Established 1882 * Vol. 155 * No. 6 June 2011 ON THE COVER Illustration by Elizabeth C. Johnston, Lizzardbrand Inc. Copyright POWER. COVER STORY: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 24 Artificial Intelligence Boosts Plant IQ Plant owners are facing a looming exodus of seasoned workers, mounting economic pressures, and a proliferation of plant data. Luckily, " smarter " power plant control technologies promise to help address all of those challenges while delivering operating cost savings. Learn how artificial intelligence neural networks are being used in power plants today and what they may be able to offer in the not-so-distant future. SPECIAL REPORTS POWER POLICY 30 Spain: A Renewable Kingdom Just over three decades ago, Spain adopted economic policies that committed the nation to renewable power in a big way. Notable research and development was followed by significant new wind and solar power installations. Then the subsidy bubble burst just as the global economic crisis hit. This report examines where the kingdom stands now as it struggles to balance aspirations against available energy and economic resources. INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL 38 K-Power Upgrades Combined-Cycle Automatic Generation Controls When South Korea's first private merchant power plant needed an updated control strategy to respond more efficiently to dispatch signals, it upgraded with a predictive multivariable controller. After you read how the transformation was accomplished and how it has improved plant operational stability, you may consider making a similar switch at your plant. MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS 44 The Urge to Merge As this issue was going into production, the news about utility mergers kept rolling in. Why now? Why these companies? Specifics from a couple of the most recent mega-mergers hold some of the clues, and industry analysts share their insights about what seems to be a trend. FEATURES INSTRUMENTATION & CONTROL 48 Fully Automating HRSG Feedwater Pumps This case study describes a combination of controls automation strategies and human-machine-interface techniques designed to increase the overall level of feedwater pump automation. The result was improved ease of use by operators and maintenance personnel. The approach could be used throughout a plant to help plant owners make the most of limited staff resources. June 2011 | POWER www.powermag.com 44 1 30http://www.powermag.com