Hinkley
David Lowry: Overlooked in the political frenzy over the success of Ukip in the two by-election results is Nigel Farage’s curious backing for Brussels’s support for massive multibillion-pound subsidies for new nuclear power plants in Britain. In fact the costs of this giant twin reactor project have continued to escalate as planning has gone ahead by the coalition government, with the full support of Labour’s leadership — if not its membership. Back in 2006, the current Lib Dem Energy Secretary Ed Davey correctly wrote on his blog, when he was a mere opposition MP launching the Lib Dem energy policy, Say No to Nuclear: “A new generation of nuclear power stations will cost taxpayers and consumers tens of billions of pounds.” The reference plant for the mega nuclear station at Hinkley Point C is the French-designed Olkiluoto plant in Finland, which started construction in May 2005 — with an original promised completion date in 2009 — and for which the construction costs have doubled to at least €6.4 billion and completion delayed to 2016. The new decision by the European Commision on October 8 to flout its own rules on state aid, reverse its initial opposition to the massive subsidies requested by the coalition government and allow a further taxpayer subsidies increase for Hinkley C to an eye-watering £34bn beggars belief.
Morning Star 24th Oct 2014 read more »
What would the UK’s battle against climate change might look like without nuclear electricity. We need to consider that, without nuclear, the market could look to gas and coal to fill much of the 20% generation gap left behind. If this is the case, the carbon footprint of UK electricity could go up by 15-30% per kWh. This would make it amongst the dirtiest electricity in Europe, which would be a difficult political pill to swallow. Nuclear remains a controversial choice, and for good reasons. Whilst opinion remains divided on nuclear electricity the recent EU approval of Hinkley Point shows that in our battle against climate change nothing is ever simple.
Edie 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Burnham on sea tourist information centre has received a £15,000 cash boost from Hinkley.
Burnham-on-sea.com 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Sellafield
Sellafield has been praised by the government’s Skills Minister for leading the way when it comes to nuclear apprenticeships. Nick Boles was commenting on the nuclear site’s new ‘one of a kind’ programmes. The trailblazer project involves Sellafield working with employers across the UK.
ITV 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Radhealth
A South Korean court for the first time has ruled in favor of a plaintiff claiming a link between radiation from a nuclear power plant and cancer—a verdict that could trigger similar lawsuits in a country that depends heavily on nuclear power.
Wall St Journal 21st Oct 2014 read more »
Capacity Market
Consumers will be forced to pay higher energy bills to fund policies that simultaneously tax coal plants to the brink of closure and then pay them to stay open, the head of Britain’s biggest energy supplier has warned. Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica, warned there was an “inherent paradox” in Government policies, which risked ending up being neither green nor affordable. As part of plans to switch to greener energy, ministers last year introduced a rising carbon tax, the so-called “carbon price floor”, which charges power plants for burning fossil fuels.
Telegraph 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
The boss of British Gas’s parent company has criticised the Government for allowing “old, dirty coal stations” to qualify for subsidies worth hundreds of millions of pounds in a scheme designed to promote green energy. Sam Laidlaw, the chief executive of Centrica, said the list of power stations which the Government has just cleared to apply for the scheme contains some of the country’s most polluting stations – putting it at odds with its goal of keeping carbon emissions to a minimum. Mr Laidlaw’s comments came as European leaders finalise a deal that is expected to see the EU agree to collectively cut carbon emissions by 40 per cent compared to those of 1990. Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Laidlaw said the “capacity market” – a scheme which will pay power generators to be on standby to maintain electricity supplies when there is no wind to turn Britain’s turbines – was designed for gas stations, which are less polluting than coal.
Independent 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
The concerns about coal-fired power stations were seized upon by Greenpeace which estimated that coal plant operators could receive up to £2.2bn in the Capacity Market auction scheduled for December. The environmental group described Laidlaw’s analysis as a “naked-emperor moment” for government coal policy. Lawrence Carter, a Greenpeace energy campaigner, added: “The most influential energy boss in the country is now confirming what Greenpeace and others have been warning all along. A big chunk of these new energy handouts will be pocketed by coal plant operators and used to extend the lifespan of some of Europe’s most polluting power stations.”
