Hinkley
Areva is in talks with the French government to release some funds set aside for dismantling its nuclear installations in France to help the company finance a new British nuclear reactor, a newspaper reported.Britain signed a deal with France’s state-owned utility EDF in October to build a 16-billion pound nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in southwest Britain, the first new plant in Europe since the Fukushima disaster.State-owned Areva is taking a 10 percent stake in the consortium that will build the facility, which also includes EDF’s Chinese partners China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN) and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).Areva wants to ensure the British nuclear project will not impact its debt, which is rated BBB- by Standard and Poors, one notch above “junk” territory. Its debt-to-equity ratio stood at 1.15 at the end of June, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Reuters 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Extra safety features are to be installed at Hinkley Point C to help protect it from storm surges and even withstand the impact of an aeroplane crash.
Burnham-on-sea 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Nuclear power from Hinkley Point C will be too expensive for manufacturers according to the chief executive and founder of chemical firm Ineos. Jim Ratcliffe, the former engineer who is 33rd on Forbes’ billionaire list for the UK, claimed the country is “uncompetitive” for energy prices.
Energy Live News 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Dounreay
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is considering using ships to shift material known as “exotics” – including highly-enriched uranium. The body is already under fire for taking 44 tonnes of unirradiated plutonium and highly enriched uranium the length of Scotland by rail.
Press & Journal 9th Dec 2013 read more »
Moorside
Engineering giant Toshiba’s US nuclear business Westinghouse is rumoured to be on the verge of buying a 50% stake in Britain’s NuGen. NuGen is a joint venture between Spanish utility Iberdrola and French firm GDF Suez. The firms plan to build up to 3.6GW of new nuclear at the Sellafield nuclear site on the northwest coast of England. Reports claim the Japanese-owned group is to buy the stake from Iberdrola, which plans to leave the venture, for more than £100 million while GDF Suez is to hold on to its 50% share.
Energy Live News 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Wylfa
Jacobs Engineering Group has become the fourth and final company chosen to provide technical design services to Horizon Nuclear Power’s new station in Wylfa, Anglesey.
Construction News 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Nuclear Costs
EDM: That this House commends the judgement of City analysts Liberum Capital who say that the Hinkley Point nuclear power station deal is “economically insane” offering a price for electricity at double the going rate, index linked and guaranteed for 35 years: agrees with the head of Ineos Jim Ratcliffe the price of £95 per Megawatt hour agreed with Electricite de France is a rip-off especially when the company simultaneously agreed a price of £38 for French customers: is alarmed that future British industry and domestic users will be forced to buy some of the most expensive electricity in the world, adding to the burdens of domestic bills and putting industry at a competitive disadvantage: calls for a full disclosure of the deal and parliamentray debate.
Paul Flynn MP 16th Dec 2013 read more »
‘A very good deal for Britain,’ is how Ed Davey described the contract with EDF and Chinese backers to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, when it was signed back in October. Yesterday, it became clear just how wrong the energy secretary was when Ineos chief Jim Ratcliffe revealed on the BBC that his company has just agreed a similar deal to build a nuclear plant in France – but at a strike price of 45 Euros (£37.94) per MWh rather than the £92.50 per MWh which the government committed the consumer to paying for energy from Hinkley Point. Think of the very worse PFI deal signed under Labour and multiply it: the consumer will still be paying that hugely inflated strike price 35 years after the plant opens in 2023.
Spectator 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Nuclear vs Coal
Monbiot: Most of the afflictions wrongly attributed to nuclear power can rightly be attributed to coal. I was struck by this thought when I saw the graphics published by Greenpeace on Friday, showing the premature deaths caused by coal plants in China. The research it commissioned suggests that a quarter of a million deaths a year could be avoided if coal power there were shut down. Yes, a quarter of a million. Were Greenpeace to plot the impacts of nuclear power on the same scale, the vast red splodges depicting the air pollution catastrophe suffered by several Chinese cities would be replaced by dots invisible to the naked eye.
