Electricity Market Reform in Japan
Bumpy Road Ahead
This is the first in a series of three articles related to power market reform in Japan and its implications both for Japan and globally.
Gas-fired
Solar at High Noon
Surplus generation at mid-day calls for long-duration energy storage.
Utility execs and PUCs should plan now to handle extensive solar penetration, including the significant overgeneration that can occur at mid-day.
From Grid to Cloud
A network of networks – in search of an orchestrator.
The Energy Cloud will change the way we generate, store, and consume energy by changing from a one-way power flow to a dynamic network of networks supporting two-way energy and information flows.
Smart Gas Investment
As a bridge to a low-carbon future, natural gas can’t – and shouldn’t – meet every need.
Some describe natural gas generation as the “Swiss army knife” of technologies, as it can meet a variety of electric system needs. Yet while a Swiss army knife can prove handy, we don’t often use it when we have access to a well-equipped toolbox. It can introduce unnecessary costs and unacceptable risks.
Entergy to Acquire Union Power Station in Arkansas
Submitted by aburr on Fri, 2014-12-12 14:18Entergy subsidiaries, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Texas have signed an agreement to acquire the Union Power Station, a highly efficient, natural gas-fired 1,980-MW generating facility. The station is owned by Union Power Partners, an independent power producer, and wholly owned by Entegra TC. The Union Power Station, which entered commercial service in 2003, consists of four combined-cycle gas-fired generating units, or CCGTs, each rated at 495 MW.
From Coal to Gas
Regulatory and environmental challenges for power plant conversions under the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.
Converting a power plant from coal to natural gas triggers a host of environmental challenges and regulatory issues. Operators could be trading one set of regulatory obligations, liabilities, and costs for another, equally problematic, set of liabilities and costs.
Unwinding the Death Spiral
Rooftop solar, net metering, and the perils of utilityspeak.
The Sierra Club accuses utilities of trying to snuff out rooftop solar. Attorney Donald Sipe recommends RTO/ISO markets for natural gas.
NTE Energy to Develop Natural Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Facility in North Carolina
Submitted by aburr on Wed, 2014-03-05 14:07NTE Energy plans to develop, own and operate the Kings Mountain Energy Center, located in Cleveland County, NC. The new energy center will utilize a M501GAC advanced combustion turbine and a Mitsubishi steam turbine in combined cycle configuration. The power generation equipment will be supplied by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPSA). NTE Energy has begun the permitting process and submitted its transmission interconnection request to Duke Energy Carolinas. The project is planned to begin construction in 2015 and become fully operational in 2018.
Results-Based Regulation
A more dynamic approach to grid modernization.
The utility’s role is changing, and regulation must change along with it – to spur innovation and respond to evolving customer needs. Modernizing the industry will require a dynamic approach.
Reinventing the Grid
How to find a future that works.
The traditional central-station grid is evolving toward a more distributed architecture, accommodating a variety of resources spread out across the network. An open and thoughtful planning approach will allow an orderly transition to an integrated system – while fostering innovation among a wider range of industry players.