New Nukes
Energysolutions and its partner Toshiba have offered to kick start the UK’s stalled nuclear clean-up programme – in return for being given the sites to build a new fleet of reactors. At present French utility company EDF is leading the race to buy nuclear generator British Energy and start the new-build programme. But the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which owns the public sector’s old nuclear sites, has also put these on the block for firms interested in building new reactors. EnergySolutions, which operates the 10 old Magnox reactor sites in Britain, has teamed up with Toshiba, owner of the Westinghouse reactor design company. They have proposed taking ownership of the Magnox sites and building new reactors on them. In return, they are promising to accelerate the decommissioning effort.
Observer 1st June 2008 more >>
GORDON BROWN and John Hutton, the business secretary, are to woo international investors and power groups at a special summit in London on June 12 to drum up interest in Britain’s multi-billion-pound plans for new nuclear power stations. About 80 top executives from banks, investment funds and leading international power and nuclear-technology groups are expected at the Westminster meeting. Brown is likely to host a dinner on the eve of the conference, with Hutton the key speaker at the half-day event.
Sunday Times 1st June 2008 more >>
Microgeneration
Ministers could avoid building nuclear reactors by encouraging families to fit solar panels and other renewable energy equipment to their homes, a startling official report concludes. The government-backed report, to be published tomorrow, says that, with changed policies, the number of British homes producing their own clean energy could multiply to one million – about one in every three – within 12 years. These would produce enough power to replace five large nuclear power stations, tellingly at about the same time as the first of the much-touted new generation of reactors is likely to come on stream. And, it adds, by 2030, such “microgeneration” would save the same amount of emissions of carbon dioxide – the main cause of global warming – as taking all Britain’s lorries and buses off the road.
Independent on Sunday 1st June 2008 more >>
Investing in the technology to develop renewable energy sources plays an important part in the German economy. In Britain, what’s left of manufacturing seems ridiculously dependent on the arms trade. Between Berwick and Berlin I heard one of the drivers of this German revolution, the Social Democratic MP Hermann Scheer, speak in a large but crowded Commons committee room. Scheer – styled by Time magazine as one of its five “Heroes for the Green Century” – had just five MPs in that audience. Two of them – both Labour MPs – shared the platform and his enthusiasm. Neither will be standing at the next election.
Independent on Sunday 1st June 2008 more >>
The outlines of the green choice are clear. Parts of it are visible, scattered across Government like green shoots. Mr Brown has his back to the wall, and is being urged by his friends to throw caution to the winds and do what is right in the next two years rather than what he thinks might be popular. At the moment, he gives every sign of making the wrong choice for this country and the world. If he does so, he risks ceding a critical issue to Mr Cameron.
Independent on Sunday 1st June 2008 more >>
Zero-Carbon
Lord Coe , the chairman of the London Olympics organising committee, is in talks with the National Grid over a deal intended to make the London 2012 games carbon neutral.
Independent on Sunday 1st June 2008 more >>
Jordan
Jordan and France signed an agreement on Friday to help the Arab kingdom develop its nuclear energy program. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Jordanian counterpart, Salaheddine al-Bashir, announced the deal in Amman. The agreement calls on France to help create nuclear reactors to be used for electricity production and desalination of sea water.
AP 31st May 2008 more >>
Iran
Iran is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons but Tehran should avoid “irritating” its neighbours, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Saturday in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde. Putin, who was in Paris for two days of meetings with President Nicolas Sarkozy and other French leaders, said there was no indication Iran was building its own nuclear arsenal.
Middle East Online 31st May 2008 more >>
Iran should open its nuclear installations to international scrutiny to clear suspicions about its nuclear ambitions, French Defence Minister Herve Morin said on Sunday.
Reuters 1st June 2008 more >>