Guardian 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Radwaste
A waste management facility for low-level radioactive waste at a former opencast coalmine has been refused by communities secretary Eric Pickles after he concluded that adequate provision for the disposal of such waste is already in place.The original application was refused by Cumbria County Council, which judged that it was not needed and that it would damage a UK Priority Habitat and a County Wildlife Site. The inspector concluded that there was a strong case for the facility, since capacity for the disposal of low level nuclear waste in the UK was only assured for a few years. However, he noted that the proposed location was not ideal for this use, since it was not close to the nuclear facilities that would produce the waste and was in a rural area which was valued locally. “It would be a new free standing facility, tending to emphasise the locally unwelcome perception of Cumbria as the radioactive waste disposal cent ore the UK,” the inspector’s report said. Furthermore, another facility for disposing of low-level waste was granted permission recently in East Northamptonshire, which meant that there was adequate provision for the disposal of low-level nuclear waste in the short to medium term. This had severely weakened the case for the Cumbria facility on the grounds of need, the inspector said.
Planning Resource 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Radhealth
Crew members in their mid-20’s from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan are coming down with all sorts of radiation-related illnesses after being deployed less than 3 years ago to assist with earthquake rescue operations off the coast of Japan in 2011. It looks as though the onboard desalinization systems that take salt out of seawater to make it drinkable, were taking-in radioactive water from the ocean for the crew to drink, cook with and bath-in, before anyone realized there was a massive radiation spill into the ocean.
Turner Radio Network 12th Dec 2013 read more »
Civil Nuclear Police Authority
The Coalition Government is committed to ensuring accountability in public life. That is why we have established the Triennial Review process to examine all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). As part of this on-going programme, I am announcing today the Triennial Review of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA). As with all such reviews, this has two aims: to challenge the continuing need for an NDPB to carry out this role – both its functions and form; and – if it is agreed it should remain as an advisory NDPB; to review its control and governance arrangements to ensure it is complying with recognised principles of good corporate governance I will announce the findings of the Review in March 2014.
DECC 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Supply Chain
Manufacturers seeking to win contracts for new nuclear power stations are being offered a helping hand by South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. The AMRC has been chosen by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear Manufacturing to host a trio of courses to help companies understand the extra requirements involved in manufacturing for the sector.
Sheffield Star 16th Dec 2013 read more »
SMR
The NuScale consortium has won funding from the USDoE for the Small Modular Reactor.
Chemical Engineer 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Australia – new reactors
The government has insisted it has no intention of introducing nuclear power to Australia after releasing a paper that states the technology continues to be an option for “future reliable energy”.
Guardian 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Japan – Fukushima
Japan is incapable of safely decommissioning the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant alone and must stitch together an international team for the massive undertaking, experts say, but has made only halting progress in that direction. Unlike the U.S. and some European countries, Japan has never decommissioned a full-fledged reactor. Now it must do so at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant. Three of its six reactors melted down after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, making what is ordinarily a technically challenging operation even more complex.
Mainichi 15th Dec 2013 read more »
Finland – Olkiluoto
French-German consortium Areva-Siemens plans to reduce workers and subcontractors on the construction site of Finland’s much-delayed Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor, utility Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) said.TVO, which has been locked in a legal battle with Areva-Siemens over the delays, said it expects the contractor to provide details about the expected impact on the project’s schedule.Finland’s fifth nuclear reactor was originally scheduled to start operating in 2009, but it has been hit by repeated delays and soaring costs, and now is seen delayed until 2016.
Reuters 10th Dec 2013 read more »
France – nuclear costs
The Fukushima disaster has lead the French government to release novel cost information relative to its nuclear electricity program allowing us to compute a levelized cost. We identify a modest escalation of capital cost and a larger than expected operational cost. Under the best scenario, the cost of French nuclear power over the last four decades is 59 Euros per MWH (at 2010 prices) while in the worst case it is 83€/MWh. On the basis of these findings, we estimate the future cost of nuclear power in France to be at least 76€/MWh and possibly 117€/MWh. A comparison with the US confirms that French nuclear electricity nevertheless remains cheaper. Comparisons with coal, natural gas and wind power are carried out to find the advantage of these.
Energy Policy 4th Dec 2013 read more »
Germany – Energiewende
After the members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) voted in favour of a grand coalition with the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), SPD party chairman Sigmar Gabriel will become Minister of Economics and Energy, with an enlarged ministry now also covering renewable energy. SPD treasurer Barbara Hendricks will become the new Environment Minister in the next cabinet of Angela Merkel (CDU), albeit without responsibility for renewable energy. As a result, the Energiewende shall be managed mainly by the Social Democrats. In view of the many open issues in connection with energy policy shift away from nuclear power towards a mainly renewable energy supply like spiraling costs related to the support for renewable energy, delays in grid expansion and the economic strain on conventional plants that provide back-up power for the variable renewable input, this will not be an easy task.
