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by POWER on (#P3JF)
Hydropower is booming, but unless you live in China, Latin America, or Africa, you may have missed it. Global installed capacity of hydroelectric generation has grown by more than 25% over the past decadeThe post Hydropower Innovations Make Some Noise appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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POWER Magazine
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| Updated | 2024-11-24 07:15 |
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by POWER on (#P3JD)
Though newer distributed generation options like microturbines, solar, and batteries have grabbed the headlines, diesel remains the go-to option because of its established technology and reliability. But growing competition and new regulations are threatening its traditional role. Here’s what diesel is doing to stay relevant. If you pay attention to nothing but the headlines in [...]The post Diesel Gensets Aim at the Future appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#P3JB)
If you’re looking to generate distributed power with gas, your options are broader than ever, with a range of efficient, clean-burning technologies to chose from. Knowing which option is the right one depends on a balance of site constraints, fuel supplies, and environmental oversight. When California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), a 14,000-student university north [...]The post Gas-Fired DG Showdown: Microturbines, Fuel Cells, or Reciprocating Engines? appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#P3J9)
Rooftops with arrays of tiny wind-powered microturbines and hydro microturbines generating power as water flows through municipal drinking water systems or the outflow of municipal sewage treatment systems? They’re real. For many in the electric power business, the term “microturbine†conjures up images of small, gas-fired machines, a fad a decade ago that never caught [...]The post Outside-the-Box Renewable Energy Microturbines appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#NZ6K)
Alliant Energy and its co-owners are investing $900 million to modernize the Columbia Energy Center with a new suite of air quality control equipment and plant improvements that will increase its output and efficiency while reducing emissions. The plant makeover ensures its continued operation for decades to come. In 2009, Wisconsin Power and Light Co., [...]The post TOP PLANT: Columbia Energy Center, Portage, Wisconsin appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#P1TX)
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized revisions to technology-based effluent limitations guidelines and standards, setting the first federal limits on the levels of toxic metals in wastewater discharges from steam electric power plants. The new rule sets stringent new requirements for the discharge of arsenic, mercury, selenium, and nitrogen in wastewater streams from flue [...]The post EPA Finalizes Steam Electric Power Plant Effluent Guidelines appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#P1M9)
Georgia Power plans to close all 29 of its coal ash ponds to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) December 2014–finalized rule and forthcoming guidelines governing effluent limitations. The Southern Co. subsidiary will consult with state regulators, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Public Service Commission, to develop and finalize the plan within [...]The post Georgia Power to Close All Coal Ash Ponds in Response to EPA CCR Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#NZ7N)
An old saying often attributed to Mark Twain is, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.†Listening to the conflicting information presented by a variety of senators during a hearing on Capitol Hill Sept. 29, one has to wonder if Twain was covering a Senate hearing when he penned the phrase. The only witness at the [...]The post Senators Cite Conflicting Polls and Studies During Environmental Hearing appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Gail Reitenbach on (#NYWB)
Before the official start of its Minds + Machines event in San Francisco this week, GE announced the launch of its “Digital Power Plant†during a briefing for the trade press. A formal announcement was to follow in the afternoon. Dick Ayres, general manager of software solutions, explained that the company’s Predix platform launches today [...]The post GE Announces Digital Power Plant as Component of the Industrial Internet appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#NY18)
Duke Energy announced on Sept. 29 that it had agreed to pay a $7 million fine to resolve all groundwater issues with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) relating to its 14 facilities in the state. The settlement comes after Duke appealed a proposed $25.1 million fine the NCDEQ levied in March. The [...]The post Duke Reaches Final Settlement with North Carolina on Coal Ash appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#NVTT)
The nation’s nuclear fleet has performed impressively through the first eight months of 2015. Plant outages averaged less than 3% of total U.S. nuclear capacity during the all-important peak summer season this year—from June through August. The result is far better than even the lowest range of data from any of the past five years. [...]The post U.S. Nuclear Plants Are Operating Better than Ever appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#NJTD)
In its latest effort to ram down carbon emissions and address air pollution, China will strictly limit public financing to coal and other high-carbon projects and begin a national program in 2017 to cap and trade greenhouse gas emissions. The country’s emission trading system will cover power generation, steel, cement, and other key sectors. China [...]The post China to Limit Support for High-Carbon Projects, Begin Nationwide Carbon Cap-and-Trade by 2017 appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#NE1R)
