New nukes
The speed with which new nuclear power plants can be built will be key to the decision on which atomic reactor designs are selected for use in the UK, according to the Government. A detailed assessment is under way of four nuclear reactor designs as part of a push to build a new generation of British nuclear power plants. They include designs from Areva, the French nuclear energy giant, Toshiba-Westinghouse, of Japan, GE-Hitachi, the American-Japanese group, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).
Times 11th Feb 2008 more >>
Germany
RWE AG said it is restarting block A of its Biblis nuclear plant after being shut down for one and a half years due to technical faults. German utility RWE on Friday received approval from the German state of Hesse, where Biblis is situated, to restart the reactor and the company has initiated a programme to resume power production, an RWE spokesman said.
AFX 10th Feb 2008 more >>
Renewables
You might expect that an island nation offering substantial grants through a wave and tidal energy grant scheme would have applicants queueing up. But a £50 million fund has succeeded in attracting precisely two applications – and both were rejected. The Marine Renewables Deployment Fund was condemned by business groups yesterday as a failure. Instead of tempting companies to defray part of their costs with taxpayers’ money, ministers made the qualifying conditions too tough, analysts concluded. It was now likely that companies would shift operations to more supportive countries.
Times 11th Feb 2008 more >>
The Crown Estate will earn windfall profits of at least £100million a year from Britain’s booming offshore renewable energy industry. The estate, which owns the foreshore and seabed around the UK, has already signed contracts worth tens of millions of pounds with operators of offshore wind farms. Rents from the siting of wind turbines are only the beginning of a vast new commercial opportunity for the Crown Estate. In addition to a huge expansion in offshore wind power and the development of tidal power, the estate will profit from the laying of subsea cables and an emerging industry in storing carbon captured from coal-fired power stations.
Times 11th Feb 2008 more >>
Europe
And the new president of the European Council will not easily be able to say anything out of line with the policies or views of the heads of the 27 EU member states who appoint him. If he says Europe needs more nuclear power, the Germans will go, well, nuclear as Berlin blocks any reference to nuclear power in EU energy policy announcements.
FT 11th Feb 2008 more >>
Pakistan
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, said on Saturday that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were well protected and not in danger of falling into the hands of Islamic militants. The remarks by a senior US military official appeared to vindicate the country’s position following growing concern worldwide.
FT 11th Feb 2008 more >>
