Generation & Markets News

Citing changes in the regional electric market related to the mandated addition of renewable generating facilities, and alluding to such other factors as tightened water resource regulations and the possibility of merchant power plant shut-downs, the California Public Utilities Commission has approved an interim “flexible capacity” framework as a further component of its annual Resource Adequacy (RA) requirements process.

In its sixth annual report, the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development (ORMD) provided an update on the status of the state’s competitive electric market, which shows a second straight year of dramatic increases in the number of residential users who are switching to competitive power suppliers as well as concomitant increases in the cost savings enjoyed by consumers who make the switch.

ClearSign Combustion executed a letter of intent to enter into a multi-phase commercial development agreement with a waste and energy services company. Phase one of the anticipated three-phase agreement began in July with testing in ClearSign's Seattle combustion test facility. Subsequent phases would include full-scale testing and evaluation at a larger US-based facility. Additional contract details will be disclosed upon execution of the definitive agreement. 

Alstom was awarded a contract worth more than $90 million CA for Hydro-Québec’s La Romaine 3 power house, one of four new power houses that make up the 1,550-MW La Romaine hydroelectric complex, located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. The scope of the contract includes the supply of two 200-MW vertical Francis turbine-generator units complete with butterfly valves and regulation systems. Alstom will install and commission the equipment at the La Romaine 3 site. This contract was booked during first quarter of fiscal year 2013/2014.

ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of scalable, distributed power systems, has closed on its acquisition of UTC Power, the fuel-cell production subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

Constellation completed an aggregate 5.7-MW (DC) solar generation project for Portland General Electric (PGE) in Lake County, Oregon. Constellation financed as well as owns and operates the solar power system. In return, PGE purchases and receives all of the electricity generated by the solar panels at a fixed rate from Constellation under a 25-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA). The solar power system comprises more than 20,000 ground-mounted photovoltaic panels.

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, completed its 36-MW energy storage and power management system at its Notrees Windpower Project in west Texas. The system completed testing and became fully operational in December 2012. Xtreme Power designed and installed the 36-MW capacity Dynamic Power Resource at Notrees and will continue to operate the system. In addition to increasing the supply of renewable energy during periods of peak demand, the system will help stabilize the frequency of electricity traveling throughout the power grid.

Alstom will provide three heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) for Dominion Virginia Power’s new 1,300-MW Brunswick County power station. Alstom says the units will be the largest HRSGs it has supplied for the North America market. Each unit will be coupled with a Mitsubishi MHI501G gas turbine. Alstom contracted to Fluor to lead project engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. Construction is expected to begin after Dominion receives approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Lincoln Renewable Energy (LRE) signed 20-year power sales agreements with Southern California Edison (SCE) to deliver electricity from the Marathon (25 MW DC) and Agincourt (12.5 MW DC) solar power plants that LRE is developing in San Bernardino County, Calif., with WDG Capital Partners. Construction is expected to begin in 2013. 

Juhl Wind and 8030 Companies formed a joint venture to acquire existing wind farms and additional generating assets in the United States and Canada. Operating under the Juhl Wind name, the partnership expects to buy 260 MW of older wind farms over three years. The company might purchase projectstotaling 60 MW of capacity in 2013 and 100 MW in two subsequent years.