POWER Magazine

New Jersey’s Assembly and Senate are both poised to vote on controversial bills that seek to subsidize the state’s nuclear power plants, modify the renewables portfolio standard, and support a pilot offshore wind farm. Lawmakers on April 12 could pass the package of bills, which includes S-2313, a bill directing the Board of Public Utilities […]The post New Jersey Lawmakers to Vote on Nuclear Subsidies, Renewables, Offshore Wind Bills appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Debate continues over a proposed $1.5 billion power plant that would be built in North Bergen, New Jersey, and would send electricity to New York City. The project includes a 1,200-MW combined cycle facility, along with a 6.5-mile 345-kV underground and submarine cable that would go through Bergen County, under the Hudson River, and connect […]The post Proposed Power Plant Sparks Debate in New Jersey appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Santee Cooper executives doubted SCANA Corp.’s ability to properly manage the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion project for years before the project was ultimately abandoned in July 2017, according to an article published by The Post and Courier, a Charleston, S.C., newspaper. Santee Cooper—a state-run utility—partnered with SCANA as owners of the project; SCANA holds a […]The post Insiders Doubted SCANA’s Ability to Manage Nuclear Project appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A showcase of winners of POWER magazine’s highest accolade over the past decade (2017 to 2006). If you think your plant or project compares to these winners, submit a nomination form for the 2017 Plant of the Year or Top Plant awards to POWER‘s editors before the April 13 deadline. POWER magazine, which turned 135 years old this year, […]The post [SLIDESHOW] A Decade of POWER’s Plant of the Year Winners appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A report from groups including the United Nations environmental arm and Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) shows renewable energy installations were responsible for 61% of the world’s net power capacity additions in 2017, more than double the new-builds from fossil fuel-powered generation. The Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2018 report, compiled by BNEF, the […]The post Investments in Renewables Dwarf New Coal, Gas Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) CEO Bill Johnson in an exclusive interview with POWER suggested that the power industry continues to face an uncertain future. Johnson said that during his 40-year career, he has seen more change in the last five years than in the previous 35 combined. Several indicators imply that will continue going forward. […]The post Power Industry Continues to Face Uncertainty and Change [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Data from regional transmission organization (RTO) PJM Interconnection shows about 630 MW of power generation will be taken offline in the grid operator’s territory in April, with more than 3,600 MW scheduled to be retired this year, according to the organization’s website. This month’s deactivations are scheduled to begin April 16. Last week, Ohio power […]The post PJM: More Than 3,600 MW Will Retire in 2018 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Steam turbine rotors are susceptible to bending during some operational evolutions, which can lead to excessive vibration and ultimately failure. Rotor bending that results in premature failure of steam turbine blades and other internal components is one of the most serious problems experienced in power plants. The problems often reduce plant availability by limiting generation […]The post Test Your Knowledge: Steam Turbine Rotor Vibration appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Duke Energy Florida will commission both units of its new 1,640-MW Citrus gas-fired combined cycle power plant (Figure 1) by the end of 2018. The company on April 3 said the 820-MW Unit 1 will come online in September, with a second 820-MW unit entering service in November. Construction of the $1.5 billion plant began […]The post Duke Energy Ready to Commission New Florida Gas Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Two recent project announcements indicate that the U.S. offshore wind sector is burgeoning, bolstered by falling prices and ramped-up political support. A credit ratings agency warns, however, that the sector’s growth could increasingly pressure profit margins of merchant generators in New England, New York, and New Jersey. On March 14, Danish offshore giant Ørsted and […]The post Offshore Wind Surge Threatens Merchant Generator Profits appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Even in the absence of climate policy, customer adoption of electric end-use technologies over the next 30 years is expected to spur steady growth in energy consumption, a new report assessing U.S. electrification from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) suggests. The April 3–released report, “U.S. National Electrification Assessment,” is based on findings by EPRI’s […]The post EPRI: Electrification to Reshape Power Landscape appeared first on POWER Magazine.

