Flamanville
[Machine translation] A confidential report from IRSN reveals serious dysfunctions important parts of the EPR at Flamanville (Manche). This document, which Mediapart published in full, advanced “multiple failure modes serious consequences” on safety valves. These new anomalies are in addition to manufacturing defects of the reactor vessel. The future of the construction of the EPR at Flamanville nightmare for Areva. A few weeks after the revelation of serious problems on the tank bottom of the future nuclear reactor, a confidential report of the Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) reveals new and serious malfunctions very sensitive parts of the EPR. This document, which was able to obtain Mediapart warns on “multiple failure modes serious consequences” on safety valves, equipment used to depressurize the reactor.
Mediapart 8th June 2015 read more »
Areva
Moody’s Investors Service said in a statement that the acquisition of a majority stake in nuclear group Areva’s reactor business could be negative for the credit rating of French utility Electricite de France (EDF). Moody’s said it noted the strategic and industrial logic behind the proposed revamp of the French nuclear industry as it would allow EDF to take control of one of its key suppliers, but that there were business and financial risks associated with the planned combination of activities. It said these risks were among the drivers underpinning the current negative outlook on EDF’s ratings and added that EDF currently had limited headroom versus Moody’s guideline metrics for its A1 rating level.The French government said last week it would recapitalise state-owned Areva and approved EDF’s plan to take over Areva’s nuclear reactor business.
Reuters 8th June 2015 read more »
Trawsfynydd
Incidence of breast cancer was five times higher downwind from Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station than would have been expected, new research suggests. A Welsh nuclear power station may be responsible for elevated levels of cancer found in communities downwind of it, according to an academic paper written by an environmental scientist. Research supervised by Dr Chris Busby, who used to be based in Aberystwyth but is now attached to the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga, showed the incidence of breast cancer was five times higher downwind from Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station than would have been expected. Some other kinds of cancer were found at around double the expected rate.
Wales Online 8th June 2015 read more »
New Nukes
Alfred Wainwright famously called Calder Hall an “atomic carbuncle.” That was in the halcyon days when the nuclear sprawl at Sellafield was so much smaller. Now Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change is urging “beautiful” new nuclear build. When I see Sellafield I see: uranium mines in Kazakhstan annihilating the Saiga antelope’s habitat, in Australia polluting water, in America causing damaged immune systems *transports of uranium hexaflouride to Ellesmere Port and then manufacture of fuel at Springfields in Preston spewing radioactive wastes to the River Ribble *the ditching of renewables to make way for nuclear increases in leukaemia and other radiation linked diseases.
Radiation Free Lakeland 8th June 2015 read more »
Radiation Monitoring
In this week’s Cumberland News: Demands over monitoring waste – RADIOACTIVE WASTE!
Radiation Free Lakeland 7th June 2015 read more »
Moorside
Thousands of homes needed for workers building a £10bn nuclear power plant could be the golden ticket to tackling housing woes in parts of west Cumbria. Up to 4,000 new homes would have to be built to house the huge workforce needed if planning permission was given for new reactors at Moorside, near Sellafield. But instead of only temporary properties, these houses could be made permanent – and passed to social landlords once construction crews have left.
Carlisle News and Star 8th June 2015 read more »
Terror
Fourteen members of a banned Islamic group stood trial in Paris on Monday on terror charges after police found a “hit list” of Jewish stores marked “targets” in files belonging to its leader. The “hit list” was found during a March 2012 raid on the home of group leader Mohamed Achamlane, 37, in which they also seized an English-language manual on how to build a nuclear bomb, along with three demilitarised assault rifles, three revolvers and “easy recipes” for home-made explosives.
Telergraph 8th June 2015 read more »
Germany
Vattenfall and E.ON are working together to decommission and dismantle their nuclear power plants in Germany. E.ON Technologies (ETG) and Vattenfall Europe Nuclear Energy (VENE) have signed a co-operation agreement “to make the process as economic as possible”. The operating licences of four of the companies’ nuclear power plants were withdrawn in 2011.
Energy Live News 9th June 2015 read more »
The nuclear expertise of Germany’s Jülich Research Centre (Forschungszentrum Jülich) and the Experimental Reactor Consortium GmbH (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchsreaktor, AVR) are to be combined into a new enterprise. Under the plan, the nuclear services division of the Jülich Research Centre will be merged with AVR. The material testing and analytical laboratory divisions of Jülich will continue to be operated by the research centre. The new enterprise will fall under the umbrella of Energiewerke Nord GmbH (EWN) and will have the German federal ministry of finance as a shareholder.
