New nukes
Sellafield, home of the world’s first civil nuclear reactor, is being considered as the site for a new nuclear reactor by EDF, the French nuclear power giant. Amec, the engineering group, is likely to work with EDF if Sellafield is chosen after a round of site investigations, which includes a government strategic site study. Amec has been setting out the case for new nuclear reactors at Sellafield in Cumbria to a group of council, regional development and business interests to win round public opinion.
Times 21st Jan 2008 more >>
Letters: (1) In 2002, the pro-nuclear lobby launched a scathing attack on the then Scottish Executive’s proposals to increase the use of renewable energy, knowing the only hope for nuclear power was to kill off research and development into renewable energy. Has Labour in Scotland forgotten this? (2) The announcement by the Scottish Government of a-non nuclear energy generation strategy is to be welcomed for another reason – we have no Scottish source of uranium. With the exception of Canada, most uranium is found in countries where the regime is not always stable. In Canada, supplies are getting more difficult due to geological conditions.
Scotsman 21st Jan 2008 more >>
The emissions trading system that has been criticised for giving power generators a £9billion windfall is likely to be swept away in 2013. The European Commission’s draft plan for the third phase of emissions trading, to be released on Wednesday, is expected to introduce an auction for all emissions permits as Europe toughens its stance on polluting generators. The changes, which are likely to be put in place for a seven-year period until 2020, will also find favour with Centrica, the British Gas owner, which has lobbied for permits to be auctioned, and with companies looking to invest in a new generation of nuclear power stations.
Times 21st Jan 2008 more >>
Chernobyl
Letter: What the statistical results from Chernobyl, along with a wealth of other data, prove is that the theory that there is no lower limit to radiation damage, on which the predictions of mass deaths depended, is certainly wrong and the alternative, known as hormesis, that at low levels it is harmless or even beneficial, is probably correct.
Herald 21st Jan 2008 more >>
UAE
The United Arab Emirates is set to launch a nuclear programme, becoming the first Arab state to go ahead with announced ambitions to develop nuclear power. Flush with petrodollars, the government in Abu Dhabi is preparing a policy document that will soon be sent for comment to world powers, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
FT 21st Jan 2008 more >>
Renewable Targets
Britain could be forced to quintuple the energy it takes from renewable sources to 15% by 2020 from 3% or less, under tough new green targets to be set out by the European commission on Wednesday. The long-awaited and controversial energy package, which sets binding targets on greenhouse gas emissions, coincides with a second reading of the government’s energy bill and new moves towards a decision on the Severn barrage project.
Guardian 21st Jan 2008 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Letter Tony Lodge: New nuclear and clean coal stations are crucial if we are to generate cheaper electricity in the future and reduce the unacceptably high fuel poverty numbers, which show no sign of falling in the short term, given the energy prices rises announced in the last few days.
Guardian 21st Jan 2008 more >>