Guardian 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Nuclear Safety
The United States is lobbying against an amendment to an international nuclear safety pact proposed by Switzerland, which Berne argues could help prevent Fukushima-style disasters but which may also increase industry costs, diplomats said.Atomic energy powers Russia and Canada have also signaled opposition to the measure, which would put pressure on countries to upgrade existing nuclear plants and reach the safety requirements of new-generation reactors.Washington says it wants to improve safety, too, but sees no need to change the 77-nation Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). It says Switzerland’s initiative, tentatively backed by other European countries, could be counter-productive. It would not go into effect for many years and might not be ratified by all CNS states, it says.
Reuters 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Scotland
The closure of Cockenzie Power Station led to an 8 per cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland, new figures have revealed. According to a new report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, carbon dioxide emissions from industry fell from 22.9bn kg in 2012 to 21.1bn kg in 2013. In edition methane emissions dropped from 47.5m kg to 47.3m kg, nitrous oxide fell from 192,447 kg to 173,848kg and sulphur hexafluoride fell from 304 kg to 241 kg. The main reason for the fall has been attributed to the coal-fired power station at Cockenzie in East Lothian shutting down in March 2013. While the figures represent a drop of 8 per cent, it does not necessarily mean the total emissions – which include transport, housing and the public sector – will meet the Scottish Government’s targets when they are announced in July next year. Sam Gardner, head of policy at WWF Scotland said: “This is an encouraging sign, but it is important that progress continues and the transition to a low carbon economy for Scotland is secured.
Holyrood 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Business Green 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Europe
EU leaders have reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. The binding decision came after heated discussions at a summit in Brussels, as some members had argued that their varied interests should be protected. Correspondents say it could make the EU a leader again in climate policy. The bloc also agreed to boost the use of renewable energy to 27% in the total energy mix and increase energy efficiency to at least 27%. There were deep divisions within the EU on emissions cuts. Joris den Blanken of Greenpeace called it a “very modest” package. “It will mean a slowdown in clean energy development in Europe,” he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Natalia Alonso of Oxfam welcomed the 40% target but said it fell “far too short of what the EU needs to do to pull its weight in the fight against climate change”.
BBC 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Tony Robson, the CEO of Knauf Insulation – a leading insulation firm that had threatened to divest from Europe unless firm energy saving targets were announced – said that the 27% figure for energy efficiency improvement was “no better than business as usual” in an open letter to EU leaders. A 27% target “sends a strong signal to the energy efficiency industry to ‘leave Europe and make your investments elsewhere’”, he wrote.
Guardian 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Green groups condemned the deal as a political fudge. Greenpeace had pushed for a cut of 55 per cent. “It’s a deal that puts dirty industry interests ahead of citizens and the planet,” said Brook Riley of Friends of the Earth. The EU said that its 40 per cent target would be reviewed after the UN’s Paris conference next year where a global deal on cutting emissions is expected. Some European countries had been fearful that the EU would set itself too high a target, which the US and China would not follow. However, Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, argued that any revision to the 40 per cent target would probably be upwards. “The [review clause] is not in order t o water down the objectives on which we agreed. I would even say on the contrary. We will not go below what was agreed,” he said. In order to appease eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic and Poland, which complained the deal would drive up energy prices and sap industrial competitiveness, the EU has devised a series of compensation mechanisms. These will pay the EU’s poorer members to modernise their industry through the allocation of carbon allowances.
FT 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Countries such as Britain, which are pushing to develop nuclear power, argue that one overarching emissions goal works better than several goals, which can distort the market. The UK says countries should be free to decide how they meet the 40 per cent goal: it should be up to them how much they use renewables. This is a contentious argument. Companies such as Alstom and Vestas argue that countries will not build green infrastructure without binding targets. The only heavyweight challenge to Britain on this topic has come from Germany, whi ch is turning to renewables as it decommissions its nuclear reactors. Still, binding national goals on renewables and energy efficiency are unlikely.
FT 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
European Union leaders struck a deal on a new target to cut carbon emissions out to 2030, calling it a new global standard but leaving critics warning that compromises had undermined the fight against climate change.Talks in Brussels stretched into the small hours of Friday as Poland battled to spare its coal industry and other states tweaked the guideline text on global warming to protect varied economic interests, from nuclear plants and cross-border power lines to farmers whose livestock belch out polluting methane. Concerns in Britain and some smaller states about additional EU regulation that might especially crimp a new expansion of climate-friendly but controversial nuclear power, saw targets for increased renewable use and energy efficiency softened, diplomats said.
