Nuclear Sites
An online auction of three sites belonging to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is to continue, after a break for the Easter weekend, as interest in the sites has continued to drive up bids.
Utility Week 10th Apr 2009 more >>
Scotland
Present Scottish Government policy has four foundations: exclusion of new nuclear power stations; heavy concentration on renewables; reliance on clean coal in the longer term; and promotion of onsite micro-generation. One authoritative body after another, including the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers, has shown that, of all the options, ministers could hardly have made a more expensive choice or one offering smaller prospect of reduced carbon dioxide emissions. The consumer is, therefore, to be burdened with unnecessarily costly electricity and the taxpayer with billions of pounds in grants for micro-renewables while achieving very little to combat global warming. Cost is hardly mentioned in the Scottish Government’s justification for its policies but it is crucial to the outcome. New nuclear electricity will cost about 3.5 to 4p per kW hour. Onshore wind energy costs more than 7p per kW hour and has to be heavily subsidised at the expense of other producers and, ultimately, the consumer. Offshore wind power costs substantially more. Wave and tidal power will cost yet more.
Herald 11th Apr 2009 more >>
EDF
Electricite de France on Friday suspended two senior nuclear security managers alleged to have hired outside consultants to spy on antinuclear activists using illegal means, including computer hacking, in violation of company rules.
Platts 10th Apr 2009 more >>
Dounreay
Letter from Geoffrey Minter: I write to clear some misunderstanding in respect of access, survey coverage and negotiations caused by your recent article entitled “118th particle found at Sandside”. At the time of writing, after six and a half days from the start of the current “monitoring” session at Sandside on March 23, 2009, five more particles have been recovered since the 118th on Wednesday last which you reported. This takes the number retrieved to 122 since May 1997 – up by six in the last week.
John O Groat Journal 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
US Low Carbon
Offshore wind turbines could meet all of the US’ electricity needs, according to a report from the country’s interior department. Speaking at a renewable energy conference, secretary of the interior Ken Salazar said wind off the coasts of the lower 48 states had the capacity to generate a total of 1,900 gigawatts. “The wind potential off the coasts of the lower 48 states actually exceeds our entire US electricity demand,” he said.
Low Carbon Economy 3rd Apr 2009 more >>
Iran
It’s a paradox but it’s true. The more pressure the west puts on the Iranian government over its nuclear policy, the more popular President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad becomes. Ahmadinejad began his nuclear campaign four years ago by choosing yesterday as Iran’s National Day of Nuclear Technology and he marked the occasion this year by adding the final step in enrichment technology, triumphally inaugurating Isfahan’s Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP) despite international sanctions and Obama’s recent expressions of concern.
Guardian 10th Apr 2009 more >>
Iran declared on Thursday major advances in its controversial atomic drive as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad opened a nuclear fuel plant and announced the testing of two high capacity centrifuges.
Middle East Online 10th Apr 2009 more >>
Japan
Local authorities on Friday put off a decision on whether to allow Tokyo Electric Power Co to begin restarting its quake-damaged nuclear plant, as two leaders expressed support but a third had yet to reach a decision.
Local government approval is the final hurdle for TEPCO to restart the 1,356-megawatt No.7 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant, the world’s largest, closed since July 2007 after a powerful earthquake rocked northwest Japan.
Interactive Investor 10th Apr 2009 more >>
Renewables
Britain’s wind energy industry increased its call for state aid yesterday, after new figures showed that investment in the sector has collapsed by nearly 80 per cent. The amount invested in British renewable energy schemes, including wind, solar and wave power, fell from £377 million during the first three months of last year to £79 million during the same period this year, according to figures from New Energy Finance, a research group that monitors industry trends. The figures have raised fresh questions over the Government’s ability to fulfil its pledge to slash Britain’s carbon emissions and produce more than one third of the country’s electricity from green energy by 2020.
Times 11th Apr 2009 more >>
Energy companies are having to shelve projects that would help Britain to meet its 2020 renewables target because they cannot connect them to the national grid. With waits of several years, and in one case almost a decade, before connections can be built, several wind farm projects might have to be put in abeyance. Delays for land-based turbines caused by grid connection dates are a longstanding grievance of the on-shore wind industry and now threaten to affect the off-shore sector.
Times 11th Apr 2009 more >>