In presentations to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the nation’s regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) on Sept. 17 outlined measures they are taking to prevent issues if faced with extreme weather this winter. The measures are to prevent widespread generation outages as occurred during the Jan. 6–7, 2014, polar vortex. [...]The post ISOs, RTOs Outline Winterization Efforts appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#NBP3)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on Sept. 21 that it has begun a special inspection at the Callaway nuclear plant in Fulton, Mo., to investigate the failure of three of four control valves that regulate water flow to the plant’s steam generators. The review follows a reactor trip that occurred on August 11. According [...]The post NRC Investigates Control Valve Failures at Callaway Nuclear Plant appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#NBP5)
Another coal plant in the heart of coal country is shutting down after Owensboro Municipal Utilities, Kentucky’s largest municipal electric retailer, said it would retire Unit 1 of the Elmer Smith Power Plant in Owensboro some time between 2019 and 2020. The 163-MW Unit 1 opened in 1964. The larger 282-MW Unit 2, which came [...]The post Another Kentucky Coal Plant Shutting Down appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#NBFP)
Duke Energy Indiana reached a settlement agreement with some of the state’s key consumer groups related to operating costs at its Edwardsport integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coal power plant. The deal was submitted to state regulators on Sept. 18 and is subject to Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approval. If approved, it would resolve [...]The post Duke Energy Settles with Groups Over Edwardsport Operating Costs appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Gail Reitenbach on (#N6TX)
Researchers looking at “quantifiable differences in security performance†across industries from August 1, 2014, to August 1, 2015, found “challenging performance trends†in the critical energy and utilities sector. The third annual BitSight Insights Industry Benchmark report analyzed security ratings of nearly 10,000 organizations in six industries: finance, federal government, retail, energy and utilities, healthcare, [...]The post Cybersecurity Rating Firm Finds Energy and Utilities Industry Performance Concerning appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#MWB6)
NRG Energy has embarked on a “reset†that will see a separation of its core distributed generation and fossil fuel businesses. The company, headquartered in Princeton, N.J., wants to “simplify†NRG Group to cut down expenses and debt. In a transition that will begin now and be fully effective on Jan. 1, 2016, it will separate [...]The post NRG Energy to Reorganize, Seeds New Renewables Company appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#MP6F)
The global concentrating solar power (CSP) sector, criticized by some observers for high costs and uncertain technology, is poised for significant growth and a key role in the power mix—provided markets are structured to properly value their ability to store and dispatch renewable energy, three senior CSP executives said on Sept. 16. Speaking at the [...]The post Storage Is Key to CSP’s Future, CEOs Say appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#MNNF)
The societal impact of a “Black Sky Dayâ€â€”a term used by electric infrastructure security experts when discussing a collapse of the North American power grid—would be devastating, according to Dr. Daniel Baker, distinguished professor of Planetary and Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Baker testified before two subcommittees of the U.S. House of [...]The post Threats to Electric Power Grid Could Result in “Black Sky Days†appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#MNJV)
Speaking at the Solar Power International (SPI) conference in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 16, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hailed the nation’s progress in expanding its solar generation capacity and announced several new investments in solar power technology as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Sunshot Initiative. In an enthusiastic and animated address to [...]The post “Keep It Going!†Biden Tells Solar Industry appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#MH40)
Parts of Calpine Corp.’s The Geysers geothermal power complex have been severely damaged by a wildfire that has incinerated swathes of California. One of the world’s largest geothermal facilities, the 725-MW Geysers complex sits on 45 square miles of land along the border of Sonoma and Lake Counties in Northern California. Calpine said at least [...]The post Calpine’s Geothermal Facilities Devastated in California Blaze appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#MEJM)
Entergy’s 850-MW James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant located near Oswego, N.Y., may be the next reactor doomed to close on profitability woes. Entergy’s CEO Leo Denault told attendees at the Barclays CEO EnergyPower Conference on Sept. 10 that the company will need to decide by the end of this year whether to go forward with [...]The post Entergy’s FitzPatrick Reactor May Be Next Nuclear Casualty appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#M5V5)