Reuters 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables targets, gas wars, power outages and nuclear subsidies – possibly the biggest energy issues over the past few years and all linked in one way or another to deals made in the EU over the direction of the continent’s energy and climate policy. Today EU leaders are sitting down to hammer out the targets for the next 15 years, through to 2030. Whether we like it or not (let’s not go there right now) the decisions they make – each with their own veto – will have a bigger impact on our bills, our energy security and our emissions than anything which happens at a national level.
Energy Desk 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
A string of headlines this morning say EU climate policies will add £150 to household energy bills in 2020. The Daily Express says: “Green energy will send household bills soaring: Energy bills to rise by £150.” The Times says: “EU is blamed for big rise in power bills.” The Daily Mail has the story too. These articles are based on a new report from free-market thinktank Open Europe that argues against targets for renewable energy. We spoke with report author Raoul Ruparel to find out what it’s all about. The report might appear timed to try to influence EU leaders meeting today and tomorrow to discuss2030 climate targets. It is probably too late to shift the UK’s position, however, and the government is already on board with Open Europe’s opposition to a 2030 renewable energy target. Instead the EU is set to agree a renewables target that is binding on the EU but not on individual member states. An alternative view is that Open Europe’s real target is the Conservative Party manifesto for 2015. Open Europe’s report calls for the UK to ignore the 2020 EU renewable target and to go for gas and nuclear instead.
Carbon Brief 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
As European leaders meet to take a final decision on a new climate and energy policy up to 2030, there is intense interest worldwide to see if Europe opts to take a bold lead in tackling climate change. A group of countries, led by Germany, wants EU energy efficiency targets to be binding, while others, led by an increasingly Euro-sceptic UK government, say each country should be allowed to set its own energy efficiency goals – and that there should be less interference by Brussels. Professor Jim Skea, a vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says countries are doing only what is politically achievable, rather than what is necessary to transform the EU’s energy sector. “I don’t think many people have grasped just how huge this task is,” Skea told BBC news. “It is absolutely extraordinary and unprecedented. My guess is that 40% for 2030 is too little too late if we are really serious about our long-term targets.”
Climate News Network 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Supply Chain
In a significant move for the future development of the business, North West based engineering company Boulting Group has opened up dedicated, new offices for the fast growing Boulting Nuclear team in Widnes. Boulting has more than ten years’ experience in the nuclear industry specifically covering new build, plant life extension and de-commissioning.
Advanced Manufacturing 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Proliferation
Some of the hysteria surrounding ISIS and WMD is based on the theft in July of around 40 kilograms of uranium compounds from Mosul University. But if this was a targeted attempt to acquire nuclear material—rather than part of a broader raid on the university—it suggests that the thieves’ knowledge of nuclear bomb-making lacks sophistication. The stolen material cannot be turned into a viable nuclear device: The uranium was low-grade and would have to be further enriched and then weaponized, requiring obscure raw materials and technologies, a delivery means, and facilities that would take years and a significant sum of money to develop. It took the United States, with its vast resources and advanced knowhow, six years to develop a nuclear device. It took China roughly 10 years and Pakistan more than two decades. Needless to say, even for an established country, developing a nuclear weapon is not simple.
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 15th Oct 2014 read more »
Germany
For the first time ever, German consumers are about to see a drop in the surcharge they pay for renewable energy. In the short term, the internal dynamics of Germany’s power grid and its policies have perversely led to a modest increase in coal power generation, thanks to a drop in natural gas generation and the country’s decision to phase out its nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster. But Germany remains committed to getting 80 per cent of its power from renewable sources by 2050. And it successfully took one third of its power green in the first half of 2014.
Renew Economy 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Japan
A volcano in southern Japan only 40 miles from a nuclear power plant is showing signs of threatening to erupt. Japanese authorities issued the warning today after the calamitous eruption of Mount Ontake killed 57 hikers in Japan’s worst volcanic disaster in nearly 90 years last month. Ioyama lies in the volcanically active Kirishima mountain range – roughly 40 miles from the Sendai nuclear plant.
Independent 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Iran
Iran will be widely seen to be responsible if a comprehensive deal to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief is not reached, the top U.S. negotiator said on Thursday.
Reuters 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables
British wind farms generated more power than nuclear power stations on Tuesday, the National Grid says. The energy network operator said this was caused by a combination of high winds and faults in nuclear plants.
