POWER Magazine

The U.S. nuclear power business is in trouble, and Exelon has six units totaling more than 5,300 MW of dependable capacity on the chopping block. How will the Chicago electricity giant respond? Perhaps by acquiring more nuclear capacity? Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the largest nuclear power generator in the U.S., is facing what could be the […]The post Exelon, America’s Leading Nuclear Generator, Keeps the Faith on Nukes appeared first on POWER Magazine.

As combined cycle gas turbine plants are called upon to play a larger and more flexible role in the generation mix, it’s important to schedule a comprehensive assessment of major components at key intervals to ensure reliable operation. Just like humans, power plants can benefit from regularly scheduled condition assessments, which are sometimes called “health […]The post HRSG Condition Assessments Identify CAPEX, Maintenance Priorities appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Inexpensive natural gas, increased renewable energy utilization, and ever-tightening environmental regulations have limited the use of waste feedstocks for power generation. But while often dismissed out of hand, with proper planning and understanding of the market, power producers can realize benefits from waste-to-energy projects. It was a tropically hot day at the plant, and it […]The post Waste to Energy: An Opportunity Too Good to Waste, or a Waste of Time? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Deciding to retire a coal-fired unit is often a tough call, but even tougher decisions follow. The next steps taken by a generation owner have multiple economic, environmental, and stakeholder consequences. Since 2000, U.S. generating companies (Gencos) have announced the closure of more than 200 coal-fired power plants, totaling 102 GW of generating capacity. Closures […]The post Coal Power Plant Post-Retirement Options appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The second World Nuclear Exhibition was held at a moment in time when the prospects for nuclear power are both tantalizing and frustrating. One thing is clear: The dynamics of the nuclear power industry have changed recently—and so have the solutions proposed for achieving greater certainty. One of the strongest arguments nuclear power has going […]The post The Nuclear Power Industry Is Increasingly Global—and Complicated appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A main bank transformer fire has put a halt to power ascension testing at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear plant. The incident occurred at about 9:10 p.m., on August 30, when an electrical fault on the 2B main bank transformer caused the Unit 2 main turbine to trip. The reactor, […]The post Transformer Fire Will Delay Watts Bar Unit 2 Commercial Operation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Westinghouse, the lead supplier for the V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion project in South Carolina, said on August 30 that it had successfully placed the reactor vessel for the new Unit 2. The 278-metric-ton vessel was rigged into place by one of the largest construction cranes in the world, a heavy lift derrick with a […]The post V.C. Summer Unit 2 Reactor Vessel in Place appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A fire at Muscatine (Iowa) Power and Water’s (MP&W’s) coal-fired power plant forced Unit 9 offline on August 30. The plant—located along the Mississippi River just south of town—includes three units with a combined capacity of about 276 MW. Units 7 and 8 were reportedly unaffected and continue to be available for power production. Customers […]The post Fire at Coal Power Plant Blamed on Equipment Failure appeared first on POWER Magazine.

With costs for a restart escalating, Japan is considering scrapping its troubled Monju fast breeder nuclear reactor, just as a never-started nuclear plant in the Philippines may get a new lease on life. Monju May Be Finished Japan Times reported that readying the Monju plant for restart “would cost several hundred billion yen.” Sources said that […]The post An Asian Nuclear Duo: Monju Down, Bataan Up? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

NRG Energy will pay $1 million in penalties, install environmental projects worth another $1 million, and complete costly upgrades under a consent decree it entered into with the state of Maryland to resolve wastewater discharge violations at two coal-fired power plants owned by its subsidiary GenOn. The settlement results from a June 2013 complaint Maryland […]The post NRG Penalized for Faulty Wastewater Treatment at Maryland Coal Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.