Exelon Corp.’s embattled nuclear fleet got some good news on Sept. 10 when the company announced that it was deferring a decision on whether to retire its Quad Cities and Byron plants by at least a year. Both plants cleared PJM’s capacity auctions this summer despite concerns about their profitability. As a result, Exelon is [...]The post Exelon’s Nukes Get a Reprieve appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#M25V)
Duke Energy has settled a 15-year-old lawsuit for allegedly violating the Clean Air Act when it made modifications at 13 coal-fired power units in North Carolina. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) original case filed in 2000 focused on 25 Duke Energy coal units. As it has in more than [...]The post Duke Energy to Shutter Three Coal Units, Resolve Drawn-Out Clean Air Act Lawsuit appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#M1XM)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday rejected a request by 15 U.S. states to stay the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Clean Power Plan. In a one-page order, the three-judge panel dismissed the request filed on Aug. 13 by a coal company and the coalition of states led by West Virginia’s [...]The post Emergency Stay of EPA’s Clean Power Plan Denied by Federal Court appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#KZCF)
Some members of the U.S. House of Representatives feel the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to appropriately align its budget and staffing levels with the organization’s workload. That message was delivered to the agency’s commissioners during the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy joint oversight hearing held on [...]The post Lawmakers Press for Smaller, More Efficient NRC appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#KYV5)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has dropped a study begun in 2010 to determine cancer risks in populations near U.S. nuclear power facilities. Continuing the work was “impractical, given the significant amount of time and resources needed and the agency’s current budget constraints,†the regulatory body said. The study that was being conducted by the [...]The post NRC Scraps Study to Determine Cancer Risks in Populations Living Near Nuclear Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#KYV7)
A new policy approved by India’s cabinet will simplify its foray into offshore wind power, says a key stakeholder. The National Offshore Wind Energy Policy approved by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Union Cabinet on Sept. 9 designates the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) as the nodal ministry for use of offshore areas [...]The post India Approves National Offshore Wind Energy Policy appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#KVPS)
A study released today by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests that the world’s nuclear power generating capacity will continue growing through at least 2030. The projected growth varies widely due to uncertainty surrounding energy policy, license renewals, permanent retirements, and future construction, but even the “low case†sees nuclear capacity increasing 2.4% by [...]The post Nuclear Power’s Future Is Still Bright, According to IAEA Report appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#KV54)
European Union (EU) officials have approved General Electric’s (GE’s) $9.5 billion acquisition of Alstom’s power business, but conditions to which the two companies agreed to cement the deal will drastically reshape the world’s heavy-duty gas turbine market. The European Commission, the 28-country union’s executive body, granted its approval to the much-watched proposed merger, but only [...]The post GE Clears Final Hurdles for Acquisition of Alstom appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#KC99)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said on Sept. 2 that it was increasing its oversight of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant as a result of an inspection finding stemming from an unplanned shutdown in January. The action moves the plant into the Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone Column, indicating multiple problems in meeting one of the NRC’s [...]The post Pilgrim’s Woes Continue as NRC Increases Oversight appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#K3AK)
Nuclear costs aren’t on the rise globally as has been widely thought, says a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) surveying the levelized cost of generating electricity (LCOE). The eighth edition of the report, “Projected Costs of Generating Electricity†compiles data for 181 plants in 19 OECD and [...]The post Nuclear Is Still the Lowest Cost Option, says IEA/NEA Report appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Gail Reitenbach on (#GMM9)
Warren Buffett bought Nevada’s NV Energy two years ago, a move widely seen as a play for solar and renewable generation. That’s working out. But as the company transitions away from legacy coal and high-priced renewable contracts signed years ago, large customers are rebelling, and the company faces a challenge to keep its big dog [...]The post NV Energy: Warren Buffett’s Plan for a Structural Power Shift appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Michele White on (#K1DW)
The post THE BIG PICTURE: Powering China and India appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K3AM)
While having lunch at a downtown café with my friend the biology professor, the subject of animal extinction arose. “When it comes down to it, we really don’t know exactly why most prehistoric speciesThe post Leveraging Fuel Flexibility for Coal Power Plant Survival appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1E4)