FirstEnergy Corp.’s competitive arm FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) and several key subsidiaries, including FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Co. (FENOC), on March 31 sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. FirstEnergy said the move would facilitate an “orderly financial restructuring” and accelerate its strategy to become a fully regulated utility. FES—the parent company of FE Aircraft Leasing Corp., FirstEnergy Generation, […]The post [Updated] Troubled FirstEnergy Companies Seek Bankruptcy Protection appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The generating fleets owned by some of the largest companies in the U.S. (ranked here by capacity in 2017) have transformed over the past four years, in some cases dramatically, as total revenues fluctuated. Sources: Fidelity Investments (revenue data standardized by S&P Capital IQ); EIA-860 detailed data; SEC 10-K filings, and company websites. —Copy and artwork by Sonal Patel, a […]The post THE BIG PICTURE [INFOGRAPHIC]: Changing Fleets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Innovative boiler and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) designs are improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and lowering maintenance costs. Some well-proven technology, such as circulating fluidized bedThe post Advanced Boiler and HRSG Designs Offer Improved Performance appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Diesel-powered or gas-powered engines are the popular options for those wanting a generator as a prime power or standby, backup power source. A recent report from ResearchAndMarkets.com says the generatorThe post Equipment Showcase [April 2018] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Skill levels generally differ between plant operator shifts. Further, these differences often cause divides among the shifts that result in unequal divisions of responsibility. Comprehensive, performance-basedThe post Operator Qualification and Training for the Power Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Though critical to the nation’s power grid, large power transformers are some of the most vulnerable components in the system. Armed with a shared determination for resiliency, government, industry, gridThe post Disaster Preparedness: The Quest for Transformer Resilience appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The growth of renewable energy, and with it the need for reliable backup generation, along with the increase in combined heat and power applications, is contributing to a rise in the use of reciprocatingThe post Quick Starts, High Efficiency, Grid Balance — Engines on an Up Cycle appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A hybrid fire protection system has the ability to discharge a cloud of hybrid media into protected spaces to extinguish fires without the use of dangerous chemicals. The hybrid cloud is based on cyclonicThe post Innovative Firefighting Technology Improves Equipment, Personnel Safety appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A day after FirstEnergy Corp.’s competitive arm notified PJM Interconnection it would close four uneconomic nuclear units—a total of 4 GW—in Ohio and Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2021, it urged Energy Secretary Rick Perry to issue an emergency order directing the regional transmission organization (RTO) to secure nuclear and coal capacity for long-term reliability. FirstEnergy […]The post FirstEnergy Entreats DOE to Save Coal and Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Following the lead of Illinois and New York, which have enacted policies supporting nuclear power plants, the Minnesota Legislature is weighing a bill that could help the owner of two nuclear facilities within its borders. Minnesota is home to the single-unit 671-MW Monticello nuclear plant and the dual-unit 1,100-MW Prairie Island plant (Figure 1). Xcel […]The post Minnesota May Be Next to Support Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

FirstEnergy Corp. will close four uneconomic nuclear units—a total of 4 GW—in Ohio and Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2021, the company’s competitive arm notified PJM Interconnection on March 28. FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) told the regional transmission organization that it will close the 908-MW Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio, by 2020; the twin-unit […]The post FirstEnergy to Shutter Four Uneconomic Nuclear Units by 2021 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Waste Control Specialists (WCS) and Orano USA intend to revive licensing of a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) in Andrews County, Texas, where spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from reactors across the country can be stored until a permanent repository is developed. The companies said on March 13, 2018, they intend to form a joint venture […]The post Texas Consolidated Nuclear Waste Storage Facility to Be Revived appeared first on POWER Magazine.

On March 27, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved Westinghouse Electric Co.’s plan of reorganization. Westinghouse said the approval is “a significant milestone in the company’s strategic restructuring,” which involves its sale to Brookfield Business Partners L.P. Brookfield announced on January 4, 2018, that it had entered into an […]The post Westinghouse Reorganization Approved by Bankruptcy Court appeared first on POWER Magazine.

