Politics
Geoffrey Lean: Omnishambles – made word of the year this week by the Oxford English Dictionary – no longer even begins to do justice to the chaos in Whitehall and Westminster. When, three weeks ago, I suggested that the row over the normally boring subject of energy policy had become “the most damaging in the Government”, I had no idea just how destructive it was about to become. Deep divisions between the Coalition partners were predictable enough, but open warfare between top Tories in defiance of an agreed policy is something else. Yet, amid a series of extraordinary events this week, George Osborne’s father-in-law, Lord Howell – himself recently a Foreign Office minister – and Peter Lilley, a former cabinet minister and deputy leader of the party, were shown denigrating the Prime Minister and his promise to lead “the greenest government ever” and reporting that the Chancellor was deliberately undermining the Government’s climate and energy policies. In over 40 years, I cannot remember a minister so defying official policy without resigning. Yet Mr Hayes remains in post, suggesting that the Prime Minister either is too weak to sack him, or happy for him to break ranks. Both would bode badly for the Government’s future discipline and competence.
Telegraph 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Energy Bill
The new energy bill is expected to be published next Thursday. While the prime minister courted renewable energy investors on his recent visit to the middle east, he has also allowed the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, to brief heavily in favour of gas instead of renewables. The chancellor is antagonistic to subsidies for renewable power and wants more emphasis on building gas-fired power stations. As a result, the government is planning for as many as 20 new gas-fired power stations, which has angered green campaigners.
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Plans to limit the carbon emissions of future power stations are on the brink of being delayed until next parliament, in what would be a blow to the climate and energy secretary, green campaigners and business chiefs. Ministers have been wrangling over whether to include a 2030 "decarbonisation target" for the power sector in the energy bill, which is expected to be published in parliament within the next fortnight. The Guardian understands a decision on such a target now risks being delayed until after the next general election. A senior source close to the talks said: "It’s been a very difficult negotiation, there has been talk of postponing the setting of a target until next parliament. But if we are to address investor concerns, it has to be addressed this parliament." However, the source added that the talks were still ongoing and "it is still possible that there could be agreement on a target to be set this parliament, and that will come down to how hard they want to negotiate on the Liberal Democrat side."
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
New Nukes
Nuclear power will only play a limited role in the world’s energy future because of its "absurdly high" cost, Al Gore said on Thursday. Despite several countries, including the US, UK and China, pushing forward with plans for new nuclear reactors, the former vice-president said the economics of nuclear meant that it was unlikely to play a major role. "It will play a role, but probably a limited role. I think the waste issue can probably be solved, and Fukushima notwithstanding, the safety of operation issue can probably be solved. But the cost is absurdly high and still rising," "I’m not a reflexive opponent of nuclear. I used to be enthusiastic about it, but I’m now sceptical about it". He said that while nuclear was expensive, renewable energy technologies were fast becoming cheaper. "Meanwhile, solar PV [photovoltaics] is riding a ‘Moore’s Law Jr’ costdown curve. Wind and efficiency too, though not as steep. We need to get to scale on renewables quickly and make the transition."
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
A new report published by the green campaign group Energy Fair shows that rapid renewables growth in the UK spearheaded by solar photovoltaics (PV) will severely eat into nuclear’s market by the time any new nuclear stations are brought online in 2020 or later. The report, titled The financial risks of investing in new nuclear power plants, states: “By the time any new nuclear plant can be built in the UK, the market for its electricity will be disappearing, regardless of any possible increase in the overall demand for electricity.
Solar Portal 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Sizewell
THE UK nuclear safety watchdog has rejected calls to bring forward an inspection of the pressure vessel “heart” of the Sizewell B nuclear power station following the discovery of cracks in the surface of similar vessels in Belgium. The flaws, found in July this year in reactors at Doel and Tihange, had not been reported during manufacture or as a result of previous in-service inspections. However, according to the Belgian safety inspectorate there is evidence that the cracks did occur during manufacture in Holland and are not the result of operating stress. The Sizewell pressure vessel came from a French manufacturer and underwent extensive testing before it was installed on the Suffolk site. As a result of the discoveries in Belgium the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK safety watchdog, has ordered a check of all the documentation concerning the tests made on the Sizewell B vessel, during manufacture and service. But anti-nuclear groups, including the Shut Down Sizewell Campaign, have been calling for the next in-service inspection, scheduled for 2015, to be carried out immediately, as a precaution.