German Energy Blog 16th Dec 2013 read more »
North Korea
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that is was unacceptable for North Korea’s dictator to ‘potentially’ have a nuclear weapon to hold over the heads of western nations, despite the International Atomic Energy Association’s confirmation four years ago that the rogue state was very much a nuclear power.
Daily Mail 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan’s efforts to advance global nuclear disarmament overall and specifically through The ATOM Project were in focus of German politicians and experts who came together for a Dec. 3 conference in Berlin at one of this country’s most respected institutions. The conference, titled ‘Kazakhstan’s Role in Global Action against Nuclear Weapons’ took place at the Academy of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and also featured a photo and art exhibition detailing the consequences of Soviet-era nuclear tests at Kazakhstan’s now-closed Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.
EU Reporter 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Trident
As part of an update to Parliament on the progress of the Trident replacement program, Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released a concept image of the Royal Navy’s next ballistic nuclear missile submarine. This coincides with the awarding of two contracts to BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines for £47 million (US$76 million) and £32 million (US$60 million) to begin preliminary design work on the nuclear-powered submarines, currently called the Successor class, which are intended to replace the Navy’s aging fleet of of Vanguard-class boats by 2028.
Gizmag 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Scotsman 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Engineering & Technology 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Telegraph 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Submarine builders in Barrow have won contracts worth £79m, for initial work on Britain’s next generation of nuclear deterrent subs. The Ministry of Defence announced it had agreed two contracts with BAE Systems. The initial work includes structural fittings, electrical equipment, castings and forgings which must be ordered now, according to Defence Secretary Philip Hammond. The new vessels are due to enter service by 2028.
ITV 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Nuclear Weapons
Poland, Latvia and Lithuania have expressed alarm at the Russia’s deployment of nuclear-capable missiles to the exclave of Kaliningrad which borders the European Union. Russia confirmed it has placed Iskander-M missiles in its western-most region following reports that spy satellite photographs showed the weapons stationed near the Polish border. The missiles, which can be armed with nuclear warheads, have a striking range of hundreds of kilometres and have been deployed by Russia in response to Nato’s development of a missile defence shield against Iran.
Telegraph 16th Dec 2013 read more »
EU Business 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Renewables – offshore wind
The UK Government this month announced a modest increase in contract-for-difference prices for offshore wind to encourage an ambitious build programme through to 2020. However, new analysis by Bloomberg New Energy Finance shows that a range of financing risks may still hold back plans.
Bloomberg 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Renewables – Solar
Greg Barker’s relationship with the UK’s solar industry may have endured its ups and downs, but as the industry prepares for the New Year the Minister is confident that the “extraordinary” growth that has been achieved in the UK solar sector during his four years in office is set to continue. Meeting with BusinessGreen in his Whitehall office ahead of a major industry and parliamentary event dubbed “Solar Britain”, Barker, and his dog Otto, are looking forward to 2014.
Business Green 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Renewables – Transmission costs
Delays have hit plans to reduce transmission charges for renewable schemes in parts of Scotland. Ofgem had expected to make a decision on Project TransmiT this week, but has pushed the date back to March 2014. That in turn has delayed the proposed introduction of lower costs from April 2014 to April 2015. The move gives energy companies more time to prepare for the proposed overhaul, but Friends of the Earth said the situation was “frustrating”. Scottish Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said he was “extremely disappointed” by the delays.
BBC 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Times 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Energy Voice 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Herald 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Scotsman 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Microgeneration
The Micropower Council is to rebrand as the Sustainable Energy Association in a move designed to reflect its expanding membership and the trend towards integrated green building services. BusinessGreen understands the group, which represents around 80 members from across the microgeneration sector, will announce the new name at its annual Christmas reception in Westminster this evening.
