Nuclear Subsidies
Four European nations have called on the EU to grant nuclear energy a similar status to solar and wind power, according to a German paper. This could lead to the EU paying out billions to subsidize nuclear power. Four European Union member states are calling on the bloc to subsidize nuclear power the way it already subsidizes wind and solar energy. Britain, France, Poland and the Czech Republic have outlined their request in letters to the EU, according to a report published in Friday’s edition of the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. The four governments argue that nuclear power should be recognized as being an emissions-free technology, similar to wind and solar power. The letters arrived in Brussels ahead of a meeting of European Union economy and energy ministers scheduled for the end of next week.
Deutche Welle 13th April 2012 more >>
EU Business 13th April 2012 more >>
Süddeutsche Zeitung 13th April 2012 more >>
France, Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic rejected a report Friday that they want nuclear energy to receive subsidies similar to the ones enjoyed by renewable energies. The German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported earlier that those four countries sent letters outlining their request to Brussels ahead of a meeting by European Union energy ministers next week. The paper said the four nations want nuclear energy to receive subsidies similar to those accorded to solar and wind power. “There is no such French initiative,” said a spokesman for French industry minister Eric Besson, adding that there were no “consultations with other nations” on this issue. British officials say London opposes any subsidies for nuclear energy and would never request it at the EU level. The Polish economy ministry said it was “not aware of such an initiative” while a Czech industry ministry spokesman said the German paper “considerably simplified” the document. The countries provided contributions to a debate on a roadmap for the energy sectory for 2050, but the French and British documents, seen by AFP, do not mention subsidies for the nuclear industry. France, however, insists on nuclear power being considered a low carbon energy.
EU Business 13th April 2012 more >>
The US is facing a $15 trillion national debt, and there is no shortage of opinions about how to move toward deficit reduction in the federal budget. One topic you will not hear discussed very often on Capitol Hill is the idea of ending one of the oldest American welfare programmes the extraordinary amount of corporate welfare going to the nuclear energy industry. Many in Congress talk of getting “big government off the back of private industry”. Here’s an industry we’d like to get off the backs of the taxpayers. After 60 years, this industry should not require continued and massive corporate welfare. It is time for the nuclear power industry to stand on its own two feet.
Guardian 13th April 2012 more >>
Dungeness
An action plan has been drawn up in a bid to deal with the loss of jobs when a nuclear power station in Kent closes. Dungeness A, on the Romney Marsh, was retired in 2006 and is now being decommissioned. It is due to fully close in five years’ time with the loss of about 400 highly-skilled jobs. Shepway District Council has put forward a raft of ideas to lessen the impact of the closure on the surrounding area.
BBC 13th April 2012 more >>
Wylfa
Letter from Cllr Stephen Churchman: You correctly mention that Rosatom was responsible for the Chernobyl reactor but, as the pro-nuclear Daily Mail has pointed out, Rosatom has also been responsible in building up Iran”s nuclear capability whilst it also notes how Russia has regularly used its energy policy as a tool of political control on other countries. UK energy policy is supposed to be moving us away from energy dependence on countries like Russia, not making us ever more dependent on foreign-owned energy utilities. What should be happening now is that the Welsh Government, the UK Government and the local authorities in North Wales should radically refocus energy policy and tap into the huge alternative non-nuclear jobs potential that lays in the area.
Daily Post 12th April 2012 more >>
Letter Ray Davies: We have won an important fight to stop entrepreneurs from building a nuclear power station at Wylfa. But we still have a battle royal to overturn Welsh Assembly leader Carwyn Jones’s disgraceful decision to embrace nuclear power and the proposed development at Hinkley Point. We need to get some answers from our AMs and MPs about nuclear power.
Morning Star 12th April 2012 more >>
Sizewell
Energy company EDF should spend £100m on improving infrastructure if a new nuclear power station is built in Suffolk, councillors have said. A joint district and county council group is asking the company to help fund a bypass on the A12 and dual the local railway line. The government will make the decision on whether the power station is built. EDF said public consultation on its initial plans would begin later this year.
BBC 12th April 2012 more >>
Radwaste
Dr Helen Wallace is coming to Kendal to give THE ROCK SOLID? Lecture on 10th May. There will also be the opportunity for Questions and Answers. Rock Solid? A scientific review of geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste Publication – September 15, 2010 European leaders are being misled over the safety of underground disposal of highly dangerous nuclear waste which could poison groundwaters for centuries. Cumbria is in the frame for what would be the world’s first operational high level geological disposal facility. The Department of Energy and Climate Change have effectively set Cumbria (the only county to “express an interest”) the goal of putting the first high level waste into a disposal facility by 2029. Rock Solid? was written by Dr Helen Wallace, Executive Director of GeneWatch and is an overview of the status of research and scientific evidence regarding the underground disposal of highly radioactive wastes.