East Anglian Daily Times 15th November 2012 more >>
Dungeness
EDF Energy is encouraging young women to apply for its nuclear apprenticeship scheme. The company is holding an information day on 24 November at Dungeness B power station, Kent, to give prospective apprentices an insight into a career in nuclear energy. While the programme is open to anyone meeting the criteria, EDF said it was particularly keen to recruit females.
Utility Week 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Build 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Wylfa
A HARD-UP council that faces closing schools, libraries, and public toilets is seeking a nuclear cash bonanza. Hitachi’s £700m takeover of Horizon Nuclear Power has put the Wylfa B project back on track – which will spark a jobs and investment boom on Anglesey. Now a high level delegation from Anglesey council will start negotiations with developers to secure a Community Benefit Contribution (CBC) that could have a lasting impact on the island.
Daily Post 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Horizon Nuclear Power has confirmed that its next drop-in information event for local people will take place on Monday 19 November at Cemaes Village Hall.
Nuclear Matters 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Radwaste
It might not be Blowin’ in the Wind but a musician hopes his newly-recorded protest song will do its bit to stop a nuclear dump being built.
Cumberland News 16th Nov 2012 more >>
A CAMPAIGN to stop an underground nuclear waste store being built on the Solway Plain will step up a gear next week. A series of what are described as “crisis” meetings will be held in Maryport and Silloth. A recently formed protest group, Solway Plain Against Nuclear Dump, will hold its first public meeting at Maryport’s Wave Centre on Wednesday. It will be followed by another public meeting at the Solway Community College, Silloth, on Thursday. Both meetings start at 7pm. The group has invited what it says are two leading authorities on geological disposal of nuclear waste. They are Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Geology, and David Smythe, Emeritus Professor of Geophysics.
Times and Star 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Sellafield
Nuclear site operator Sellafield will face nine charges next month following alleged illegal nuclear waste dumping after joint action from the Environment Agency and Office for Nuclear Regulation. The regulators action follows an extensive investigation which has led to allegations that Sellafield sent and disposed of four bags of low-level radioactive waste from its site in West Cumbria, to Lillyhall landfill site, in nearby Workington, Cumbria, in 2010. Sellafield faces nine charges, to be heard before Workington Magistrates Court on 12 December. Eight charges have been brought by the Environment Agency and one by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
New Civil Engineer 16th Nov 2012 more >>
According to Decc’s 2012/13 budget, taken from its 2012–15 business plan, dealing with "nuclear legacy" issues costs around £2.5 billion a year, more than 42% of Decc’s total budget. Of that, around £1.6 billion is spent on managing the various plants and storage facilities at Sellafield, the huge site in Cumbria which is home to the radioactive remains of nuclear weapons and energy programmes dating more than half a century. Sellafield employs 9231 people, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report. The NAO’s report begs the question of whether cost estimates for decommissioning future nuclear power plants may also have been underestimated. Whether that’s true is impossible to know, though a glance at the figures suggests that even if decommissioning and waste disposal costs for future plants were two or three times higher than current government estimates, that wouldn’t significantly change the economics of new nuclear plants.
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Japan
The Japan Nuclear Safety Institute (JANSI) has been launched to improve the safety of Japan’s nuclear industry by sharing operating experience and safety knowledge among the country’s nuclear companies. The new body represents an evolution of cooperation in nuclear safety that started after the 1999 Tokai criticality accident. At that time, electric power companies, along with enterprises involved with the nuclear industry established the Nuclear Safety Network (NSnet). The network’s main activities were to enhance the safety culture of the nuclear industry, conduct peer reviews, and disseminate information about nuclear safety.
World Nuclear News 16th Nov 2012 more >>
In an age when serious diners insist on knowing the provenance of their food, the example set by Suzuki’s restaurant is hard to beat. About 80% of his menu – from perilla-infused pork to daikon pickles and sake – is from Fukushima.
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Germany
Like all revolutions, the German Energiewende was set in motion by many factors and its course altered by a multitude of events and actors along the way. A few key moments stand out, however, and the Chernobyl catastrophe is one of them. To fully understand the Energiewende, and to anticipate its future twists and turns, it’s essential to understand the role Chernobyl played in shaping the German public’s view of nuclear power.
