To make the Cigeo nuclear waste landfill project acceptable, the National Agency for Radioactive Waste pays particular attention to the work of consciences, especially the younger ones. With the help – paid – of media and youtubeurs.

Reporterre 21st Jan 2019 read more »

EU approves France’s plan to replace nuclear plant with 300 MW of PV. The European Commission said the subsidy scheme to be adopted for the project is in line with the EU state aid rules. The 40-year old Fessenheim nuclear plant has faced several safety issues over the decades.

PV Magazine 21st Jan 2019 read more »

When he was prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi championed the use of atomic power to generate electricity. Then the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster struck, triggering a crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture. Koizumi, in office from 2001 to 2006, and widely regarded as one of Japan’s most popular postwar leaders, started reading up on the nuclear issue, and had a change of heart. Koizumi, 76, published his first book by his own hand titled “Genpatsu Zero Yareba Dekiru” (We can abolish all nuclear plants if we try) in December. It is available from Ohta Publishing Co. In it, he lambasts consumers for lacking a sense of crisis and simply believing a serious accident like the Fukushima disaster will never happen again in Japan during their lifetime. In a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Koizumi said it was “a lie” to claim that nuclear power is “safe, low-cost and clean,” although that is precisely what he espoused when he held the reins of power.

Asahi Shimbun 17th Jan 2019 read more »

New York has embraced the campaign for a ‘Green New Deal’, with Governor Andrew Cuomo declaring last week he will launch a major programme to build a zero carbon economy for the state. New York’s Green New Deal was hailed as a “nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda” by the Governor’s office, as it pledged to “aggressively put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality”. The plan includes doubling the state’s solar capacity by 2025 and quadrupling its offshore wind capacity by 2035, as part of a legally binding goal to deliver 100 per cent zero-carbon power for the state by 2040.

Business Green 21st Jan 2019 read more »

The project has helped businesses in Malawi to generate electricity from solar power. A solar power project to connect villages in Malawi has had a “life-changing” impact for rural communities. The initiative, led by Strathclyde University researchers, has seen affordable energy supply businesses set up in four villages. The partnership, which has been backed by a £600,000 grant from the Scottish government, ensures locals own and operate the equipment. It includes battery chargers and power connections for other small businesses. Only 12% of Malawi’s 18 million population is connected to the main electricity grid, which dips to 2% in rural areas. For the vast majority the main energy source is open fires, which puts pressure on the country’s forests.

BBC 21st Jan 2019 read more »

More than 100,000 dirty wood-burning stoves were sold last year despite promises by the government and stove industry to cut the pollution they cause. “Ecodesign” stoves, which reduce harmful emissions by 80 per cent, were launched two years ago but accounted for only 30 per cent of the 170,000 stoves sold in Britain last year. Burning wood and coal in stoves and open fires causes 38 per cent of particulate emissions, the most damaging form of air pollution, according to the government’s clean air strategy, published a week ago. The Stove Industry Alliance (SIA) launched Ecodesign stoves in February 2017. They burn wood more completely by introducing air at higher levels in the fire box, reigniting the wood particles before they can escape. More than 300 models were available by the beginning of last year but the industry continued to sell older stoves, often without informing people about the cleaner model.

Times 21st Jan 2019 read more »

In wake of Hitachi decision, minister says Japan’s strategy of promoting nuclear exports will not change.

Japan Times 19th Jan 2019 read more »

Switzerland files a complaint to close the Bugey nuclear power plant in Ain. The plant, built in the 1970s, is located less than 80 kilometers from the Swiss border. The security of the French nuclear fleet worries Switzerland. For the second time in less than three years, the canton of Geneva has lodged a complaint to request the closure of the Bugey power plant in Ain. Built in the 70s, it is located less than 80 kilometers from the Swiss border. The Swiss authorities, who have already decided to get rid of the atom, fear repeated incidents in the second oldest French power station. Since the 2000s, 90 incidents have been reported. This is far too much for the president of the Geneva executive Antonio Hodgers: ” The Bugey power station is at the gates of Geneva.In case of major incident, the canton of Geneva would be heavily impacted by radioactive radiation. to protect our population that the government of Geneva acts at the judicial level, on the French plan. “

France Info 19th Jan 2019 read more »

Eight years after the nuclear meltdown, wary citizens are moving back to contaminated homesteads—some not by choice,

Scientific American 16th Jan 2019 read more »

Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings, Inc. President Tomoaki Kobayakawa has urged major power companies and nuclear reactor manufacturers to drastically realign and integrate nuclear power businesses. “The nuclear power sector is now divided into electric power companies that operate such businesses and manufacturers responsible for the construction and maintenance of power plants. It’d be more rational to merge them,” he told a news conference at the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan in Tokyo on Jan. 18. A call by the head of a major electric power company for such realignment is extremely rare and is expected to create a stir in the power industry.

Mainichi 19th Jan 2019 read more »