World Nuclear News 8th June 2015 read more »
Bulgaria
US company Westinghouse Electric confirmed it would not participate as an investor in the construction of a unit at Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP. Thus, the matter of financing the construction of new nuclear capacities at the Bulgarian power plant remains unresolved as Bulgaria does have the needed resources to realise the project, Regnum comments. In mid-May, after meeting with Qatari officials Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Qatar displayed an interest in the possibility of financing and investing in a 7th unit of Kozloduy NPP. Despite that, these perspectives remain obscure, the Russian news edition writes, recalling after refusing to cooperate with Russia on this project, the Bulgarian government and Westinghouse had signed an agreement on the construction of the new unit.
Focus 5th June 2015 read more »
Iran
Any possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear past can be clarified if the details of a preliminary deal sealed in April between Tehran and six world powers are implemented, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Monday. Iran has been stalling an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency into its nuclear programme. The agency is yet to set a fixed deadline for a final assessment, although it has said the process will not be open-ended.
Reuters 9th June 2015 read more »
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia could attempt to obtain a nuclear weapon unless negotiations with Iran produce a “watertight” agreement over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the Saudi ambassador to the UK has warned.Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz al-Saud said he hoped negotiations with Iran would lead to a “guarantee Iran will not pursue this kind of weapon”, but that “if this does not happen, then all options will be on the table for Saudi Arabia”.
Independent 8th June 2015 read more »
Telegraph 8th June 2015 read more »
Syria
War-torn Syria has asked the UN atomic watchdog for help in converting a nuclear facility and shipping abroad potentially dangerous nuclear material, the head of the watchdog said Monday.
Middle East Online 8th June 2015 read more »
Reuters 8th June 2015 read more »
US
The US is investing more than $60 million (£37.8m) in nuclear energy research. The Energy Department has selected 68 projects from different universities with nuclear programmes across the country. Four projects, which will include UK researchers, will receive £1.7 million. It is been provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the UK’s main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. The Energy Department hopes the projects will create scientific advances to help strengthen the nation’s energy security and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Energy Live News 8th June 2015 read more »
World Nuclear News 8th June 2015 read more »
Trident
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) is writing to the Defence Minister Michael Fallon to seek urgent answers to safety and security concerns of the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, following presentations provided at its Scottish Forum meeting last Friday in Paisley. NFLA is also alarmed to hear the comments made yesterday by Foreign Minister Philip Hammond that Britain could again host US cruise missiles on UK soil, due to concerns over growing tensions with Russia.
NFLA 8th June 2015 read more »
Devonport
Devonport naval base has been warned of legal action after a worker received a dose of radiation amid a series of safety breaches. Radioactive cooling water was also mistakenly discharged into a submarine reactor compartment, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) reported. Reporting of safety incidents at the base, which refits Britain’s nuclear submarines, was “below standard”. Contractor Babcock International said safety was its “highest priority”. The ONR issued a legal notice to improve after an incident last year in which a worker was contaminated with radiation.
BBC 9th June 2015 read more »
Plymouth Herald 9th June 2015 read more »
Nuclear Weapons
Reports have emerged over the weekend that the US government is considering deploying land-based medium-range nuclear missiles in Europe that could pre-emptively destroy Russian weapons. This ‘counterforce’ option is among the possibilities under consideration as the US reviews its policy toward Russia in light of Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine and its annexing of Crimea. Russia is alleged to be flight-testing a ground-launched cruise missile with a range prohibited by a cold-war era nuclear treaty, although it denies violating the treaty and claims violations by the United States in erecting missile defences.
Ekklesia 8th June 2015 read more »
Grandson of Hiroshima pilot who dropped world’s first nuclear bomb takes command of US Air Force’s fleet of stealth jet bombers
Daily Mail 8th June 2015 read more »
Renewables – onshore wind
WWF has become the latest group to urge the government to rethink its plans to halt new subsidies for onshore wind farms, as new figures revealed that last month the sector broke all records for wind power output in Scotland. Scottish wind turbines supplied more than 924,000MWh last month, exceeding the power demand of all Scottish households, data by Weather Energy showed.
Business Green 8th June 2015 read more »
Click Green 8th June 2015 read more »
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has lodged a formal call for the UK government to rethink its position on cutting support for onshore wind, saying Westminster must consult with Scotland on a move which could damage the country’s renewable industry.
Utility Week 8th June 2015 read more »
Record-breaking figures from the UK renewables sector have prompted fresh calls for the Government to reconsider its proposed end to onshore wind subsidies. Renewable energy provided 43% of UK electricity at 2pm on Saturday – a new high according to energy and environment writer Chris Goodall. An unusually windy and sunny day meant that by 3pm, coal was providing just 7% of the UK’s electricity. “If the country chooses to invest in wind, solar and other renewables, it can push coal-fired generation out of the generation mix completely,” said Goodall.
