New Nukes
There are three key questions: will enough nuclear power stations be built for the Government to meet its low carbon ambitions? Will the UK have enough power to keep the lights on? And, if so, at what cost to consumers? Davey and his DECC colleagues will, however, know they may not be able to duck the blame if French-owned giant EDF Energy were to decide against building its proposed plant at Hinkley Point. EDF expects to take a final decision this year on the project the only new UK nuclear plant anywhere near close to being built. Of course, there is a chance ministers could once again be powerless, if the Socialist Presidential candidate, Francois Hollande, wins the up-coming French election and decides France must perform a volte-face on nuclear policy akin to that seen in Germany. The concern among some experts, though, is that Thursdays decision could put EDF in an alarmingly powerful position. Effectively this puts all our eggs in one companys basket, which hugely increases EDFs negotiating power with the Government, Tony Lodge, research fellow at the Centre for Policy Studies, said. The Government could pull this situation back from near-disaster if it finds another partner for the Horizon project. New nuclear may be key to the Governments long-term energy plans but experts point to shorter-term pressures when it comes to security of supply. As Volker Beckers, RWE npowers chief executive, points out, even before his company scrapped its plans for Horizon there was no suggestion that any of the new nuclear power stations would be [ready] before 2020.
Telegraph 31st Mar 2012 more >>
EDF, the French energy giant planning to build two nuclear plants in Britain, has ruled out buying a stake in Horizon, the German-backed venture that last week pulled the plug on its own British nuclear ambitions. Francois Hollande, the socialist candidate for next months French presidential election, is committed to a dramatic contraction of the countrys nuclear industry. This would land EDF with a costly decommissioning and closure bill. But in the meantime, EDF and its nuclear partner Centrica, the owner of British Gas, are in a powerful position to use their new status as sole player to extract even higher subsidies from the Coalition. These would have to be paid for by consumers through yet higher prices.
This is Money 31st Mar 2012 more >>
A number of investors and utilities are already talking to each other about forming consortia to bid for Horizon, which will build plants in Wylfa, North Wales, and Oldbury, South Gloucestershire, by 2025. For some time, these potential buyers, who I’m told are geographically spread from Europe to Japan, have been looking to take stakes of 10-30 per cent in Horizon. All that has changed is whether they have the appetite to buy the whole venture. RWE and E.ON have basically declared themselves forced sellers, so they can’t really expect an awful lot more than £250m for the venture. That said, we should get a better idea of the likely runners and riders over the next couple of weeks and a crowded auction might push the price up a bit.
Independent 1st April 2012 more >>
While stating that they are full-steam ahead on their programme to build four reactors, they are involved in some none-too-subtle blackmail behind the scenes. Centrica, while talking loudly about a moral duty for British Gas to keep the lights on, has made no bones about having to find the most effective places to invest. EDF said last week it was desperately keen to crack on with the project, so long as it could agree contracts for difference with the Government. Both of these are code for securing the subsidies paid for out of our future fuel bills that they regard as necessary to make these stations sufficiently profitable. The Governments negotiating hand is now looking extremely weak. For Centrica, which is going all out to buy more gas supplies where its core expertise lies, nuclear has always looked like a way to hedge its bets. It may well prefer a new clutch of gas plants instead.
This is Money 31st Mar 2012 more >>
If there is one thing we do well, it is teaching the rest of the world how to beat us. However, while it was one thing to see the England cricket team defeated last week, how on earth did we allow the same thing happen to the countrys nuclear industry? For more than a decade, French and German companies have been in line to build our next generation of reactors. Government dilly-dallying over exactly how that should happen means the Europeans have now given up, opening the floor to a bid from the Russian firm that built Chernobyl. Rosatoms past glories include a reactor whose name is synonymous with disaster. The 1986 Chernobyl explosion in Ukraine was the result of a poorly managed plant, and inexpert handling of a crisis.
Daily Mail 31st Mar 2012 more >>
The German surrender is the latest sign of an alarming reality: Britain’s controversial £200 billion energy overhaul is in trouble. Ministers introduced a raft of subsidies last year to entice developers and ensure the UK meets its binding pollution reduction and renewable energy goals. The problem is, they did nothing to alleviate soaring household bills. On the contrary, they guaranteed them – a fact often overlooked by politicians who make a sport of pillorying the industry. As financial realities bite, our old plants are shutting down. Industry sources said Scottish Power will close half its Cockenzie coal station as soon as July, one of a dozen plants – representing a quarter of typical daily demand – set to shut within three years. Oldbury, the world’s oldest atomic station, closed last month. And new nuclear? Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF, once promised that in 2017 our Christmas turkeys would be cooked with the aid of power from the first new nuclear reactor in more than two decades, at Hinkley Point. That project is now three years behind schedule. The government is replacing the free-market model that has dominated the energy industry since the early 1990s with a state-led system that picks winners (clean energy) and punishes losers (coal-fired power). Clarity should come soon; most of the reforms will be legislated for in this parliament, so they will come into effect by 2014.
Sunday Times 1st April 2012 more >>
Centrica
The French energy giant EDF is working up contingency plans should Centrica walk away from their joint venture to build a new wave of nuclear power stations. An industry source said that Centrica remains “agnostic” on the country’s new nuclear programme. A key investment decision is due to be made later this year on whether it is sensible for the British Gas owner to put so much money into such a long-term project. Although EDF is confident that Centrica will stay on board, executives are thought to be considering whether EDF could fund the stations itself if necessary. This would be financially risky, so other parties would probably be invited to take a stake.
