Category: Electric Reliability

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The AI Race Is Causing the Rising Demand for Nuclear Reactor Power Plants

From InterestingEngineering.com: Atharva Gosavi

Nuclear-Pwr-Plant
InterestingEngineering.com: Four-reactor project at Seadrift in Texas (X-energy)

The AI race is causing a rising demand for nuclear power plants. “By 2030, U.S. data centers could consume anywhere between 214 TWh to 675 TWh annually – a 2.6x increase compared to 2023 consumption. Due to intermittency, transmission limitations, and carbon constraints, renewable and fossil fuels fall massively short of fulfilling these demands.

Amazon just announced a partnership with X-energy, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), and Doosan Enerbility to build advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) in the United States. The partnership aims to accelerate their deployment to meet data centers and AI’s growing power demands. The partnership will deploy X-energy’s Xe-100 SMRs, coupled with TRISO-X fuel – a high-assurance form widely considered one of the safest in the nuclear sector.”

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Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Demand Expected to Grow Exponentially within the next 10-Years

From EnergyNews.pro

EnergyNews-SMR-Demand
Image: EnergyNews

The small modular reactor (SMR) global demand is expected to grow exponentially over the next 10-years, “according to a report published by Guidehouse Research. Revenues generated by this technology are projected to increase from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034, while annual installed capacity would reach 1,224 megawatts.

Worldwide, around 30 gigawatts of SMR projects are identified at different stages of development, from design to construction. Guidehouse Research points to nearly 60 developers active in this field, some relying on proven nuclear technologies, others seeking to deploy advanced reactors to broaden the range of applications.”

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Transformer Supply Shortages Continue to Deepen Among a Rising Power Demand

From T&DWorld (tdworld.com): Wood MacKenzie

T&D-World-Xfmr-Shortage-from-Wood-McKenzie
Image: T&DWorld (tdworld.com) from Wood MacKenzie

The latest report from Wood MacKenzie shows that transformers continue to be in short supply with the nation’s “power demand” continues to rise. “The U.S. power sector faces a looming transformer supply shortage, with projections indicating a 30% deficit for power transformers by 2025, risking delays in energy projects and grid upgrades amid surging demand and manufacturing constraints.

The U.S. power sector is facing mounting strain as demand for transformers outpaces supply. By the end of the year, supply shortages could reach 30% for power transformers and 10% for distribution transformers, creating challenges for utilities and delaying new generation projects.”

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Costco Is Planning a New Microgrid for its Tire Center Warehouse

From EEPower.com: Shannon Cuthrell

Costco-Tire-Center-from-Trinity
Image: EEPower.com by Trinity Energy (Costco’s Norwalk, CT Warehouse)

Costco is planning a new microgrid (off the grid) for its tire center warehouse in Norwalk, CT. “The modular battery and solar system, engineered and installed by Washington-based Trinity Energy, is designed to deliver up to 2 MWh per day without being tied to the grid. By choosing an off-grid design, Costco avoids interconnection delays and upgrade costs that often stall commercial electrification projects, while gaining a reliable on-site power supply.

Trinity Energy’s microgrid systems are flexible due to their modular architecture and scalable as off-grid infrastructure for sites like fleet depots, multi-family properties, and hospitality buildings. The company’s installations often integrate solar generation, battery storage, energy distribution systems, and inverters.”

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How AI Is Being Used by Power Utilities to Benefit End Users?

Renewable Energy World.com by Jeremiah Karpowicz:

DTech-Midwest-Conference-AI
Image: Renewable Energy World.com, DTECH Midwest Panel Discussion, “AI Use Cases at the Grid Edge”, Moderator: Fei Ding, NREL

At the DistribuTECH (DTECH) Midwest Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, major discussions have taken place on how AI is used to benefit end users. A panel discussion comprised of power utility and electric cooperatives, led by “Fie Ding from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the panel benefited from her work at NREL, which is connected to developing advanced models and controls for managing grid-edge resources.

These models go far beyond traditional meter data, fundamentally altering how utilities use information in a way that will redefine what customers see and expect in their monthly billing statements.”

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Duke Power Plans for a new Natural Gas Generation Plant in South Carolina

Power-Eng.com by Kevin Clark:

Duke-Energy-NG-Plant
Image: Power-Eng.com, Duke Energy’s Existing W.S. Lee Station-Anderson County SC

Duke Energy has announced its “plans to file an application with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant in Anderson County.

This would be the company’s first request to build new generation capacity in South Carolina in ten years. The combined-cycle plant is expected to have a generating capacity of approximately 1,400 megawatts (MW) and would use nearby existing transmission infrastructure.”

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