Bloomberg 16th Nov 2012 more >>
There’s nothing simple about the Energiewende. It calls for an end to the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power and embraces clean, renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. The government has set a target of 80 percent renewable power by 2050, but many Germans I spoke with in three weeks traveling across this country believe 100 percent renewable power is achievable by then.
Bloomberg 14th Nov 2012 more >>
Iran
IRAN is set to double its output of higher enriched uranium at its fortified underground facility, the United Nations watchdog warned yesterday. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran was ready within days to ramp up its production of 20 per cent enriched uranium at its plant at Fordo using 700 more centrifuges. That would double Iran’s output and cut in half the time it would take to acquire enough of the substance needed to make a nuclear weapon, reducing it to just over three months.
Scotsman 17th Nov 2012 more >>
Reuters 16th Nov 2012 more >>
ITV 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Submarines
The navy’s new multibillion-pound nuclear submarine HMS Astute sprung a leak during sea trials, the Ministry of Defence has revealed. Officials said the BAE systems-built attack vessel was forced to resurface after it let in tens of litres of water during testing last year. The MoD also confirmed that electrical switchboards were incorrectly installed and concerns were raised about the accuracy of nuclear reactor monitoring instruments because the wrong type of lead had been used.
Morning Star 16th Nov 2012 more >>
A confidential Ministry of Defence memo says the corrosion on the UK’s new fleet of hunter-killer submarines was caused by cost-cutting and warns that quality controls have been ignored, the Guardian can reveal. Written by a senior analyst at the MoD, the memo says the corrosion is a "cause for major concern", and that the first three Astute class boats are likely to experience "severe problems" in the future.
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Renewables
Windfarms are "extremely inefficient and costly" and will not be able to replace gas or nuclear power generation, according to a letter sent by the Conservative energy minister, John Hayes, which reveals the extent of his antipathy to the technology. It is well known that Hayes is sceptical about onshore wind and he was slapped down by his boss at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), Ed Davey, last month for saying that "enough is enough" for windfarm growth. But the letter gives the clearest account of his objections and is likely to concern proponents because it repeats misapprehensions about the technology.
Guardian 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Juliet Davenport: The real question is who do those people conspiring against wind farms think they’re doing it for? This post from political guru Mike Smithson suggests that these elaborate orchestrations are falling on deaf ears. A recent YouGov poll shows that far from there being a rush of anti-wind farm sentiment, support for wind farms amongst the very voters the conspirators are seeking to appeal to continues to be favourable. With that in mind, it certainly seems like a lot of trouble to go to. And their antics have back-fired spectacularly this time; they may well be wishing they were in the Australian jungle with their colleague Nadine Dorries.
Huffington Post 14th Nov 2012 more >>
Mike Smithson 14th Nov 2012 more >>
Subsidies for onshore wind are valued at some £400m ($640m) a year, but the cost per megawatt hour is half that of offshore wind or solar panels. Renewables now generate around 10% of the country’s electricity, which means more need building to reach the 2020 goal. Though the target has involved overspending and government meddling, it has also served as an important green light for investors. And as turbines get bigger and more efficient, the costs for operating and maintaining them are falling. Subsidies for the technology were cut 10% this year, and may soon be snipped further. Michael Liebricht, head of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a research firm, predicts that onshore wind could soon compete with coal and gas, as prices rise for fossil fuels and carbon.
Economist 17th Nov 2012 more >>
Watch the local energy revolution as it happens week-by-week with Micro Power News.
Microgenscotland 16th Nov 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency
The launch of the Coalition’s flagship green energy project is “in tatters” after a Government minister admitted that not a single household has yet registered for the deal. The Green Deal encourages homeowners to take out a loan to make their house more energy-efficient. The project goes live in 10 weeks but households have had since October 1 to have their home assessed for the scheme prior to its launch. However Greg Barker, the climate change minister, has admitted that “no assessments have yet been lodged” on the Government’s official register by homeowners. Luciana Berger, the shadow climate change minister, described the Green Deal as a “shambles” and said its launch is “lying in tatters”. The Coalition hopes that owners of up to 14 million draughty homes will sign up to the scheme.
Telegraph 16th Nov 2012 more >>