MidAmerican Energy’s Wind XI project in Iowa, which will comprise up to 2 GW of total generation, has received approval from state regulators to proceed with construction, the company said. The $3.6 billion project will place 1,000 turbines at several sites still to be finalized. Plans were announced in April 2016, and the Iowa Utilities […]The post Huge Iowa Wind Farm Gets Go-Ahead appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Fourteen research and development projects to scale up coal-based advanced combustion power systems and gasification processes and improve costs and endurance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have won investments of more than $28 million from the Department of Energy (DOE). The Energy Department on August 24 announced it has selected the projects to help […]The post DOE Invests $28M in Research Projects to Enable Near-Zero-Emitting Fossil Fuel–Based Power Generation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Although the U.S. and Canada are both aiming for similar greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, the two countries are embarking on decidedly different approaches to reaching their goals, according to a report released on August 23. IHS Markit—a company that provides information, analytics, and solutions to customers in business, finance, and government—developed the report, titled […]The post U.S. and Canada Follow Different Climate Policy Paths—Does One Offer a Competitive Advantage? appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Prices for solar energy systems fell to record lows across all sectors in 2015, according to two new reports from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The LBNL reports, released on August 24, are Tracking the Sun IX, which focuses on installed pricing trends in the distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) market, and Utility-Scale Solar 2015, […]The post Utility-Scale, Distributed Solar Prices Tumbled 5% to 12% in 2015 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

An “ice wall” put up by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) around its four crippled reactor units at Fukushima Daiichi reportedly isn’t working as planned to keep out groundwater flowing into the devastated nuclear plant. According to The Asahi Shimbun, an expert panel at Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority on August 18 said that though five […]The post Reports: Fukushima Ice Wall Is Showing Little Success at Preventing Groundwater Inflows appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The Sandy Creek coal-fired power plant—a 900-MW facility in Riesel, Texas—won a major victory in court on August 19 when a McLennan County jury agreed that the plant was appraised at a much higher value than justified by market conditions. The appraisal district had suggested the plant be valued at $900 million in 2014 and […]The post Texas Coal Plant Wins Tax Appraisal Case, Property Value Cut 60% appeared first on POWER Magazine.

It’s only 30 MW, but it’s a start. The Block Island Wind Farm, the first offshore wind farm in the U.S., completed installation of its five wind turbines in the waters off Rhode Island on Aug. 18 (Figure), setting the stage for full operations in a few weeks, owner Deepwater Wind said. The […]The post First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Nearing Operation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

By the end of this year, energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from natural gas could surpass emissions from coal for the first time in nearly 45 years, according to projections by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook notes that consumption of natural gas in the U.S. between 1990 and 2005 […]The post Carbon Emissions from Natural Gas to Exceed Coal’s in 2016 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A unanimous vote by New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission (PRC) today determined that Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) will be allowed to provide new renewable capacity to a proposed Facebook facility through a special service agreement.The post New Mexico Clears Hurdle to Provide Power to Facebook Facility appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The downturn in the U.S. coal industry isn’t just hurting coal mining and coal-heavy power companies; it’s also having a devastating effect on the groups formed to help promote the industry—coal lobbyists. Three of the most prominent coal lobbying groups have seen high-profile supporters drop off of their membership lists in recent years, and with […]The post Support Wanes for Coal Industry Lobbying Groups appeared first on POWER Magazine.

WEC Energy Group, parent company of We Energies, signed a deal with mining firm Cliffs Natural Resources that will support two natural gas engine plants in the Upper Peninsula (UP) region of Michigan and replace power currently supplied by the coal-fired Presque Isle Power Plant, due to retire in 2020 (Figure 1). The deal […]The post WEC Inks Deal for Gas Plants to Replace Presque Isle appeared first on POWER Magazine.

According to a Duke University study, future climate warming will likely cause only minor reductions in power output at most U.S. coal- and gas-fired power plants.The post Warming Climate Likely to Have “Minor” Impact on Power Plant Output appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A massive fire broke out at DTE Energy’s St. Clair Power Plant in the early evening on August 11. Firefighters reportedly received the call for assistance at around 6:30 p.m. and fought the blaze well into the following morning. Video taken during the incident shows flames in several spots on the north end of the […]The post Massive Fire Forces DTE Energy’s St. Clair Power Plant Offline appeared first on POWER Magazine.