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is facing major population growth over the next several decades and, with it, rapidly growing electricity demand. In 2013, the country generated 292.2 TWh of electricity, whichThe post TOP PLANTS: Qurayyah Combined Cycle Power Plant, Qurayyah, Saudi Arabia appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1E2)
It’s certainly no secret that for many years, the power industry has been a top target for hackers around the world. However, whereas in the past, many of these attacks were relatively easy to block usingThe post Four Stealthy Cyber Attacks Targeting Energy Companies appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1E0)
In today’s digital world, an optimally run power plant relies on valuable and accurate data in order to ensure assets are running reliably and with minimal downtime. Streaming in from control systems, SCADAThe post Optimize Power Plant Operations with Industrial Data Management and Predictive Analytics appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1DY)
In the early 2010s, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) was staring down the barrel of dangerously low reserve margins, a combination of growing demand and an energy-only wholesale market thatThe post TOP PLANTS: Panda Temple I and Panda Sherman Combined Cycle Plants, Texas Owner/operator: Panda Power Funds appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1CR)
Power plants use indicators to monitor process parameters such as pressure, flow, temperature, voltage, current, and vibration. Unless a facility is relatively new, it likely has analog panel meters; someThe post New Digital Meters Replace Old Analog Meters appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1CP)
There is a synergistic relationship among the three major cooling water treatment issues: corrosion, scale or deposit formation, and microbiological fouling. In order to control one, you need to control allThe post Winning the Cooling Tower Trifecta: Controlling Corrosion, Scale, and Microbiological Fouling appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#K1CM)
As with many areas in North America and Europe, electricity generation in the Canadian province of Alberta is in transition toward cleaner, more efficient, more water-wise power. According to statistics fromThe post TOP PLANTS: Shepard Energy Centre, Calgary, Alberta appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by POWER on (#JY9F)
Power-strapped Egypt’s first fast-track natural gas–fired project was completed in a record 159 days from groundbreaking to commissioning this July. The 650-MW Attaqa Simple Cycle Power Plant near SuezThe post Putting a 650-MW Gas Plant Online in Egypt Within Five Months appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#J0BC)
Gas-fired power is hot, at least in North America, and quite a few smaller utilities and generators that have never owned a gas turbine plant have begun looking at building one. For large investor-owned companies with plenty of institutional experience in power plant construction, it may be business as usual, but for smaller firms that [...]The post Controlling Schedule, Quality, and Costs for New Gas-Fired Plants appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#JS3H)
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued the final construction permit this week, allowing the expansion of the coal storage facility at We Energies’ Oak Creek site, but not without some additional requirements designed to reduce fugitive dust emissions from the stockpile. The Oak Creek site consists of two power-generating facilities, the Elm Road [...]The post Doubling of We Energies Coal Stockpile Approved, Extra Dust Mitigation Required appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#JR7C)
A federal judge on Thursday halted implementation of the Clean Water Rule that is controversial for its broad definition of “Waters of the U.S.†one day before it was to go into effect, saying it was likely that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) overstepped its authority when it promulgated the “exceptionally expansive†rule. Judge Ralph [...]The post Federal Judge Thwarts Implementation of “Expansive†EPA Final Waters of U.S. Rule appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Aaron Larson on (#JQHT)
Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) has received approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to acquire and phase out the Cedar Bay Generating Plant, a coal-fired facility located in Jacksonville, Fla. FPL has been buying power from the 250-MW plant under a long-term contract since 1988. The deal was not set to expire [...]The post FPL Gains Approval to Buy Coal-Fired Plant, Plans to Retire It appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Sonal Patel on (#JNQX)
An official four-year-long investigation into the Solyndra debacle confirms that the bankrupt maker of cylindrical solar photovoltaic panels misled the Department of Energy (DOE) to get a $535 million federal loan guarantee, but it also reveals that the DOE didn’t properly vet those facts, missing opportunities to catch inaccuracies, possibly due to political pressure. The [...]The post OIG: Solyndra Misled DOE to Get Solar Loan Guarantees appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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by Thomas Overton on (#JMXK)
Entergy’s Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station outside Boston just can’t seem to shake its problems with unplanned shutdowns. The most recent one occurred on Aug. 22, when a broken air-nitrogen line caused a main steam isolation valve to close, trigging a reactor scram. This was the plant’s third unplanned shutdown in 2015. Pilgrim was forced offline [...]The post Pilgrim’s Struggles with Unplanned Shutdowns Continue appeared first on POWER Magazine.
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