Rock Solid Expo 13th April 2012 more >>
World Trends
The amount of electricity generated by nuclear power plants worldwide fell by just over 4% in 2011, primarily due to reactors being idled in Japan following the Fukushima accident and Germany’s reflex reaction to close its older units.
World Nuclear News 13th April 2012 more >>
Japan
Fukushima Update 10th – 12th April.
Greenpeace 13th April 2012 more >>
Japans economy minister said Monday two nuclear reactors tentatively met government safety standards even though completing improvements will take several years, paving the way for final approval for their startup soon. Ohi town mayor Shinobu Tokioka called the roadmap a step forward, but urged the central government and nuclear regulators to carefully review the reactors safety. Starting up the reactors would usually take one or two days after approval is granted, but it is still unclear how long it would take in this case. Edano is expected to visit the region to request a startup and gauge public reaction. Local consent is not a legal requirement for restarting the reactors, though government ministers are unlikely to force if the mood is strongly against it.
Tokyo Times 14th April 2012 more >>
Engineering & Technology 13th April 2012 more >>
Greenpeace today protested the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edanos visit to Fukui Prefecture, slamming the Governments push to bring two reactors at the Ohi nuclear power plant back online against public opinion and the recommendations of numerous experts, and despite essential safety and emergency upgrades not being completed.
Greenpeace 14th April 2012 more >>
Japans paralysed nuclear industry took a step toward resuming operations at dozens of idled power plants on Friday after a crucial endorsement from the prime minister and top cabinet officials. The Government must still convince local politicians in jurisdictions where reactors are located to sign off on any restarts, but the official, cabinet-level endorsement on Friday should make it easier to do so. Although some local leaders have turned vocally against nuclear power since Fukushima, many others have said they lacked the technical expertise to evaluate the safety of their plants, and were in effect waiting for guidance from Tokyo.
FT 13th April 2012 more >>
We noted days after the Japanese earthquake that the biggest threat was from the spent fuel rods in the fuel pool at Fukushima unit number 4, and not from the reactors themselves. Scientists say that there is a 70% chance of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hitting Fukushima this year, and a 98% chance within the next 3 years. Given that nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen says that an earthquake of 7.0 or larger could cause the entire fuel pool structure collapse, it is urgent that everything humanly possible is done to stabilize the structure housing the fuel pools at reactor number 4. Tepco is doing some construction at the building it is a race against time under very difficult circumstances, and hopefully Tepco will win.
Global Research 9th April 2012 more >>
Gundersen: Unit 3 is worse [than No. 4]. Its mechanically its rubble, the pool is rubble. Its got less fuel in it. It faces the same problem. Structurally the pool has been dramatically weakened. And nobody has even gotten near it yet.
ENE News 11th April 2012 more >>
Iran
Six world powers are to begin talks with Iran aimed at ending the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Officials from the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany hope the talks, in the Turkish city of Istanbul, halt rising tensions in the region. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful, but critics suspect it of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
BBC 14th April 2012 more >>
Independent 14th April 2012 more >>
Iran’s foreign minister called for “comprehensive, long term dialogue” yesterday as the adversaries in the confrontation over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions prepared for crucial talks.
Telegraph 13thy April 2012 more >>
The first international negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme for 15 months will get under way on Saturday in Istanbul amid increasing signs that Tehran is prepared to trade limits on its enrichment of uranium for relief from economic sanctions.
Guardian 13th April 2012 more >>
Hillary Clinton says Iran must show at Turkish summit it is serious about negotiating but Ahmadinejad vows not to retreat.
Guardian 13th April 2012 more >>
North Korea
Concerns are growing that North Korea is stepping up plans to detonate a nuclear device after the launch of a rocket on Friday ended in humiliating failure.
Telegraph 13th April 2012 more >>
Microgeneration
This week’s Micro Power News with updates on the Green Deal.
Microgen Scotland 13th April 2012 more >>
Green Deal
The government says its green deal will help homeowners cut their energy bills over time, but critics of the scheme disagree. Leo Hickman, with your help, investigates. Greg Barker’s reassurances on this issue are certainly welcome, but I still cannot see how the government can claim with any certainty that the green deal loans will definitely help homeowners to save money over the long term. My confidence is further undermined by the language used by his department when it comes to the much-vaunted “Golden Rule”. When I sought clarification, DECC could still only come up with vague and hopeful terms such as “should”: “[People] should still save money compared to what it would have cost to heat their home in that way without a Green Deal.”
Guardian 13th April 2012 more >>
