Power Engineering ENewsletter 4/16

Combined Cycle: The Preferred Option Most new generation in the U.S. is being fueled with natural gas, and the most dominant technology being used to burn the fuel is combined cycle. Combined cycle power plants are highly efficient, allowing power producers to wring much more power from the same amount of natural gas. Read More Share: Video Highlights EU reopens investigation into Siemens, Dresser-Rand merger Georgia Power closes coal-fired power plant China OKs nuclear reactor design TVA acquires Mississippi combined-cycle power plant View Now Share: Top Stories FirstEnergy to close 3 northeast Ohio coal-burning plants FirstEnergy will close three coal-burning power plants as part of a company plan to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations on emissions of mercury and other air pollutants. Read More Share: AWEA: U.S. adds 23K jobs in 2014; sets wind project construction record The U.S. wind industry added 23,000 jobs in 2014 and set a record foramount of capacity under construction in 2015, according to a report from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Read More Share: EU reopens investigation into Siemens, Dresser-Rand merger European Union regulators resumed their investigation of a $7.6 billion merger where Siemens’ would acquire Dresser-Rand Group. The European Commission delayed the investigation mid-March, while waiting for additional information from Siemens. Read More Share: TVA acquires Mississippi combined-cycle power plant The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) successfully purchased a 700-MW combined-cycle power plant from Quantum Choctaw Power, an affiliate of Quantum Utility Generation. Read More Share: The Week's Most Read Articles Video: 9HA.01 Gas Turbine Testing Nears Completion Over the last four months, a team of engineers in Greenville, South Carolina, have been testing one of GE's (NYSE: GE) latest innovations, the 9HA.01 air-cooled gas turbine. Read More Share: Top 5 U.S. Coal Plant Heat Rates Peabody Energy recently ranked the top 5 cleanest burning coal-fired power plants in the U.S. under three categories: SO2 emissions, NOx emissions and best heat rate. Read More Share: Bechtel to build combined-cycle power plant in Ohio Bechtel was a awarded a contract from Carroll County Energy LLC, an affiliate of Advanced Power, to build a 700-MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle generating facility in Carroll County, Ohio. Bechtel will serve as the engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contractor for the Carroll County Energy Facility, which will utilize advanced emissions-control technology. Read More Share: Report: Energy storage technology revenue to exceed $21B by 2024 Global revenue from energy storage technologies is expected to grow from $605 million annually in 2015 to more than $21 billion by 2024, according to a new report from Navigant Research. Read More Share: More Headlines • NRC begins special inspection at nuclear power plant • E.ON Energy Services names new leadership team for US market expansion • Nuclear engineering company to build first U.S. pebble bed reactor • GE adds on to orders of natural gas-fired turbine • Nigeria & Russia in nuclear plant development talks • Nuclear power plant in Poland faces two-year delay • Japanese court rejects bid to restart of two nuclear reactors • Siemens to supply wind turbines to Ontario project • China OKs nuclear reactor design • Coal-fired power plant to close April 15 • DOE to fund low-impact hydropower technologies • Dominion acquires 20-MW solar power project • Environmental groups sue TVA over Gallatin plant pollution • Climate change plan faces high-profile legal test • Conco to upgrade tubing at 1,400MW coal-fired power plant in Australia • Canada, India sign uranium supply deal • GE to supply energy storage system to ConEd • Pump failure shuts down nuclear power unit • NEI: FPL’s nuclear plants generate $1.4bn for state’s economy • Former UNM law professor named chair of regulatory panel Industry Trends Henry Hub Average Natural Gas Spot Prices The Henry Hub is the pricing point for natural gas futures contracts. Here's a look at how prices have changed up to April 9, 2015. Read More Share: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Economic Indicators The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas offers a glimpse into how the markets are doing domestically and internationally. Read More Share: EIA’s weekly coal production report The U.S. Energy Information Administration has released its coal production report for the week ending April 11. Read More Share: Join In Send UNLIMITED delegates (employees) for one flat rate! Does your company generate electricity? Is your company a utility, muni, co-op, public power provider, on-site power producer or IPP? Does your company generate at least 1 MW of energy? If you answered YES to any of these questions then your company qualifies for the Power Generators Discount Program!* Read More Share: Add your hero to our Wall of Honor! The Wall of Honor pays tribute to military personnel around the world. It is on display at all of PennWell's North American conferences. Click to add a name or sponsor the wall. Read More Share: Power Generation Week 2014 Post-Show Report It was another successful year at Power Generation Week 2014! As the world's largest power generation event, the week was spent focusing on the industry's latest innovations, technical trends, and business strategies. The event boasted over 22,000 attendees from 115 countries, and 1,400+ exhibitors. Click here to learn more about Power Generation Week and what happened in 2014! Read More Share: From GenerationHub NextEra seeking approval for 150-MW wind project to serve Basin Electric contract The North Dakota Public Service Commission plans a May 18 hearing on a recent application from Dickinson Wind LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC, for a Certificate of Site Compatibility to construct the Dickinson Wind Energy Center. Read More Share: White paper looks at state compliance with Clean Power Plan Cost-effectiveness, electric system reliability and achievement of the environmental goal “with integrity,” are key factors that state must consider in light of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan, according to a recent white paper distributed by the Bipartisan Policy Center. Read More Share: Power Engineering Slideshow U.S. Coal Plants with the Lowest NOx Emission Rates The Top 5 U.S. coal-fired power plants were rated on the lowest NOx emissions. Read More Share: Callaway Energy Center's Replacement Reactor Vessel Closure Head Project Progress photos of the replacement reactor vessel closure head, during fabrication, at Equipos Nucleares SA in Santander, Spain. Read More Share: POWER ENGINEERING SPONSORED EVENTS POWER-GEN Europe Amsterdam Jun 9, 2015 - Jun 11, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Africa Cape Town South Africa Jul 15, 2015 - Jul 17, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Natural Gas Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio Aug 18, 2015 - Aug 20, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Asia Bangkok Thailand Sep 1, 2015 - Sep 3, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN Middle East Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Oct 4, 2015 - Oct 6, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN International Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details NUCLEAR POWER International Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details POWER-GEN International Financial Forum Las Vegas, NV USA Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details COAL-GEN Las Vegas, NV Dec 8, 2015 - Dec 10, 2015 Click here for details

