Geological Disposal Implementation Board
Minutes of the first re-constituted GDIB Meeting held on 30th November 2011
DECC 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Radwaste
A nuclear expert who advises the Government on the best way to store high-level radioactive waste will address a public meeting in west Cumbria tomorrow. Professor Andy Blowers, a member of the Committee of Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), will give a speech at the West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership meeting at Hundith Hill Hotel, Cockermouth. He will discuss the ‘ethics behind nuclear waste disposal’ and will take part in a question and answer session.
Cumberland News 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Green Investment Bank
The UK Government has come under criticism for potentially funding the development of nuclear power through the Green Investment Bank
Renewable Energy Focus 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Wylfa
AN INFLUENTIAL environmental charity is calling for power lines from a proposed nuclear power station to be buried under the sea. The Snowdonia Society is concerned plans for the newWylfa B on Anglesey include an option for power to be taken to the National Grid on strengthened high-voltage cables through the national park.
PowerGen Worldwide 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Hinkley
BELEAGUERED motorists fear the gridlock on Bridgwater’s roads is a sign of things to come if the new Hinkley Point power station is approved.
This is the West Country 18th Jan 2011 more >>
“In November, the pixies of Hinkley set about assisting the badgers of Hinkley in reclaiming their setts. The badgers had been displaced from their homes for some months after ‘UnNatural England’ colluded with the French fat cats EDF to grant them a badger badgering license. “Bodger the Badger, spokesbadger, said, ‘They’ve sealed up our setts and filled them with earth whilst providing totally inadequate temporary accommodation for us. We don’t like the stench around here and with baby badgers on the way we were missing our home.’
Stop Nuclear Power 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Sizewell
Charles Hendry visits Sizewell.
You Tube 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Following consultation with the local community, British Energy (part of EDF Energy) submitted to Government, in February 2010 an application for consent to construct and operate a Dry Fuel Store at Sizewell B. The application has been widely consulted upon with Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Coastal District Council, the Local Planning Authorities, as well as Statutory Consultees and Regulators. In response to consultation with the Local Planning Authorities, we have made available further information to supplement the Environmental Statement. The further information considers potential long term impacts on the amenity and recreational use of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
British Energy December 2010 more >>
Uranium
A Canadian cargo ship carrying uranium headed for China had to make an emergency return trip after a storm knocked open two containers of the radioactive compound. Saskatoon-based uranium mining company Cameco said one of its cargo ships had left Vancouver on Dec. 23 bound for Zhanjiang, China, loaded with containers filled with uranium concentrate U3O8, a compound of uranium that has been milled into a fine powder before it is shipped off to be refined for use in nuclear reactors.
National Post 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Planning
Yesterday aftenoon and evening saw the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on the Localism Bill, the first debate on the Bill since its introduction in Parliament in mid-December. The debate lasted for six hours, and duly ended with the Bill receiving its second reading. Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, asked if localism meant bypassing local authorities or not – the government did not seem to be sure. He asked what would happen if housing and renewable energy targets were not met by the localism measures, and what would happen if local authorities did not co-operate, despite the Bill requiring them to do so (albeit only on sustainable development).
Bircham Dyson Bell 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Electricity Market Reforms
Ofgem has warned MPs that Britain’s energy groups cannot be relied on to invest the £110 billion needed to revolutionise the electricity market. Alistair Buchanan, the regulator’s chief executive, singled out E.ON which may decide to turn its investment plans to the Far East. Questioned at a hearing of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Mr Buchanan said that the Electricity Market Reform Green Paper would have to include carefully crafted incentives to encourage investment. The devil is maybe in the detail,” he said.
Times 19th Jan 2011 more >>
Energy Prices
Energy companies have increased their profits from customers by 50 per cent in the past four months, while Britain endured the coldest December for 120 years. In September, the firms were making £65 annual profit per customer but that figure is now £97 on a typical household energy bill of £1,200.
Telegraph 19th Jan 2011 more >>
Finland
Nuclear power has a preeminent role in the Finnish government’s energy policy. The country’s metal and forestry industries are energy-intensive sectors. A model calling for nuclear power-generated electricity as driving force is intended to secure jobs and the welfare state. Economic stimulus plans and improved competitiveness are the prerequisites for the implementation of the major renewable energy package debated in the parliament this autumn, in connection with budget negotiations. This has been the position of Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs. It has been suggested that these new programs shall take effect in early 2011.