To remain competitive in power markets increasingly characterized by disruptions, NRG Energy plans to accelerate its transition from a pure independent power producer (IPP) model to a more simplified customer-driven integrated power model that favors its retail businesses. In a number of presentations showcased on March 27 as part of NRG’s 2018 Analyst Day, company […]The post NRG Sheds Generation Emphasis, Puts More Focus on Retail appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Chubu Electric’s Nishi-Nagoya power plant Block-1 in Japan, a plant powered by three GE 7HA turbines and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions steam turbine and generator technology, is officially the world’s most efficient combined-cycle power plant, according to Guinness World Records. The entity that collects and showcases ultimate record-breaking facts highlighted the plant’s achievement of […]The post GE HA Turbine Snags Another World Record for CCGT Efficiency appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has approved a request from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to provide a mixture of energy storage, energy efficiency, and system-wide upgrades to ensure reliable electricity in the Oakland, California, area, after the retirement of an aging Dynegy jet fuel-powered plant. PG&E received CAISO approval for its Oakland […]The post CAISO Backs PG&E Clean Energy Plan for Oakland appeared first on POWER Magazine.

GenOn Energy, a unit of NRG Energy that filed for bankruptcy in June 2017, said it has agreed to sell two units of the Canal Generating Plant to Stonepeak Kestrel, a subsidiary of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm with offices in New York City and Houston, Texas. The Canal plant in Sandwich, Massachusetts, […]The post GenOn Selling More Assets in Restructuring appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Joe Grimes, executive vice president of generation with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), gave the keynote presentation during the ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition, which was held March 19–22 in Nashville, Tennessee. His presentation focused on steps TVA is taking to diversify its generation portfolio in order to reduce risks and keep costs as low […]The post Resource Diversification a Key for TVA [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Watts Bar 2 nuclear unit has a lengthy and well-chronicled history. Construction began on the unit in 1973. It was suspended in 1985 due to slower electricity demand growth, rising construction costs due to inflation and new regulatory requirements stemming from the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, and regulatory concerns throughout the […]The post Watts Bar 2: The Long and Winding Road to Completion [PODCAST] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Giant U.S. energy holding company Duke Energy in a new report outlined for shareholders how it will achieve a goal updated last year to reduce its 2030 carbon dioxide emissions 40% compared to 2005 and achieve a “science-based 2-degree target.” The company’s 2017 Climate Report to Shareholders made public on March 22 unveils a strategy […]The post Duke Energy Eyes More Coal Closures as Part of Decarbonization Drive appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The 20th annual ELECTRIC POWER Conference and Exhibition wrapped up on March 22. The event included nearly 200 exhibitors, with many offering interesting demonstrations of innovative new products. A sampling of some are presented below. Deep Trekker Inc. supplies high-quality, commercial-grade, remotely operated vehicles—underwater drones—specifically designed and developed to make underwater observation easy and affordable. […]The post Novel Technology Featured at ELECTRIC POWER Event appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The rise of digital technologies for power plants has moved in fits and starts over the past several years, with some generators quickly embracing digitization of their assets while others are looking to justify potential investments. Suppliers of digital technologies have widely marketed the benefits, but many generators are looking to current end users for […]The post Utility Managers Build Business Case for Digital Technologies appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Turbine manufacturers continue to upgrade their products with technology enhancements to meet market demands for more flexibility and higher efficiency. Suppliers for combined cycle power plants outlined several of those advancements during POWER magazine’s ELECTRIC POWER Conference + Exhibition in Nashville, Tennessee this week. Executives from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems America (MHPS), Siemens, and GE […]The post Turbine Manufacturers Tout Improvements During ELECTRIC POWER Conference appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Rosatom in a March 21 statement said changes to the ownership group involved with Turkey’s first nuclear power plant should not further delay construction of the facility, which has struggled with setbacks since the Russian nuclear corporation was awarded the construction contract in 2010. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (Figure 1) is a planned 4,800-MW […]The post Rosatom Still Committed to 2023 Startup for Turkey’s First Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Held once again in Düsseldorf, Germany’s huge exhibition center March 13–15, the 12th annual International Renewable Energy Storage (IRES) Conference and Energy Storage Europe Conference attracted roughly 4,500 international visitors, and more than 170 exhibitors, from over 60 nations. While showcasing the latest in energy storage technologies, presenters discussed developing markets worldwide, offered detailed case […]The post Energy Storage Nibbles Around the Edges of the Power Grid appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Russian government cyber threat actors have infiltrated workstations and servers of corporate networks containing data output from industrial control systems (ICS) or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems associated with an unnamed number of power plants, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned. The dire warning issued by the agency’s U.S. Computer Emergency […]The post Russian Cyber Threat Actors Have Gained Access to Power Plant ICS Systems appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Burdened by a trade case, unpredictable policy-making, interconnection delays, and other market factors, the U.S. installed 30% less solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2017 compared to a record-breaking 2016. However, the 10.6 GW of new PV capacity added last year represents 30% of all new generating capacity added to the U.S. grid, more than any […]The post U.S. Solar Installations Dip Amid Uncertainty appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Slack power demand in 2017 has prompted Indonesia’s state-owned utility PT PLN to cancel 22 GW it planned to procure from independent power producers (IPPs) through 2026, the bulk of which are combined cycle gas turbine and renewable projects. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan on March 13 told reporters he endorsed changes to […]The post Indonesia’s PT PLN Cancels 22 GW of Planned Capacity, Citing Lax Demand appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The last coal-fired power plant in the Rochester, New York, area—and one of just three remaining coal-fired plants in the entire state—received its last load of coal this week. The plant, which serves the Eastman Business Park anchored by Eastman Kodak, is being converted to burn natural gas. The former Kodak Park plant operated at […]The post Coal Being Retired at Iconic Kodak Plant in New York appeared first on POWER Magazine.

