Hartlepool
A spokesman from EDF Energy has confirmed that they had to shutdown a nuclear reactor because of a small fire inside Hartlepool Power Station. Investigations are continuing after the fire, which happened at around 1.30am on Saturday 15 March.
ITV 16th March 2014 read more »
ITV 16th March 2014 read more »
Carbon Tax
The Chancellor will reignite the row over green taxes on energy bills this week when he is expected to curb to his controversial carbon tax – easing consumer bills but infuriating green groups. Critics of the “carbon price floor”, which increases the costs of burning fossil fuels, say it is a pointless “stealth” tax that will increase the risk of blackouts by forcing coal plants to switch off before new power plants are ready to replace them. The tax will push up UK electricity prices, leading to job losses for struggling British industries and further increasing costs for hard-pressed bill-payers. George Osborne is believed to be preparing to bow to pressure from consumer groups and industry by announcing a freeze to the levy in his Budget this week.
Telegraph 16th March 2014 read more »
The Chancellor must resist calls to scrap his carbon tax in the budget this week because it remains the most cost-effective way of tackling climate change, energy giant EDF has argued. Vincent de Rivaz, EDF Energy chief executive, insists that Britain “has right policies on climate change and energy” and warns of the dangers of abandoning long-term policies, such as the carbon price floor. “Crucially, the political consensus and stability of these policies have given investors the confidence to put their money into Britain,” he says. The Chancellor is widely expected to take action to curb future rises in the carbon tax, to ease costs for households and manufacturers alike, and to prolong the life of coal plants as a capacity crunch looms. But while consumer and industry groups and some suppliers have urged the Chancellor to scrap the tax altogether, Mr de Rivaz urges the Government to “send a strong signal that it remains committed to its long term energy polices even if it makes short term and temporary adjustments to them”.
Telegraph 16th March 2014 read more »
The nuclear and renewable energy industries have made a last-ditch attempt to stop George Osborne from freezing a tax on fossil fuels in this week’s Budget, warning the move could jeopardise investment in low-carbon energy schemes.
FT 16th March 2014 read more »
Vincent de Rivaz: Last year, EDF Energy and the Government concluded a deal for power from the first new nuclear power station in a generation at Hinkley Point in Somerset. It will be ready just as the first of our existing low-carbon nuclear stations is coming to the end of its life. It will provide a massive boost to the economy and rebuild the British nuclear industry. As the agreement is part of this far-reaching reform of the UK energy market, it is right that the European Commission should examine the deal. We are encouraged by the pace of the Commission inquiry. The consultation period will show that the contract for Hinkley Point C is fair and balanced for investors and consumers. In the meantime, our investments to extend the lives of our 15 existing nuclear reactors by around two years will delay the crunch point when electricity demand and supply converge. This has bought the country some much-needed breathing space but it has not changed the fundamentals. That’s why the Government must send a strong signal that it remains committed to its long-term energy policies, even if it makes short-term and temporary adjustments to them. Although there may be a short postponement of the energy gap, there is no such respite available on climate change. Energy and environment policy has rarely been as high-profile as it is now. Decisions taken today will have implications for years to come. We have the right policies in place. Now we must deliver them in the most cost-effective way possible.
Telegraph 16th March 2014 read more »
Nuclear Security
Report by Jan Willem Storm van Leeuwen: A unique feature of applied nuclear technology is the generation of fissile materials and massive amounts of human-made radioactivity. As a result civil nuclear technology raises unique hazards and security issues, encompassing a number of pathways along which severe damage can be inflicted to the political, economic and societal stability on a regional, national or even global scale: Terroristic use of nuclear explosives. Proliferation of critical nuclear technology to politically unstable countries. Armed conflicts involving nuclear installations and materials. Terroristic attacks with conventional weapons on nuclear installations containing fissile materials and large amounts of highly radioactive materials: nuclear power plants, spent fuel cooling pools and reprocessing plants. Severe accidents involving one of above mentioned installations. The consequences of the last two potential events are indistinguishable: both cause large-scale dispersion of massive amounts of human-made radioactivity over vast regions, affecting millions of people.
Nuclear Free Local Authorities 5th March 2014 read more »
Japan
A new chapter in Japan’s energy industry begins when a new geothermal power plant taps into the nation’s famed seismic activity – opening the floodgates for dozens of similar projects across the country. Japan’s first new geothermal power plant in 15 years will open next month, heralding the start of a new chapter for the nation’s nuclear-hit energy industry. The new geothermal plant is located in a region famed for its natural hot springs and volcanic activity in Kumamoto prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu. The project has been masterminded by the Chuo Electric Power Co, which has set up a dedicated company devoted to geothermal activities and plans to open five further plants over the next five years. The plant – the first to open in Japan since 1999 – will mark the start of a flurry of geothermal projects launching across the country, with a string of other companies following suit from northernmost Hokkaido to southern Kyushu.
