New Nukes
Recent nuclear industry supply-chain failures have included cost overruns and delays on new-build power stations in Finland and France. While some major apex industries, such as pharmaceuticals and aerospace, have produced their own supply chain quality standards for suppliers, the nuclear industry has not. It is time to start.
Nuclear Engineering International 13th Sept 2011 more >>
A nuclear expert from the University of Huddersfield has said people are more worried about energy supply than nuclear risk. Professor Bob Cywinski spoke as a survey was revealed indicating that Britons are less worried about nuclear power now than they were last year, before an earthquake and tsunami hit the Japanese plant at Fukushima. The poll was conducted in August, five months after reactors at the nuclear plant went into meltdown resulting in the release of radioactive material.
Yorkshire Post 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Scotland
THE Scottish Government has placed its ambition to transform the nation into a low-carbon economy at the heart of its new strategy for growth. But experts have warned the commitment to creating a renewable energy powerhouse could be a “white elephant” and that millions of pounds in subsidies pouring into the sector are unjustified. The reliance on wind farms and marine energy are the new priority in the growth programme set out by finance secretary John Swinney yesterday. Supporters insisted it will be a “major driver” of economic growth, with a £70 million government renewable infrastructure fund to help boost private investment in the sector. However, Mr Swinney and First Minister Alex Salmond faced accusations last night of stifling debate on the issue and coming down like a “ton of bricks” on dissenting voices.
Scotsman 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Scottish Engineering and our 400 member companies are pro-renewables. We want to see more renewables and we want to see more jobs created. But the problem we’ve got with energy is that we want a balanced, sustainable, affordable, secure supply of electricity. Those are the four very important words. Balanced because it’s got to be using all technologies, and sustainable because we all want to be good neighbours and don’t want to be ruining the planet. It has to be affordable because the rate at which utility prices are going up could mean we can’t afford it in future. Alex Salmond won’t even mention nuclear. When I was talking to him before the election I said: “Come on Alex you know that in 2020 we will still have 20 per cent of our electricity coming from nuclear, from Torness and the like.” He said if we need to extend the life of Torness we can do that. I said: “Well why are you not telling the public that?” Nuclear needs to be part of the mix. Dr Peter Hughes is chief executive of Scottish Engineering.
Scotsman 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Radwaste
On thursday 15th September Radiation Free Lakeland will speak to the Cumbria County Council Cabinet meeting in Barrow and present a petition of 1530 signatures. The petition calls on Cumbria County Council and Copeland and Allerdale Borough Councils to halt the cleverly named Managing Radioactive Wastes Safely process.
Radiation Free Lakeland 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Talk by Ruth Balogh the nuclear issues campaigner- W Cumbria & N Lakes FoE following a showing of Into Eternity at Tullie House Carlisle Monday 5th Sept, hosted by Sustainable Carlisle, Cumbria One World Centre, and North Cumbria CND.
Radiation Free Lakeland 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Energy Security
Big industrial gas users have written to Charles Hendry to ask him to ensure UK has sufficient gas storage capacity.
Telegraph 14th Sept 2011 more >>
Green Politics
Greens have struggled to sell effectively the good news of sustainability, of safe and secure energy and food, clean air and water. It necessitates different tactics. Not climbing smokestacks to grab the front-page picture, but a meticulous and relentless exposition through a thousand channels of why it is good to live within one’s planetary means.From the boardroom to the corridors of power to the aisles of the supermarket, the message needs to be sold. The seeds are there, but struggling to grow in a world awash with commodities. Those commodities are rising in price, but not fast enough by itself to prevent planetary red lines being crossed. The challenge for the next phase of the green movement’s life then is tough but essential. It is convincing the world that happiness is having just enough.
Guardian 13th Sept 2011 more >>
France
An explosion at the Marcoule nuclear treatment plant in southern France at 11:45am on Monday killed one worker and injured four others, one seriously. The blast was caused by a fire near a furnace at the Centraco radioactive waste storage site. The materials being treated allegedly had a low level of radioactivity.
World Socialist Web 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Mondays blast at the Marcoule nuclear site in the south a France has once again sparked a debate about the safety of Europes energy facilities. French atomic authorities say no chemical or radioactive leak occurred. But the accident happened only three days before operator EDF was due to report on the plants ability to deal with emergencies. It also came as Europes nuclear industry undergoes crucial stress-tests. In Germany, public opinion following the Fukusima disaster in Japan forced Berlin into a u-turn over its nuclear energy industry Euronews spoke to Jurgen Trittin, head of the parliamentary group of Germanys Greens and the man widely tipped to become the partys candidate for chancellor in 2013.
Euro News 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Japan
Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has announced plans to restart the nuclear plants which were halted to meet power shortages.
Energy Business Review 13th Sept 2011 more >>
BBC 13th Sept 2011 more >>
IAEA
The worldwide use of nuclear energy will continue to grow despite the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, told a meeting of its Board of Governors. Non-proliferation concerns remain in some countries, he noted.
World Nuclear News 13th Sept 2011 more >>
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board has adopted an action plan to strengthen global nuclear safety. Director General Yukiya Amano set out a series of measures in a document aimed at enhancing standards worldwide in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima accident. The governing board of the IAEA approved the document, despite criticism from several states that the proposals had been watered down. It came after a debate that underlined divisions between states such as Germany seeking stronger international commitments and others, including the United States, wanting safety to remain an issue strictly for national authorities.
Engineering & Technology 13th Sept 2011 more >>
China and India
Although the Fukushima crisis will probably not put off committed projects, it may delay or kill off wavering ones. Such an effect further shifts the balance of nuclear new-build to China and India, whose programmes up to, and after, 2030, could set the new-build standard for other countries in the world.
Nuclear Engineering International 13th Sept 2011 more >>
Denmark
DENMARK has won international plaudits for its shift towards a low-carbon economy. Experts say a key feature of the strategy taken by the Danes has been the gradual approach of taking one small step at a time “evolution not revolution”. But political will was a key driver in the switch towards renewables, mainly offshore and onshore wind. The government launched a programme of subsidies and loan guarantees in an effort to boost the industry more than 30 years ago.
Scotsman 13th Sept 2011 more >>
