A new 840-MW natural gas-fired power plant in Greece will use equipment from General Electric (GE), with GE also providing services for the facility that is expected to come online in 2026. GE on March 20 announced the plant in Alexandroupolis will feature a 9HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, and a W88 generator. Additional equipment includes a triple pressure with reheat heat recovery steam generator, and GE’s Mark* VIe Distributed Control System (DCS) software solution. The 9HA.02 model is a fuel-flexible turbine that can burn a variety of fuels, including a mix of hydrogen and ..read more

El Salvador is taking steps to add nuclear power to the country’s energy mix, as the nation of about 6.5 million people looks to diversify its electric power generation fleet. In support of that effort, the government of El Salvador and the Thorium Energy Alliance, a Harvard, Illinois–based non-profit advocacy group that endorses thorium-fueled reactors, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the “El Salvador Energy Bridge” plan. The MOU was signed by Daniel Alvarez, El Salvador’s director general of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines (DGEHM), and John Kutsch, executive director ..read more

Sampling is a technique in which samples are drawn at random (without any favor or bias). For this, suitable measures or procedures may be laid down and adopted according to the nature and configuration of parts under inspection for ensuring complete randomness in sample selection. The term sample implies a subset chosen from the population. Acceptance sampling is an important method used in sampling procedures. It is also an important field of standard quality control where a random sample is taken from a lot, and upon the results of appraising the sample, the lot will be either rejected or ..read more

For water and energy providers, consistent customer engagement has become a critical aspect of daily operations and overall success. Why? Modern convenience and technology have dramatically altered the expectations of today’s consumers. The silent energy provider is an antiquated concept, and modern customers expect more from their utility companies. They demand the same speed and information when engaging in any digital activity—from shopping online to viewing their energy bills. Energy providers—whether they’re coal, gas, nuclear, hydro, wind, or solar—can utilize tactics similar to those ..read more

The global market for energy storage is experiencing rapid growth, in part because the technology is being included in decarbonization and sustainability programs. It also is being used to support the grid integration of more renewable energy resources, and has been touted as an important piece of electricity transmission and distribution system upgrades. Enertis Applus+, headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and with offices in a dozen countries including the U.S., is a global consulting, engineering, and quality control firm in the renewable energy and energy storage solutions sector. The compan ..read more

Nevada utility NV Energy is ready to add two natural gas-fired units to the existing Silverhawk Generating Station as part of the group’s plan to increase the state’s energy supply during the hottest months of the year. The $353 million project, the first phase of an $827 million plan the utility filed with state regulators last November, was unanimously approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on March 14. An NV Energy spokesperson said the new 200-MW units, expected to come online in July 2024, would operate about 700 hours annually, mostly in June, July, and August when the utili ..read more

Microgrids are localized power grids that can be disconnected from the traditional grid to operate autonomously. Because they are able to operate while the main grid is down, microgrids can strengthen resilience and help prevent grid disturbances. They also function as a reliable resource for faster system response and recovery. Microgrids enable the integration of more distributed energy resources, including renewable energy such as rooftop solar and batteries. Additionally, the use of local energy resources to serve local loads helps reduce energy losses in transmission and distribution, f ..read more

GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy’s (GEH’s) BWRX-300 design has cleared the first two phases of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Vendor Design Review (VDR) process, marking a first for a small modular reactor (SMR). The Canadian nuclear regulator’s VDR process is an optional pre-licensing mechanism that allows CNSC staff to give applicants feedback early in the design process. While the CNSC has to date completed 11 nuclear VDRs, most have been cleared following a review based on one of three phases. Completion of Phase 1, for example, signifies the regulator’s assessment of the vendo ..read more

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 15 issued the final “Good Neighbor Plan,” its latest iteration of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) that could require coal, oil, or gas steam power plants in 22 states to reduce their nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions levels by 50% by 2027 compared to the 2021 ozone season. Issued under the Clean Air Act’s (CAA’s) “good neighbor” or “interstate transport” provision, the EPA’s new “Good Neighbor Plan” essentially seeks to ensure that the nearly two dozen “upwind” states will incrementally tamp down their annual emissions of NOx—an ozon ..read more

The Enel Group and clean nuclear technology company newcleo signed an agreement under which they will work together on Generation IV nuclear technology projects. Under the deal, Enel will collaborate with newcleo by providing “specialized expertise” through the sharing of “a number of the company’s qualified personnel.” newcleo, for its part, will secure an option for Enel as first investor in its first nuclear power plant. newcleo has said the first step of its “delivery roadmap” will be the design and construction of a first-of-a-kind Mini 30-MWe lead fast reactor (LFR) to be deployed in F ..read more