combined-cycle

Calpine to Purchase Granite Ridge Energy Center in New Hampshire

Calpine acquired the Granite Ridge Energy Center from Granite Ridge Holdings for $500 million, subject to working capital adjustments. The 745-MW, combined-cycle, gas-fired power plant is located in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The power plant, which commenced commercial operation in 2003, features two Siemens 501G combustion turbines, two heat recovery steam generators and one steam turbine. Calpine expects the transaction to close by the first quarter of 2016.

Commenting on Carbon

State PUCs take on EPA and its Clean Power Plan.

Everything about the Clean Power Plan seems surreal. States complain of unfair treatment. Regulators read the proposed rule and sound warnings of a coming apocalypse.

Early Clean Power Planning

A hedging strategy for sec. 111(d).

While the public comment period on EPA’s Clean Power Plan proposed rule has closed, there are still opportunities to engage in the federal policymaking process before the summer 2015 release of the final rule.

GE to Replace TVA’s Coal Units with Cleaner, High-Efficiency H-Class Gas Turbines

GE received an order from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to supply two high-efficiency 7HA.02 gas turbine generators for the new combined-cycle Allen plant. The new plant will replace three coal-fired units that are being retired as TVA works toward a December 2018 deadline from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce coal emissions. The TVA Allen plant will have the capacity to generate 1,000 MW of power in combined-cycle mode, the equivalent power that would be needed to supply 1 million U.S. homes.

Hedging Your Bet on Cheap Gas

Portfolio theory points to energy efficiency as invaluable in resource planning.

Overlooked in planning, and undervalued by today’s low natural gas prices, energy efficiency offers a valuable hedge against fuel price volatility.

Emerson Wins Contract to Replace Turbine Controls at Union Power Station

Union Power Partners, a subsidiary of Entegra Power Group, awarded Emerson Process Management a contract to replace turbine controls at Union Power Station. The plant, located in southern Arkansas, is one of the largest combined-cycle facilities in the U.S. with a generating capacity of 2,200 MW and comprises four individual 2x1 combined-cycle power blocks.

Siemens Wins Order for 600-MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Turkey

Siemens received an order for the turnkey construction of the Bandirma II combined-cycle (gas and steam) power plant (CCPP) in Turkey. The purchaser is Enerjisa, a joint venture of Sabanci Holding and E.ON. Upon completion in the spring of 2016, this plant will have an installed capacity of around 600 MW and an efficiency of over 60 percent.

Pre-Funding to Mitigate Rate Shock

Re-starting the Big Build calls for revisiting cost-recovery mechanisms.

As the industry resumes major capital-spending programs, utilities and their stakeholders are rightly concerned about the effects on prices. Traditional regulatory approaches expose utilities to risks and costs, and can bring rate shock when capital spending finally makes its way into customers’ bills. Pre-funding investments can provide a smoother on-ramp to bearing the costs of a 21st-Century utility system — but it also raises questions for utilities to address.