Independent 1st April 2012 more >>
Radwaste
Many Parish and Town Councils have taken votes in recent weeks as to whether they support Volunteering for the next stage of siting a nuclear dump in W Cumbria. The vast majority have voted against. Here is a list, and a map of the decusions we know about to date.
Save Our Lake District 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Despite the best efforts of the government quango tasked with promoting the nuclear dump the overwhelming majority of parishes who have voted have unanimously opposed going on with steps towards geological disposal.
Radiation Free Lakeland 31st Mar 2012 more >>
The Two Speakers introducing Rock Solid? were Carol Davies, Natural History Curator of Kendal Museum and Janine Allis-Smith of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment. Just a few of the images and quotes from the Preview “Best one of these I’ve EVER Been To!” “Wonderful fusion of art, science and political comment”
Rock Solid Expo 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Sizewell
Bosses behind a proposal to build a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast have reiterated their commitment to the project.
Norwich Evening News 29th Mar 2012 more >>
Wylfa
THE decision of two German energy giants to pull out of building a new nuclear power station on Anglesey has thrown the UKs long-term energy plans into doubt. Britain’s future energy security has not looked more precarious in decades than in the wake of RWE and E.ONs decision to pull out of building a new nuclear power station on Anglesey. Britain is set to lose around 13%, or 12GW, of its installed coal generating capacity in 2015 and around 7GW of nuclear capacity in 2020, leaving a hole to be filled if new nuclear reactors do not come on stream as planned.
Wales Online 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Sellafield (Moorside)
The consortium behind plans for a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria say they remain committed to the project. NuGen, the stations prospective developer, was speaking following the news that Horizon owned by RWE and E.On announced it will not develop new atomic energy stations in the UK.
Cumberland News 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Dounreay
THE cost of decommissioning and cleaning up the Dounreay nuclear plant in Caithness has been halved and the site, with its golf ball dome, will be cleared about 40 years earlier than planned. Details of Britain’s biggest site closure contract, to cost from £1.5 billio to £2 billion, will be announced tomorrow by the nuclear decommissioning authority. It will say the Babcock Dounreay Partnership, a consortium of Babcock International Group, CH2M Hill and URS, will accelerate the clean-up and demolition of Britain’s 20th-century experiment with fast reactors, saving billions for taxpayers. The work had been expected to cost about £4 billion and take until 2063 but is now scheduled for completion between 2022 and 2025.
Sunday Times 1st April 2012 more >>
Nuclear Liability
The Government has confirmed its intention to substantially increase the third party liabilities of operators in the event of a nuclear incident, meaning any accident at Heysham Power Station could incur much higher costs for its owners.
Virtual Lancaster 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Energy Prices
Which? reports today that a quarter of a million people have signed up to its campaign and 1,000 more are doing so every day. It plans to hold a reverse auction on 26 April, when energy firms can bid for the business, with the lowest bid winning. But five energy companies have said they will not take part, including Scottish and Southern Energy and smaller suppliers Ecotricity, Good Energy and Ovo Energy. On Thursday, British Gas added itself to that growing list as it accused the Which? proposals of not being simple, transparent and fair for all customers. It said the deal could mean below-cost pricing for new customers and that some customers would be excluded from taking part.
Independent 31st Mar 2012 more >>
US
Nuclear power is no longer an economically viable source of new energy in the United States, the freshly-retired CEO of Exelon, Americas largest producer of nuclear power, said in Chicago Thursday. Im the nuclear guy, Rowe said. And you wont get better results with nuclear. It just isnt economic, and its not economic within a foreseeable time frame.
Forbes 31st Mar 2012 more >>
The USAs Nuclear Regulatory Commission has given its approval for two new nuclear reactors to be built in South Carolina.
Construction Index 31st Mar 2012 more >>
A proposed study could help determine if there is a link between living near nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities and having a higher risk of cancer, but challenges and limitations exist, says a new report from the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering. The report recommends that a pilot study be completed first to evaluate the feasibility of a full-scale study, although the ultimate decision about whether to perform either would be the responsibility of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC), which sponsored the Research Council report.
Medical News Today 1st April 2012 more >>
Iran
US Secretary of State Clinton says Iran’s window to obtain a peaceful resolution to disputed nuclear program ”will not remain open for ever”.
Reuters 31st Mar 2012 more >>
Trident
The UK must consider nuclear disarmament if Scotland becomes independent and removes Royal Navy submarines from the Clyde, according to a leading international think-tank. The Washington DC-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is holding a seminar on Tuesday entitled “The Scottish Question and the Future of UK Nuclear Forces”. It stated: “A referendum on Scottish independence scheduled for autumn 2014 could have profound ramifications for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and for US-UK relations.
Rutherglen Reformer 1st Apr 2012 more >>
Renewables
Researcher Richard Hanna has surveyed more than 500 installers as part of his doctorate at the Centre for Environmental Strategy at the University of Surrey. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he found that by far the most popular product line was solar photovoltaics. Only 25 businesses sold and installed air source heat pumps, 16 solar thermal and 15 mentioned biomass boilers. Three-quarters of the firms had 10 staff or fewer and the same percentage had only been installing microgeneration equipment for less than two years.
Telegraph 31st Mar 2012 more >>
