HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Power from the Earth: A look at the Geysers
In the Mayacamas Mountains north of San Francisco, naturally occurring steam field reservoirs below the earth's surface are used at the Geysers geothermal power plant to make renewable energy for homes and businesses across Northern California.
Designing solar cells for submerged service
Underwater solar cells have the potential to harvest power at depths up to 50 m in very clear waters with efficiencies of 55% to 65%.
Dallas Fed survey paints a grim picture for the oil patch
The business activity index fell from -4.2 in the fourth quarter of 2019 to -50.9 in the first quarter of 2020, the lowest reading in the survey’s four-year history.
First license for Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications (VERA) software
The software package includes computational tools and supporting infrastructure to support light water reactor modeling and simulation.
Watch: CSB updates animation of BP refinery blast that killed 15
The CSB’s final report on the March 2005 incident found organizational and safety deficiencies at all levels of BP Corp.
ConocoPhillips delays and defers major projects
Buffeted by gyrating crude oil prices, the company cut its capital spending by $700 million and deferred or delayed a handful of projects in the U.S.
Newly buried electric transmission line enables harbor project to advance
Embedding the line deeper in the ocean floor will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform a $300 million dredging operation known as the Boston Harbor Deep Draft Navigation Improvement Project.
Utility pleads guilty to manslaughter in Camp Fire disaster
The plea agreement with the Butte County District Attorney is expected to resolve all state charges related to the fire.
6 notable HVAC takeaways from EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2020
Energy use for air conditioning is going up more than any other use.
VRF HVAC revitalizes Texas hotel
Occupants have the ability to adjust the temperature in their space to their preferred comfort level. This flexibility results in substantial energy savings as well as greater comfort.
COVID-19 likely impacting solar industry supply chains, SEIA warns
SEIA's projection of 47% growth in 2020 will be reduced due to coronavirus. The trade group said it is tracking solar equipment supply chains, component pricing and project development timelines.
Tests bolster the idea that wind farms can provide grid support services
The California Independent System Operator, Avangrid Renewables, NREL and GE conducted tests to determine if a utility-scale wind power plant can provide ancillary services to the electric grid.
Hydro turbines designed to benefit fish passage
Preliminary tests show that a new turbine installed at Washington's Ice Harbor Dam achieves a survival rate of 98.25% for fish passing through the turbine.
Carbon membrane produces power by reverse electrodialysis
High ionic conductivity and output power density positions the membrane as a suitable component for nanofluidics, membrane separation and nanopore applications.
These nukes won't close after all, owner says
Energy Harbor said it is rescinding deactivation notices for the Beaver Valley Power Station, which operates two units with a total capacity of 1,872 MW.
Directional drilling in naturally fractured reservoirs
With the existence of geological fractures, either in the target area or in areas that must be drilled through to reach the target area, a detailed structural framework for the geological understanding of the area must be made.
Solar cells shine indoors and power IoT devices
The dye-sensitized solar cells are based on a copper-complex electrolyte, making them suitable for harvesting indoor light from fluorescent lamps and LEDs.
Papaya enzyme makes for an organic solar cell
A low-cost, sustainable solar cell production route makes use of papain, an enzyme found in the papaya.
Spent nuclear fuel storage site clears an NRC hurdle
The license, if approved, would authorize an initial phase of the project to store up to 8,680 metric tons of uranium (equal to 9,568 short tons) in 500 canisters for 40 years.
Device generates 5 V of electricity from one tiny droplet of water
Researchers from Japan’s Nagoya University and Kyushu University have developed a device for harvesting energy from the movement of just one droplet of water to produce more than 5 volts of electricity.