes suggest a larger swath of […]The post Monticello Goes Under, More Coal and Nuclear Imperiled in Texas (Updated) appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt on October 9 said he will sign a proposed rule Tuesday to repeal the Clean Power Plan (CPP), a signature initiative of former President Barack Obama’s administration that mandated cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants. Pruitt, speaking to a group of coal miners Monday at […]The post EPA Head Pruitt Ready to Repeal Clean Power Plan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering its options to repeal or replace the Clean Power Plan (CPP), the signature climate regulation of former President Barack Obama. POWER magazine on October 6 obtained a 43-page draft of the EPA’s proposed action on the CPP. The formal document is expected to be released soon. The […]The post EPA Ready to Attack Clean Power Plan appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Siemens has launched a new direct-current (DC) transmission system for alternating current (AC) grids of between 30 kV and 150 kV. The medium-voltage system that can bridge distances of up to 125 miles is designed to help grid entities handle ever-growing volumes of power fed into the distribution system from distributed and renewable power. The […]The post Siemens Rolls Out MVDC Transmission System to Bolster Distributed Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.