Business Green 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Energy Efficiency
Jenny Jones: Who are the biggest gainers from our remaining a nation which leaks money from every domestic orifice? It is of course the energy companies, who are more than happy to keep selling us something we continue to waste. Unlike Germany, which aims to reduce its energy use dramatically, we are planning for wasteful growth. We are accepting a future of hard-earned incomes being eaten up by energy bills, as even more people fall into fuel poverty and thousands of elderly people continue to needlessly live and die in cold homes. The German model provides an alternative vision to the Government’s and Mayor of London’s push for nuclear and fracking, both of which offer few benefits but pose a nightmare of environmental challenges that future generations will have to mop up.
Telegraph 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Greg Barker: The Government is today publishing the Energy Efficiency Strategy: 2013 Update. In November 2012 the Coalition published the first ever Government Energy Efficiency Strategy, which sets out our mission to seize the energy efficiency opportunity in the UK. The 2013 Update focuses on the significant progress that has been made over the last 12 months.
Parliament 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Fossil Fuels
The government claims it’s on a mission to clean up the UK’s energy system. You could be forgiven for thinking that means an end to coal power – the most polluting energy source of all. But, thanks to new technology, the government hopes there’s a new, ‘clean’ way to keep using coal. Writing in the Telegraph this weekend, Algy Cluff, chief executive of energy company Cluff Natural Resources, says ‘underground coal gasification’ could “provide a vital energy solution and produce abundant and cheap gas for generations”. The prospect has piqued the government’s interest, and energy minister Michael Fallon hasestablished a working group to explore its feasibility. But is it too good to be true? UCG could be a low carbon form of power generation if CCS technology – which is currently unproven on a large scale – was added. That in turn affects the technical and economic viability of the projects. As the Climate Change Act legally obliges the government to reduce the UK’s emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, the onus will be on the UCG industry to prove the low emissions technology works. If it can’t show UCG with CCS is viable, it’s questionable whether or not the projects would be allowed to proceed.
Carbon Brief 16th Dec 2013 read more »
International demand for coal is only going in one direction: up. Radical action to stall the growth of coal and curb the growth in greenhouse gas emissions is off-track, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Carbon Brief 16th Dec 2013 read more »
Anti-fracking protesters near Manchester dumped a huge wind turbine blade at the entrance to a drilling site on Monday, temporarily blocking access to the heavily fortified area. The site, at Barton Moss in Salford, is run by energy company IGas, which has been given permission drill a borehole up to 10,000ft below the ground.
Guardian 16th Dec 2013 read more »
New EU laws could kill off investment in fracking at a “critical and early stage”, David Cameron warned Brussels in an attempt to protect British industry from red tape. In a letter to Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, the Prime Minister argued that long delays and uncertainty caused by new legislation were a “major case for concern”. Pointing out that China has huge shale gas reserves and that the US has already cut gas imports by more than 50 per cent, Mr Cameron warned: “Our main competitors are already ahead of us in exploiting these resources. “As you know, the shale industry is at a critical and early stage of its development in Europe. There is clearly merit in providing additional clarity on how the existing comprehensive EU legislative framework applies to shale gas,” he told Mr Barroso. “However, I am not in favou r of new legislation where the lengthy timeframes and significant uncertainty involved are major causes for concern. The industry in the UK has told us that new EU legislation would immediately delay imminent investment.”
Times 17th Dec 2013 read more »
Climate
More on Lord Deben, the former John Selwyn Gummer, chair of the independent committee on climate change (CCC), who took heavy weekend fire from the Mail on Sunday. Still, if his stance on climate change attracts ire from the doubters, he gives as good as he gets. Last week at the Christmas reception for the parliamentary renewable and alternative energy group (Praseg), the Tory grandee and former environment secretary used the occasion to put the boot into former Tory cabinet colleague and former chancellor Lord Lawson – who runs an anti-climate change institute. He would keep making sweeping statements on CCC reports which he had not read and did not wish to understand, said Deben. Rising to his theme, he turned his fire on the Conservative Central Office, saying it kept using the wrong figures on the cost of implementing climate change mitigation policies dreamed up by the Taxpayers’ Alliance when the CCC has published the basis for its fully costed figures. No matter, he said, for the CCC will continue to preach the climate change message – despite the work of deniers he likened to tobacco companies creating doubt about the risk of smoking. It’s God’s work, or the “missionary position”, as he called it.
Guardian 16th Dec 2013 read more »