News agencies are reporting that an explosion at a coal-fired power plant in Dangyang, a city in central China, has killed at least 21 people and injured five others, three seriously. The event is said to have occurred around 3:20 p.m. local time on August 11. The facility—designed to generate thermal power and sell slag, […]The post Explosion at Chinese Coal Power Plant Reportedly Kills 21 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Construction on Belarus’s first nuclear power plant, being built by Russian state firm Rosatom in Ostrovets near the Lithuanian border, was halted after a construction mishap in July that is only now coming to light. Exactly what happened at the construction site on July 10 is unclear, but according to Rosatom, the plant’s reactor vessel […]The post Construction Halted on Belarus Nuclear Plant After Workers Drop Reactor Vessel appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Turkish President Erdogan’s meeting with Russia’s President Putin could signal a major shift in energy flows into the EU and increase the West’s dependence on Russian gas, which could open the door wider for U.S. LNG.The post Putin and Erdogan Meeting: Implications for Gas and Nuclear Projects appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A drone crash at the Koeberg nuclear power station in South Africa has led to the suspension of the site’s safety officer for breach of regulations. The Koeberg facility is a dual-unit 1,800-MW station located about 30 kilometers northwest of Cape Town. It is the only nuclear power plant in Africa. According to owner and […]The post Manager Suspended Following Drone Crash at Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Mississippi Power has pushed back the in-service date of its much-delayed Kemper County integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant by a month, to October 31, 2016. Initial production of syngas at the plant began on July 14, and testing continues of gasifier B and related lignite feed and ash systems. “The schedule extension provides for […]The post Kemper IGCC In-Service Date Pushed Back by a Month appeared first on POWER Magazine.

China’s ambassador to the UK, in an opinion piece in British newspaper Financial Times, warned that Sino-British relations are “at a crucial historical juncture” and suggested that enormous recent Chinese investments in Britain are at risk should the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor project be cancelled. The long-delayed and much-debated two-unit expansion at the […]The post China Warns Against Hinkley Point Cancellation appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Exelon Generation has agreed to acquire the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant from Entergy Corp. in a deal worth $110 million. Entergy had slated the 838-MW single-unit facility located in Scriba, N.Y., for closure by January 2017 for economic reasons, but the change in ownership will allow the plant to remain in operation. Exelon […]The post FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant Saved by Exelon-Entergy Deal appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Reliability and cybersecurity ranked as the two most important issues currently confronting the electric industry, according to surveys completed by 672 qualified utility, municipal, commercial, and community stakeholders for Black & Veatch’s “2016 Strategic Directions: Electric Industry Report.” It’s not particularly surprising to see reliability rank at the top of the list. “Reliability has always […]The post Reliability and Cybersecurity Top List of Issues in B&V Report appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Tony Clark, the only Republican on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, announced Aug. 4 that the agency’s September meeting will be his last.The post Republican Tony Clark to Leave FERC in September appeared first on POWER Magazine.

China’s once-booming coal power sector is facing an existential challenge as continued breakneck expansion of new capacity is colliding with flattened growth in power demand, despite increasingly strenuous government efforts to put the brakes on new construction. According to a pair of new studies, China’s overcapacity in coal-fired generation could reach a staggering 400 GW […]The post Despite Policy Shifts, China Faces Huge Coal-Fired Overcapacity appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Massachusetts’ lawmakers approved an omnibus energy bill that sets down an energy storage mandate and requires utilities to solicit contracts for 1.6 GW of offshore wind. The bill also outlines clean energy procurement targets, including for 1.2 GW from hydro, onshore wind, and other renewables from within the state, from neighboring states, or from Canada. […]The post Massachusetts Lawmakers Approve Energy Storage, Offshore Wind Mandates appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Italian firm Ansaldo Energia successfully defended an arbitration case brought by Siemens in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitral Tribunal regarding its right to use Siemens gas turbine technology under a license agreement, the company said on Aug. 1. The dispute stemmed from an agreement that ran from 1991 through October 2004 under which […]The post Ansaldo Energia Wins Arbitration Dispute Over Siemens Gas Turbine Patents [Updated] appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) approved New York’s Clean Energy Standard on August 1, likely saving three upstate nuclear power plants, while requiring 50% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2030. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) praised the action in a statement following the announcement. “New York has […]The post N.Y. Approves Nuclear Subsidies and Mandates 50% Renewables by 2030 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The post THE BIG PICTURE: Nuclear Retirements appeared first on POWER Magazine.