Baltic Worlds 10th Jan 2011 more >>
North Amercia
North America’s much-touted nuclear revival is in jeopardy, but it is not environmental and safety concerns that are undermining it. The industry is finding it increasingly difficult to make the economic case in both Canada and the United States. The enormous capital cost of building reactors is just one factor holding back the long-promised nuclear renaissance. Just as critical is the risk that already high costs will balloon as companies build new-generation plants that must be able to withstand the impact of a terrorist crashing an airliner into one.
Globe Advisor 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Poland
A governmental dispute over the costs of Poland’s nuclear power program could delay the country’s first nuclear plant, according to a report Monday. The daily Rzeczpospolita said Poland’s finance minister, Jacek Rostowski, has criticized the high cost of the economy ministry’s estimated Zloty 840 million ($289 million) nuclear program. Rostowski wants to cut all costs where possible to reduce Poland’s budget deficit. “Minister Rostowski questions the costs and does not view the matter favorably,” a source from the economy ministry told the daily. Poland’s cabinet is due Tuesday to discuss a nuclear power legal package, which amends the nuclear power law and establishes legislation regulating the investment. The package, which must be approved by the government and parliament, is key to Poland being able to start the process to select the nuclear technology. It was supposed to have been accepted before the end of 2010.
Platts 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Iran
Iran and the P5+1 countries (United States, Britain, France, China and Russia and Germany) will meet on 20 January for another round of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme. Many will be wondering whether the talks will produce a breakthrough but the chances of that happening are low. The reason is simple: in the short term, the rewards of compromise by either side are less than the cost.
Guardian 19th Jan 2011 more >>
The United States was advised to adopt a policy of “covert sabotage” of Irans clandestine nuclear facilities, including computer hacking and “unexplained explosions”, by an influential German thinktank, a leaked US embassy cable reveals.
Guardian 19th Jan 2011 more >>
The West is “hyping” the perceived nuclear threat from Iran, the former head of the UN atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei said in an interview Tuesday.
Middle East Online 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
The first NIS Update for 2011 includes news about the costs of long-lead contract items for the Trident replacement programme; nuclear safety concerns which are highlighted in high level Ministry of Defence reports released under the Freedom of Information Act; and the latest phase of consultation on the Ministry of Defence’s Submarine Dismantling Project. There’s also a summary of what’s been happening at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, where the Chief Executive and Finance Director have resigned and a Warning Letter has been issued over a pollution incident at AWE Burghfield
Nuclear Information Service 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Renewables
The coalition government has pledged that nuclear power will receive no taxpayer subsidies. But it can receive financial support by other means which are subsidies in all but name. So what support is there for deep geothermal projects? Nothing. As Tim Smit – founder of the Eden project where one of just two projects in the UK is sited – put it last night at a Renewable Energy Association event in Westminster: “I’d like the same ‘lack of support’ the government is giving to nuclear.” Geothermal energy has been tapped in the UK since Roman times, via the hot springs at Bath and elsewhere. Shallow geothermal projects – such as ground source heat pumps – are slowly growing. But even Decc’s own and very conservative estimate is that deep geothermal – a few kilometres down – could provide 10% of the UK’s electricity.
Guardian (blog) 18th Jan 2011 more >>
The government’s controversial Localism bill received its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday and looks set to move to the committee stage before the end of the month, despite growing fears that the legislation will result in serious delays to renewable energy projects and make it far easier for Nimby groups to oppose new wind farm proposals.
Business Green 18th Jan 2011 more >>
The coalition government has talked a lot about decentralisation and supporting small-scale local projects. The preface to DECC’s Microgeneration Strategy consultation says: ‘There will be a role for small-scale electricity producers in homes, schools, offices and factories around the country to complement the substantial new investments needed in large-scale Carbon Capture and Storage, nuclear and renewable electricity such as offshore wind; a new supply of locally-produced power that spreads the risk and can help make us all more self-reliant. And there will be a step-change in the use of renewable micro-technologies such as heat pumps, as we tackle the single biggest cause of greenhouse gas emissions, the heating our homes.’ However, overall, the government does not seem to see community-scale projects as very significant. The new revised National Policy Statement on Energy says: ‘The government does not believe that decentralized and community energy systems are likely to lead to significant replacement of larger-scale infrastructure.’ Despite the fact that EST says Community-scale projects could economically meet 4.3% of total UK energy demands if householders were to act collectively. That’s 13% of total annual UK household energy demands.
Environmental Research Web 15th Jan 2011 more >>