Telegraph 16th March 2014 read more »
Germany
Bjorn Lomborg: The Ukrainian crisis has again put German energy policy in the spotlight. As long as Europe’s green energy is expensive and unreliable, it favours Russian gas and leaves the continent’s energy policy unsustainable. Germany’s energiewende, the country’s move away from nuclear and fossil fuels towards renewable energies has been regarded by some commentators as an example for the rest of the world. But now Germany shows the globe how not to make green policy. It is failing the poor, while protecting neither energy security nor the climate.
FT 16th March 2014 read more »
US – MOX
There’s been a lot of back and forth between advocates and naysayers of the MOX facility under construction at the Savannah River Site, and both sides looking at the past and current facts of the facility to make their cases. The most recent controversy sparks from President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal that suggests a “cold stand-by,” which would freeze the funding for the project. With new developments expected soon, the Aiken Standard looks at the past, present and possible future of the mixed oxide fuel fabrication facility, also known as MOX, project.
Aiken Standard 16th March 2014 read more »
Submarines
A nuclear submarine had to be diverted to India after it was refused entry to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is understood Plymouth-based HMS Tireless sat in international waters for more than a week while a replacement crew was waiting in the port. Families of those on board who travelled to meet the crew had to return to the UK without seeing them. The Royal Navy said it was only a “delay” and “not a safety issue”.
BBC 17th March 2014 read more »
Trident
Britain will be forced to abandon its nuclear weapons if Scotland becomes independent, a senior admiral has warned. In an article for The Daily Telegraph today, Vice-Adml John McAnally said Scottish independence is “the biggest strategic threat faced by our Armed Forces”. He warned that Britain would lose its seat on the UN Security Council and England and Scotland would be reduced to “two struggling nations on Europe’s periphery”.
Telegraph 16th March 2014 read more »
Iran
Iran has pursued a longstanding effort to buy banned components for its nuclear and missile programmes in recent months, a U.S. official said on Sunday, a period when it struck an interim deal with major powers to limit its disputed atomic activity.Vann Van Diepen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation, said Iran was still “very actively” creating front companies and engaging in other activity to conceal procurements.
Reuters 16th March 2014 read more »
Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday that his country does not expect to cement a final deal in the coming round of nuclear talks with world powers. Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke to reporters after meeting his Belorussian visiting counterpart, Vladimir Makei. “We don’t expect to reach a deal in this round of talks. Nor was a deal on the agenda for this round of talks. We have agreed to discuss a number of issues in this round,” Zarif said.
Guardian 16th March 2014 read more »
Fuel Poverty
Matthew Spencer: What might an environmental agenda for stability look like? First, it would find ways of supporting those struggling with the rising cost of living. Nothing is as destabilising as rising inequality. Finding common cause with the fuel and resource-poor requires a different approach, as pioneered by the Energy Bill Revolution, which has corralled hundreds of NGOs behind its campaign to eradicate fuel poverty.
Guardian 14th March 2014 read more »
Climate
Mary Robinson & Desmond Tutu: This week, European heads of state have an opportunity to address their citizens’ concerns when they meet to discuss a package of new climate-related measures and targets for 2030. It is one of the first in a delicate sequence of international events and summits over the next two years, concluding with a major conference in Paris, in December 2015. What happens in Brussels this week could have life-or-death repercussions for millions of people now and billions more in the future. Climate change is a slow, grinding crisis but urgent action is needed to defuse it. Current and future generations, our grandchildren and great grandchildren, need the world to act decisively now to avoid dangerous climate change. The EU is well-placed to create the positive momentum needed to enable others to act. Tackling climate change is in Europe’s economic interest. It is also a chance to display leadership at its finest.
Guardian 17th March 2014 read more »
Global sea levels may rise faster than anticipated due to a rapid melting of the north-east corner of the Greenland ice sheet, according to scientists. This was widely considered to be cold and stable. Satellite measurements have shown that this part of Greenland, which covers 16 per cent of the ice sheet, has now begun to melt after many years of stability – the reason why this area was left out of computer models predicting future global sea-level rise.
Independent 16th March 2014 read more »
Obituary
Letter David Lowry: Tony Benn, who once was responsible for the British nuclear power programme, first when he when he was technology minister in the late 1960s, and later after he was “demoted” (in Brivati’s interpretation), was asked a few years ago by the Times if he had made any political mistakes in his life. He responded: “Nuclear power. I was told, when I was in charge of it, that atomic energy was cheap, safe and peaceful. It isn’t.” A serious problem for today’s politics is that both coalition ministers and their Labour opponents have not learned from Benn’s conversion on the road to energy sustainability, and support new nuclear.
Guardian 16th Feb 2014 read more »