Top 5 U.S. Coal Plant Heat Rates

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/slideshow/2014/08/top-5-u-s-coal-plant-heat-rates.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-april-03-2015

FirstEnergy to close 3 northeast Ohio coal-burning plants

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2015/04/firstenergy-to-close-3-northeast-ohio-coal-burning-plants.html?cmpid=enl-poe-weekly-april-17-2015

Setting the Benchmark: World's Most Efficient Coal-Fired Power Plants

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/04/setting-the-benchmark-world-s-most-efficient-coal-fired-power-plants.html?cmpid=EnlWeeklyPowerApril172015

Marine Energy Sector Continues Growing Worldwide, Despite Economic Setbacks

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/04/marine-energy-sector-continues-growing-worldwide-despite-economic-setbacks?cmpid=WNL-Friday-April17-2015

Energy Department Announces New Awards For Advanced Nuclear Energy Development

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/16/energy-department-announces-new-awards-for-advanced-nuclear-energy-development/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=0ab98d7e6b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-0ab98d7e6b-407304281

Energy News Roundup: New Gulf Spill Investigation, Michigan Solar Opposition & Luxury Brands Turn To LEDs

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/17/energy-news-roundup-new-gulf-spill-investigation-michigan-solar-opposition-luxury-brands-turn-to-leds/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=0ab98d7e6b-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-0ab98d7e6b-407304281

SA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission – update

SA Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission – update

Today the Expert Advisory Committee of the South Australian Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle was announced. The members include Dr Tim Stone (University College London, KPMG), Prof Ian Lowe (my co-author Why vs Why: Nuclear Power), Dr Leanna Read (Chief Scientist of SA), Mr John Carlson (formerly of ASNO), and me (Barry Brook). I look forward to engaging in a productive, evidence-based process with my colleagues.
The first Issues Papers has also been released today Exploration, Extraction and Milling. Further papers will be released in the coming weeks, and then there will be 90 days open for submissions. The RC will report to the SA Government within just over a year: by May 2016.


http://bravenewclimate.com/2015/04/17/sa-nuclear-fuel-cycle-royal-commission-update/

Feds Inspect Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Reactors After D.C. Blackout

Feds Inspect Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Reactors After D.C. Blackout, CBS Baltimore, April 14, 2015. "When the lights went off last week across parts of D.C. and Maryland, power was also cut off at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The two reactors then switched over to backup emergency diesel generators, but one of them failed–a glitch that could have resulted in devastating consequences. 'If a plant loses off-site power, the safety systems that are used to help cool down the reactor are then powered by these emergency diesel generators. We saw this at Fukushima,' said Neil Sheehan, Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman. During the Fukushima crisis, a massive earthquake knocked out power to the plant. It was followed by a tsunami that destroyed all the backup generators, resulting in a nuclear meltdown."http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/04/14/feds-inspect-calvert-cliffs-nuclear-reactors-after-dc-blackout/#.VS2UIZOkghg.twitter

Group Urges Expanded Planning for Indian Point Disaster

Most nearby communities lack emergency plans, says report

Group Urges Expanded Planning for Indian Point Disaster, Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2015. "Most communities located within 50 miles of the Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, N.Y., don't have emergency plans to respond to a nuclear accident, according to a report to be released Wednesday. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires communities located within 10 miles of nuclear power plants to develop emergency plans. In New York, the four counties within 10 miles of Indian Point—Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange—have taken such measures. But the Disaster Accountability Project, a nonprofit organization that monitors disaster-response programs and the author of the report, cited the commission's response to the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, in which it recommended that U.S. citizens within 50 miles evacuate."http://www.wsj.com/articles/group-urges-expanded-planning-for-indian-point-disaster-1429057990