After years of planning and sluggish development, 2016 may be the year that offshore wind power development takes off in China. Once it does, the market will be large. Offshore wind power has a very important role to play in easing power shortages in coastal areas of China and in responding to climate change effectively. […]The post Time to Catch the Sea Breeze? Offshore Wind Power Development in China appeared first on POWER Magazine.

When commissioning a new power plant, requirements for purified water can be large—often more than an unfinished plant can supply. When it’s time to bring in outside help, proper planning can help avoid problems and keep budgets under control. With all the complexity inherent in the commissioning of a power plant, the last thing anyone […]The post Prevent Purified Water from Putting a Damper on Your Next Commissioning appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Sweden, which has been contemplating the role of its 10 nuclear reactors in its future power mix, said in June it will phase out a tax on nuclear power over the next two years and replace aging plants with new ones. The agreement by the Social Democrats, the Moderate Party, the Green Party, the Centre […]The post Abolished Nuclear Tax Is Relief for Unprofitable Nuclear Operators in Sweden appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Poland, a country where hard coal and lignite power plants currently generate about 85% of the power, has passed a law that stymies a wind power expansion and is now mulling draft legislation that will help boost investments in new coal capacity. The eastern European country has bucked the trend toward renewable power that many […]The post Poland Shuns Wind, Doubles Down on Coal-Reliant Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Now that the political conventions are over and Americans must choose between two presidential candidates, the rhetoric around coal’s future continues to heat up. What neither candidate is telling you, however, is that no matter who is elected in November, no matter what the makeup of the next Congress is, America’s coal age is over. […]The post Even with Trump, America’s Coal Age Ends in 2016 appeared first on POWER Magazine.

In an abrupt turn, the UK government has signaled that it will carefully consider its backing of a deal to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England, throwing French firm EDF’s July 28 final investment decision to proceed with construction of the EPR units into flux. Following a lengthy review process […]The post Hinkley Point C in Question as UK Government Rethinks EDF Agreement appeared first on POWER Magazine.

EDF’s board of directors made a final investment decision on July 28, giving the go-ahead to construct two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England. The decision means the company can move forward with the long-anticipated project. Several contracts will need to be executed, including with the British government, China General Nuclear Power […]The post Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Plant Approved appeared first on POWER Magazine.

A divided Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) Thursday approved Georgia Power Co.’s plans to investigate a new nuclear power project in Stewart County, with a time frame around 2030. Approval came in a 4–1 vote, with Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald in opposition. The vote represented a bit of a compromise. The Atlanta-based Southern Co. subsidiary, […]The post Georgia Commission Backs New Nuke appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Power and utility deals through Q2 2016 are already outstripping full-year totals for previous three years.The post 2016 Power and Utilities Deals Are Outpacing Previous Three Full Years appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Westinghouse Electric’s recent purchase of Chicago Bridge and Iron’s (CB&I’s) nuclear construction segment is embroiled in a new legal challenge, as CB&I filed suit in the Delaware Court of Chancery on July 21 over a $2 billion claim related to the deal The dispute is rooted in post-closing “true-up” working capital adjustments related to the […]The post CB&I Sues Westinghouse Over $2B Closing Agreement Claim appeared first on POWER Magazine.