PUBLISHER’S LETTER
WORLD-GENERATION MAY/JUNE 2015 V.27 #2
3
The cover photo pictures the largest US desalina-
tion plant being built in California. Lyn Corum
reports on page 5 that when the plant is completed
later this year, 50 million gallons per day of drinking
water will be produced for San Diego residents.
Jaime Foose said on page 7 that cyber threats target-
ed to the power generation industry are growing in both
frequency and complexity. Emerson’s Security Solutions
group expanded its cybersecurity portfolio to include
cybersecurity assessments, scheduled cybersecurity servic-
es and security program and compliance services.
Marvin Fertel asserts on page 9 that nuclear units
performed admirably, on average running at capacity
factors in the mid-90 percent range during Polar Vortex. There are 69 nuclear
reactors under construction globally and 183 new nuclear projects in advanced
planning stages.
Tom Kuhn, EEI’s president, said on page 11 that innovation is powering
change across the electric power industry. EEI’s members are transitioning to a
low carbon and digital future, integrating renewables and enhancing the electric
power grid.
Elliot Roseman and his team at ICF International explore two forces moving
electric transmission in new directions on page 13. They look at who will build new
high-voltage transmission facilities and the impact of proposed regulatory policies.
Eli Katz and Michael Masri at Chadbourne & Parke explain how yieldcos are
reshaping the tax equity market. They project on page 15 that yieldcos are a prime
customer for tax equity investors and will likely continue to grow in importance in
the future.
Tom Kiernan writes on page 17, AWEA’S Annual Market Report, that in
2014 the wind industry rebounded with a record amount of wind under
construction. He added that wind energy generation reduced water consumption at
existing power plants by approximately 68 billion gallons of water.
Marlene Motyka and Brian Boufarah of DeLoitte view renewable power
becoming a mainstream source as opposed to an alternative one on page 19. M&A
activity in renewable power increased with 37 percent more capacity involved in
deals over 2013.
Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group released the Mercom report on
funding and M&A activity for the Smart Grid, Battery Storage and Energy
Efficiency sectors for Q1-2015. All three sectors showed increases in VC funding
deals on page 21.
Michael Herzig of Locus Energy highlights SolarNOC allowing asset managers
to analyze performance data from a diverse set of solar PV assets. The solar indus-
try will need increased access to real-time intelligence to improve O&M workflow,
he offers on page 22.
Claes Fornell of ACSI measures utilities for customer satisfaction. The three
utility groups are ranked and listed with scores on page 23.
Our new editorial department, “Back on Campus,” for alums from the Classes of
2000 has updates on page 25.
WORLD-GENERATION
521 FIFTH AVENUE • SUITE 1700
NEW YORK, NY 10175
212.292.5009 •
Dick Flanagan
Volume 27, Number 2, copyright 2015 by The Flanagan Group, Inc. All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of
the publisher.
Membership held in the National Press Club, Washington, DC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
pg. 3
TWO CHALLENGES: DROUGHT AND RENEWABLES
BY LYN CORUM,CLASS OF 2003
pg. 5
OPERATING PLANTS SECURELY IN A
“NEW NORMAL”ENVIRONMENT
BY JAIME FOOSE
pg. 7
NUCLEAR ENERGY EXPANDS
BY MARVIN FERTEL,CLASS OF 2012
pg. 9
POWERING INNOVATION
BYTHOMAS R.KUHN,CLASS OF 2005
pg. 11
WHO GETSTO BUILDTRANSMISSION AND WHY?
BY ELLIOT ROSEMAN,CLASS OF 2001
pg. 13
GROWTH OF YIELDCOS
BY ELI KATZ AND MICHAEL MASRI
pg. 15
WIND INDUSTRY REBOUNDS
BYTOM KIERNAN,CLASS OF 2014
pg. 17
RENEWABLES ENTERTHE MAINSTREAM
BY MARLENE MOTYKA AND BRIAN BOUFARAH
pg. 19
FUNDING IN Q1 2015
BY RAJ PRABHU
pg. 21
ANALYTICS:THE KEYTO ACCELERATING
THE ADOPTION OF SOLAR
BY MICHAEL HERZIG
pg. 22
ACSI SCORES UTILITIES
BY CLAES FORNELL
pg. 23
BACK ON CAMPUS
pg. 25