Edie 8th June 2015 read more »
An ENERGY giant claims plans for a wind farm on the famous Flow Country peatlands in the north of Scotland will include extensive restoration of damaged land – equivalent to 6,400 football pitches. A public local inquiry (PLI) into the highly controversial development will reopen today in Sutherland. RSPB Scotland claims the Strathy South scheme would cause harm to the peatland habitats and the birds they support
Scotsman 9th June 2015 read more »
Renewables – wave
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has announced plans to ‘restructure due to current market conditions’ – which means an unspecified number of jobs will be cut at its test centre on Orkney. EMEC hopes that this will ensure that its world-leading marine energy test facilities can continue to respond to the wave and tidal industry’s changing landscape and market demands.
Scottish Energy News 9th June 2015 read more »
Energy Efficiency
The National Insulation Association (NIA) is calling on the government to make a “quick decision” to give energy companies clarity about the future of Energy Company Obligation (Eco) after it ends in 2017.
Utility Week 8th June 2015 read more »
Fossil Fuels
The G7 leading industrial nations have agreed to phase out fossil fuel use by the end of the century, the German chancellor Angela Merkel has announced.
Telegraph 8th June 2015 read more »
Guardian 8th June 2015 read more »
FT 8th June 2015 read more »
At today’s summit at Schloss Elmau, G7 countries have agreed that the decarbonisation of the global economy should be completed by the end of this century; that this requires deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions; and that this requires a transformation of their own energy sectors by 2050. The G7 communiqué fails to mention any particular fossil fuel, but the implication is clear: there is no future for unabated coal in a world that is acting to avoid dangerous climate change.
E3G 8th June 2015 read more »
Climate
David Cameron committed to three pledges: to seeking a fair, strong legally binding, global climate deal which limits temperature rises to below 2°C; to work across party lines to agree carbon budgets in accordance with the Climate Change Act; and to accelerate the transition to a competitive, energy efficient low carbon economy and to end the use of unabated coal for power generation. It was an exciting moment. But now comes the hard part, to deliver on them. 2015 is the biggest year for climate change in a generation, but because it’s also a year when the new government is still finding its feet, there’s a risk the UK will punch below its weight at a crucial time. With NGO colleagues we’ve put together a plan to avoid this. To achieve a global climate deal at the UN climate conference at Paris in December will need the PM to raise sights at the this week’s G7 meeting, and the Chancellor will need to have it on his agenda when the world meets to discuss development financing in July. The Prime Minister will also need a senior sherpa working out of Number 10, to make sure that the UK is making the impact it should on these negotiations. In the end, he needs to find what his role is in achieving the outcome he wants from Paris. The Prime Minister can’t sit back and approve the work of friends such as Angela and Barack – he needs to influence what ambition looks like. To achieve a good deal at Paris the UK can point to what we have done. The Prime Minister can make the case that getting our overall fossil fuels to zero by the middle of the century mirrors the commitment already made in the UK Climate Change Act. He can show how the UK’s generosity with global aid hasn’t stopped the country growing economically, supporting the case for climate finance to help the world’s poorest deal with climate change.
Business Green 8th June 2015 read more »
Some of the world’s richest countries are not preparing to do anything like enough to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, according to new analysis. The report by Climate Action Tracker (CAT) says that all the G7 countries and the member states of the European Union have so far agreed is to keep their emissions at around their present levels for the next 15 years, instead of cutting them fast. The combined climate plans for the G7 and the EU mark “a small step towards the right track to hold warming to 2˚C, but they still leave a substantial emissions gap”, according to analysts from CAT, which reports on countries’ emissions commitments and performance.
Climate News Network 8th June 2015 read more »
Climate change scientists must be more honest about the limits of their knowledge and uncertainty around predictions if they are to win the trust of the public, according to a new report. Scientists are under increasing pressure to communicate their research more clearly, to galvanise politicians into taking decisive action to combat climate change, and to help promote their universities. They are also keen to make their findings meaningful to a public which feels alienated from much climate change research, which is largely abstract and concerned with developments that often lie decades in the future, said Dr Gregory Hollin, of the University of Nottingham.
Independent 9th June 2015 read more »
Scottish Targets
Details of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions for 2013 are due to be published. The figures are widely expected to show that the country has missed its climate change targets for the fourth year in a row. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act requires a minimum 42% cut in emissions by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Rigorous annual targets for greenhouse gas emission have also been in place since 2010 but have never been met.
BBC 9th June 2015 read more »
