Foreign News

Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) will launch remedial works at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to strengthen an ice wall intended to halt the flow of groundwater after testing indicated partial melting. The work could begin as early as the start of December, according to a presentation from the plant operator dated Thursday, part of a costly and troubled effort to secure the site following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

The Wire 26th Nov 2021 read more »

Reuters 26th Nov 2021 read more »

The Paluel power plant declared on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 to the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) a significant safety event, level 1 on the INES scale, which has 7 (7 corresponds to the Chernobyl accidents in 1986 or Fukushima in 2011). This concerns the late detection of an automatic locking fault of a steam bypass system. “This event had no real impact on the safety of the installations”, specifies EDF, which published the information on its website on Wednesday 24 November. However, it blames “late detection and non-compliance with technical operating specifications”. And for good reason: the bad connection concerned had been in place since the last periodic test, carried out on October 15, 2020.

Le Courrier Cauchois 25th Nov 2021 read more »

China is developing a nuclear reactor to help its missions to the Moon and Mars. The reactor can generate one megawatt of electricity and is claimed to be 100 times more powerful than a similar device Nasa is working on, according to the South China Morning Post. Nasa’s fission power source would be used to support permanent human life on the Moon, and is set to be developed by the end of the decade.

Independent 26th Nov 2021 read more »

Nuclear power in Hungary: Green, cheap and independent? The Hungarian government is convinced that nuclear power is the path to a green future. A new Russian reactor block is to be constructed that allegedly guarantees low emissions and low energy prices. But can nuclear power really lead the way out of the climate crisis? EU split on nuclear power. The Hungarian government says it can and is far from being alone. In mid-October, 10 EU states, including Finland, the Czech Republic and Poland, issued a statement that declared: “To win the climate battle, we need nuclear energy.” Budapest is planning to expand its Russian-type nuclear plant. It is located near the small town of Paks on the banks of the Danube, less than a two-hour drive south of the Hungarian capital. In addition to the four existing reactors, two others are planned — Paks II. Nuclear energy does not guarantee lower emissions. A study of 123 countries that was published in the scientific journal Nature in 2020 came to the conclusion that actual emissions are not significantly lower in those countries with nuclear power than those without.

Deutsche Welle 26th Nov 2021 read more »

Canada is lurching from failure to failure on climate change, the country’s environment watchdog has said. The country has never met a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions, despite being run by an avowed environmentalist in Justin Trudeau. Its commissioner of environment and sustainable development, Jerry DeMarco, wrote in a scathing series of reports: “Over the past 30 years, Canada has gone from being a climate leader to falling behind other developed countries despite recent efforts . . . We can’t continue to go from failure to failure; we need action and results, not just more targets and plans.”

Times 27th Nov 2021 read more »

On Monday evening, two power plants in Ireland tripped within five seconds of each other causing 820MW to fall off this system. Whitegate – which is operated by Bord Gais, part of Centrica – and Dublin Bay – which is operated by ESB – gas power plants tripped just after 9pm on Monday, leading to the equivalent of 20% of the demand for electricity in Ireland at the time dropping off the system. Due to state-owned electric power transmission operator Eirgrid’s reserve services, the trip did not result in any loss of electricity supply to customers, with the operator telling Current± that “the power system held up very well for this exceptional event.”

Current 25th Nov 2021 read more »

Germany’s new coalition of SPD, Greens and liberal FDP agreed Nov. 24 a coalition treaty that brings forward the country’s coal phase-out date from 2038 to 2030. The parties also plan to lift Germany’s renewables target for 2030 from 65% to 80% of electricity demand with a massive expansion of wind and solar. Plans are based on power demand rising to a range of 680-750 TWh/year in 2030.

SP Global 24th Nov 2021 read more »

In the electricity sector, renewable energies are to have a share of 80% by 2030 as electricity demand increases (to 680-750 terawatt-hours). To achieve this, their expansion is to be defined as a “public interest” and given priority over other areas of environmental protection, until climate neutrality is reached. Use two percent of German land for onshore wind power; begin work on comprehensive planning of these areas in first half of 2022 with federal, national, local authorities; Communities near renewables installations should “profit appropriately” Where wind farms are already in place, it must be possible to replace old wind turbines with new ones without a major approval procedure; Offshore wind targets: 2030: 30 gigawatt; 2035: 40 GW; 2045: 70 GW (status 2020: 7.8 GW); Solar PV target for 2030: ca. 200 GW (status 2020: 54 GW); Rooftop solar mandatory for new commercial buildings, “as a rule” on new private buildings; Phase out government support to renewable energies once the coal exit is completed; Achieve “massive” expansion of renewable energy capacities

– through Renewable Energy Act (EEG) and other instruments such as long-term power purchase agreements (PPA); through faster approvals, by supporting public authorities with “external project teams”, by clarifying deadlines and requirements in application documents.

Clean Energy Wire 25th Nov 2021 read more »

As part of the goal for Germany to become climate neutral by 2045, the parties have agreed to commit to phasing out coal by 2030, outlaw combustion engines in principle, and end gas power generation by 2040. Renewable energies are to be expanded considerably, to cover 80% of all energy needs by 2030.

Guardian 24th Nov 2021 read more »

Olaf Scholz will head a three-party coalition with broad plans for Germany’s transition to a green economy, under a deal to end 16 years of government led by Angela Merkel. Almost two months after his Social Democrat party won federal elections, he will go into power with the Greens and business-friendly Free Democrats. Climate protection forms a big part of the coalition deal. The parties aim to phase out coal use by 2030, eight years ahead of schedule. They will also seek to use 2% of German territory for wind power and focus on hydrogen-based energy too. By 2030, the parties want 80% of electricity to be sourced from renewable energy and 15 million electric cars to be on German roads.

BBC 25th Nov 2021 read more »

New German coalition sets enhanced energy goals, doubles solar PV target to 200GW by 2030.

PV Tech 25th Nov 2021 read more »