State regulators in Arizona want the state’s investor-owned utilities to source more of their electricity from renewable sources, and develop more energy storage options, rather than rely on new natural gas-fired generation in the future. State senators, however, voted March 14 to give utilities a way to get around any voter-supported mandates for renewables. The […]The post Regulators, Lawmakers Spar Over Arizona Renewable Mandates appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In a move that demonstrates how difficult current market conditions are, even for some natural gas-fired facilities, GenOn Energy—a subsidiary of NRG Energy—said it will shutter three California gas-fired power plants for economic reasons. The company notified the California Public Utilities Commission and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) in letters dated February 28 that it […]The post GenOn Energy to Retire Three California Gas Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) members agreed to join their longtime rival and governing partner, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and reluctantly entered into a third grand coalition government on March 4. While this ended months of anxious handwringing following September’s national elections, the entire process was mired in frustration as the prospect of yet […]The post Germany’s New Coalition Government Agrees to Phase Out Coal, but Will Miss 2020 Emissions Targets appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Markets may currently favor natural gas, but coal, which has been diminished for “good reason,” will likely have a significant place as a reliable fuel for power generation, a diverse panel of U.S. coal experts—including a generator, a supplier, and a market analyst—suggested at CERAWeek by IHS Markit in Houston on March 7. Coal lost […]The post Experts: Warfare Between Coal and Gas Is Nonexistent appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Most engineers and operators know (or should know) that boiler tubes containing deposits create long-term reliability problems for the boiler. Long-term overheating of the metal will result from prolonged operation with heavy tube deposits. The tubes will first bulge and then fail. Because the deposits tend to be widespread, this generally means that large sections of […]The post Test Your Knowledge: Boiler Chemical Cleaning appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The CEO of Texas-based CPS Energy said March 6 that the utility wants to generate at least 50% of its power from renewable sources by 2040, part of a plan that includes the addition of 550 MW of battery storage, as it looks to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. But the city-owned San Antonio […]The post Texas Utility Ready to Ramp Up Renewables appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Marking a fresh development for the nation’s futile efforts to resolve a long-standing impasse on nuclear waste, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said it could issue a license for Holtec International’s proposed consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility for used nuclear fuel in New Mexico by July 2020 or earlier. Holtec, a Camden, New Jersey–based supplier […]The post NRC Schedules Review of New Mexico Interim Nuclear Waste Facility appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Supreme Court for the state of New Mexico affirmed a final order by state regulators to allow Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to replace lost generation from two shuttered units at its 1,800-MW coal-fired San Juan Regional Generation Station with coal and nuclear resources. The case stems from a petition filed by […]The post More Coal and Nuclear Can Replace Retired Generation, State Supreme Court Rules appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Connected Plant Game Changer Award recognizes those people who are leading the charge in implementing digital technologies in their field: either in the chemical process industries or in power generation. Nominations are open to individuals who have used tools associated with digitalization to contribute to innovation, solve a problem or make improvements, as well […]The post Congratulations to the Connected Plant Game Changers appeared first on POWER Magazine.