**5. Renewables and clean fuels**

some of the possible malfunction of transformers is detected or expected [4]. This also could

Modern control systems in power plants cannot be realized without the modern system of monitoring of process parameters or parameters of machines and systems. Continuous moni‐ toring includes continuous monitoring of machine operation (online), automatic storage of information and the possibility of automatic or subsequent processing and analysis. It also includes the generation of specific alarms and their submission to the operator and control system, according to a certain procedure [6]. Diagnostics of the generator are based on a wide range of data from off‐line and online testing generators and data analysis. All test data, oper‐ ating data and data of the machine are stored in a database for generators. Thus, all test data from any laboratory, repairs, unexpected events and failures are available for analysis. The data in the database with each successive inspection and testing are updated. The database is very flexible and has the ability to expand for all possible new types of tests, acquisition of

In virtually all coal preparation operations, mill systems are a critical part of the process to provide economical, reliable and energy‐efficient grinding. Operating mills at a slightly lower speed or even a slightly higher speed than line frequency give process engineers the advan‐ tage of the mills being optimized for the grade of material and desired throughput of the final process [8]. To get the target boiler power increase in order for 5–10% of rated power, it is nec‐ essary to increase the fuel intake and one of the possibilities for that is the coal grinding mill capacity increase [9]. Proposed solution in Ref. [9] is based on enhanced motor voltage supply by increasing frequency, what is possible by medium voltage (MV) inverter. The main goal is to supply motor with rated voltage and frequency in range between 50 and 55 Hz to obtain increase of plant power for 10% by increasing grinding mill capacity. Additional benefits are reduced mechanical stress during start‐up and the additional possibility of mill slow running

In order to improve power plant stability while operating close to its capability limits, as a requirement of a deregulated electricity market, one solution could be to optimally coordinate the synchronous generators' reactive power outputs in order to maintain the total reactive power delivered by a steam power plant (SPP) or the voltage at a steam power plant high volt‐ age (HV) busbar [10]. In such way, it is possible to aggregate the multimachine power plant into single virtual generator, thus enabling more sophisticated zonal voltage control across power

Environmental impacts of power plants are mainly reflected in emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases from fossil fuel‐based electricity generation. For instance, electricity generation

yield to proper time schedule of transformer replacement [5].

4 Recent Improvements of Power Plants Management and Technology

photo records of visual inspections and so on [7].

**3. Operation improvement and stability**

for inspection purposes.

transmission network.

**4. Environmental impacts**

But, not only fossil fuel power plants affect on the environment. Renewable sources like small hydropower plants and wind farms could have significant influence on fish and bird habi‐ tats and migrations. The strategic environmental assessment can be considered as the most important, the most general and the most comprehensive instrument for directing the stra‐ tegic planning process toward the principles and objectives of environmental protection, as well as for making optimum decisions on future sustainable spatial development, especially in energy sector [13].

Hydrogen is the most abundant element and cleanest fuel in the universe. Unlike hydrocar‐ bon fuels that produce harmful emissions, hydrogen fuel produces pure water as the only by‐product. Low‐cost photoelectrochemical process efficiently uses sunlight to separate hydrogen from any source of water to produce clean and environmental friendly renewable hydrogen. Innovative solar hydrogen generator eliminates the need for conventional electro‐ lyzers, which are expensive and energy intensive.