Wiltshire News 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Letter Bloomberg Energy Finance: Dieter Helm takes a swipe at renewables, describing them as “not up to the job”. Can these be the same renewables that have raised their share of UK electricity output from 6.8 per cent in 2010 to 14.8 per cent in 2013, and 19.5 per cent and 17 per cent in the first two quarters of this year as a result of sustained investment? Or the same renewables that have seen major reductions since 2009 in global average levelised costs per MWh, more than 50 per cent in the case of solar photovoltaics and 15 per cent in the case of onshore wind? That progress towards cost-competitiveness with fossil-fuel generation technologies would not have been possible had governments from the EU to North America to China not been prepared to offer sufficient incentives for these emerging technologies to be built at scale.
FT 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables are likely to be the cheapest supply-side option for achieving the stretching 2030 greenhouse gas targets that will be required to avoid dangerous climate change.
Scottish Energy News 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables – solar
Marks & Spencer has started work on the UK’s largest single roof-mounted solar array, which will see 24,272 panels installed on its distribution centre in Castle Donnington. The system, set to be completed in early 2015, will generate around 5,000MWh of electricity each year, rendering the fully automated distribution centre close to self-sufficient during the day and lowering the retailer’s carbon footprint by 48,000 tonnes over the next two years. The 6.1MW system is being supplied and installed by Amber Infrastructure, with M&S signing a 20-year agreement to purchase all the electricity generated by the project.
Business Green 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables – wind
Whenever a large storm hits the UK – as happened on Tuesday, with the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo bringing a wet and blustery start to the week – it gives wind power a nice kick upwards. Across a 24-hour period on 21 October, according to the National Grid, 14.2 per cent of electricity generation came from wind. As the BBC reports, since 13.2 per cent came from nuclear, that meant that “spinning blades produced more energy than splitting atoms”. While there are undoubtedly some question marks over just how much wind should play a role in power generation in the UK – for example, it’s no good having bursts of wind energy if there’s nowhere to store it for when there isn’t any wind – it’s still ridiculous to see the nation with one of the world’s highest-rated potentials for wind energy generation run away from it for short-term political gain.
New Statesman 22nd Oct 2014 read more »
Community Wind
The community-owned wind turbine development on Islay has taken another step forward with the arrival on the island of the 330kW Enercon wind turbine. The tower is now complete, with the nacelle in place, with the construction team now waiting for a break in the weather to attach the blades.
Scottish Energy News 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Renewables – biomass
A Co-Operative store in the Highlands has become the retailer’s first branch to switch to biomass heating – in a move which will cut the shop’s annual energy bill by nearly 50% and cut 90 tonnes of C02 emissions. The Co-op opted for the biomass system as part of a £540,000 refit of their Kilmallie Road store in Caol, Ft. William, to reduce both carbon emissions and operating costs.
Scottish Energy News 24th Oct 2014 read more »
Energy Efficiency
A group of leading businesses and charities have today joined together to launch a major campaign designed to help make it easier for households to curb their energy use and carbon emissions. The campaign, entitled the The Big Energy Vision, is being orchestrated by the Forum for the Future and Behaviour Change NGOs and has backing from Kingfisher, John Lewis, Home Retail Group, National Trust, Citizens Advice, Calor, uSwitch, Energy Saving Trust, TrustMark, Energy UK, UK Green Building Council, Global Action Plan, Willmott Dixon, and Groundwork. The group is also today calling on other businesses and NGOs to join it in publicly supporting the campaign.
Business Green 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Older people should set their central heating lower during the day this winter to save money and help combat climate change, health officials have said. Last year’s guidance to heat living rooms to 70C (21C) during daylight hours and 64.5F (18C) at night was based on “30-year-old evidence”, government scientists admitted. Analysis of more recent studies showed the “minimum” room temperature for households this winter should be 18C, both day and night.
Telegraph 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Fossil Fuels
Cuadrilla’s plans to frack for shale gas in Lancashire have suffered further delay after council planners requested an extra two months to consider its proposals. The energy company submitted a planning application to Lancashire County Council in late May to frack at a site at Preston New Road, near Little Plumpton, followed in mid-June with plans for a second site at Roseacre Wood. Francis Egan, its chief executive, said at the time that it hoped to begin drilling at the end of this year, allowing fracking to take place next summer “in a best case scenario”. But on Thursday it said it had agreed to a request from the council to delay the planning process for a second time – meaning at best it will receive planning consent for one site by the end of the year.
Telegraph 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
Guardian 23rd Oct 2014 read more »
