EDF Opinion Poll
The tracking poll found that since 2006 people’s view of wind, gas and coal-fired generation had changed little, with wind still the most favoured source. However support for nuclear power had grown from 33 per cent to 44 per cent over the period. A growing number of people – up from 54 to 65 per cent since 2006, thought it should be part of the energy balance. Only 13 per cent disagreed with the statement, down from 20 per cent in 2006.
Utility Week 18th Nov 2009 more >>
National Nuclear Laboratory
THE MEPC Birchwood Park, in Warrington, has secured its largest deal this year after letting 17,000 sq ft of office space to the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
Liverpool Daily Post 18th Nov 2009 more >>
New Nukes
The Foreign Secretary faced searching questions from the British Council’s Scottish young climate change champions at the organisation’s office in Edinburgh, as well as from their Japanese equivalents, who joined the debate via a video link. Jamie Auld Smith, who works for Transition Edinburgh South, a community group, suggested to the Foreign Secretary that the UK government should be directing investment earmarked for nuclear power to developing renewable energy.
Times 18th Nov 2009 more >>
Kirksanton
THE government has not ruled out moving Haverigg Prison to make way for a nuclear power plant. A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change told the Evening Mail the prison would not stand in the way of the nuclear plant should other key elements needed to support a plant, such as transport and infrastructure, fall into place. A public consultation was launched on November 9 when the government announced a list of 10 potential sites earmarked for nuclear power stations. The plant would be built in Layriggs near Kirksanton, less than a mile from the prison.
NW Evening Mail 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Cumbria
Conservationists claim wildlife sites in Cumbria are threatened by proposals to push through new nuclear power stations without planning inquiries. The government has highlighted three potential sites in the county as being suitable for new generating stations. But Cumbria Wildlife Trust fears a new planning commission will not take conservation areas into account.
BBC 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Bradwell
A GROUP set up to oppose a new nuclear power plant on the Essex coast has hit out at Government plans, describing them as “superficial, vague, loosely-worded and tentative.” Professor Andy Blowers, chairman of Bradwell Against New Nuclear Generation (BANNG), made his comments just days after Energy and Climate Change secretary Ed Miliband revealed proposals for 10 new nuclear power stations in the UK.
East Anglian Daily Times 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Bradwell-on-Sea is earmarked to be home to a new nuclear power station. As Britain has promised to reduce carbon emission, developing more nuclear power stations is now essential. We cannot create adequate electricity from wind farms and after years to trying to enhance tidal energy the technology is still not available.
Essex Portal 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Sellafield
Redhall Group plc said it received an order under its 4-year Pond Furniture Framework contract to manufacture specialist nuclear storage containers for the Sellafield Fuel Handling Plant and infrastructure equipment for 2 new build projects, principally Evaporator D for Costain and the total value is £3.3 million.
RTT News 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Yorkshire Post 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Hinkley
Around 300 people attended a meeting about the power lines proposals.
Burnham on sea. com 16th Nov 2009 more >>
France
Electricite de France SA may seek to control Areva SA’s nuclear reactor unit, formerly known as Framatome, French daily Les Echos reported. Henri Proglio, who takes over as EDF’s chief executive officer next week, told the newspaper that Framatome, now called Areva NP, should be supported by strong industrial actors. The creation of Areva SA in 2001 via the merger of Framatome with Cogema was “probably an error,” he told Les Echos, adding that France’s nuclear network needs to be redesigned.
Bloomberg 18th Nov 2009 more >>
Reuters 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran’s nuclear envoy yesterday denied that the UN inspectors’ tour of its recently revealed uranium enrichment site has turned up any evidence that the Islamic republic is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. While the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report offered no estimate of the facility’s capacity, analysts familiar with the agency’s work said it appeared to be capable of producing enough material for a warhead but too little for a civilian reactor.
Belfast Telegraph 18th Nov 2009 more >>
It is “premature” to say that diplomatic efforts aimed at defusing tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme have failed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Middle East Online 17th Nov 2009 more >>
US
Toshiba has promised Texan utility CPS Energy that it will provide a new, lower cost estimate for the South Texas Project before the end of the year.
World Nuclear News 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Climate
Global temperatures are on a path to rise by an average of 6C by the end of the century as CO2 emissions increase and the Earth’s natural ability to absorb the gas declines, according to a major new study.
Guardian 18th Nov 2009 more >>
Independent 18th Nov 2009 more >>
Telegraph 18th Nov 2009 more >>
Biomass
Britain’s second-biggest energy company plans to buy a Scottish forest to help to feed its growing network of biomass-fired power stations. Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), which supplies electricity and gas to nine million British homes, hopes to use the forest to supply fuel for two of its power stations Fiddlers Ferry, in Cheshire, and Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire where it has installed equipment allowing it to burn timber as well as coal. As well as Fiddlers Ferry and Ferrybridge, SSE is planning to build four biomass plants in a joint venture with Forth Ports in Dundee, Leith, Rosyth and Grangemouth. Together, the Scottish facilities will burn an estimated four million tonnes of wood per year equivalent to 40 per cent of the UK’s domestic annual wood harvest of ten million tonnes. They will generate about 400 megawatts of electricity, less than 1 per cent of total UK power-generating capacity.
Times 18th Nov 2009 more >>