US
The atomic energy industry has suffered another astonishing defeat. Because of it, 2010 again left the “nuclear renaissance” in the Dark Age that defines the technology. But an Armageddon-style battle looms when Congress returns next year.
Alternet 29th Dec 20120 more >>
Proliferation
Ukraine has sent a “significant portion” of its highly enriched uranium stock to Russia, in line with a deal with the United States aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism. Kiev, which gave up the nuclear weapons it inherited when the Soviet Union collapsed, agreed with Washington in April to get rid of the stocks entirely by 2012, and convert its civilian nuclear research facilities to operate with low enriched uranium.
Scotsman 1st Jan 2011 more >>
Korea
NORTH KOREA yesterday welcomed the New Year with a call for better ties with rival South Korea, warning that war “will bring nothing but a nuclear Holocaust”. Despite calls in its annual New Year’s message for a Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons, the communist North, which has conducted two nuclear tests since 2006, also said its military was ready for “prompt, merciless and annihilatory action”
Scotland on Sunday 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Belfast Telegraph 1st Jan 2011 more >>
Jordan
Jordan is to enter the nuclear age with the announcement on 9 December that construction of its first nuclear research and training reactor will begin by February next year. The Jordan Centre for Nuclear Research, which will host the reactor, will be built at the Jordan University of Science and Technology, about 70 kilometres north of Amman.
Oil Price 31st Dec 2010 more >>
Submarines
A second massive section of a nuclear submarine reactor is being cut up in the Westcountry, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. A storm of protest erupted two years ago when the Western Morning News revealed that a 28-ton irradiated reactor part from HMS Victorious was being sliced into smaller pieces at Devonport dockyard in Plymouth. Although nuclear regulators said the work posed no risk to the public or environment, and the Ministry of Defence stressed it was not part of a long-term project to dispose of decommissioned submarines, outraged campaigners accused the MoD of ignoring public opposition to any nuclear disposal work in the city. It has now emerged that another reactor head from the Devonport-based hunter-killer submarine HMS Trenchant, which was removed during a refit in 2001, is currently being cut up in the dockyard. The MoD said two similar sections – known as reactor pressure vessel closure heads – from HMS Talent and HMS Vigilant were “awaiting disposal”, although arrangements for that work are “not yet finalised”.
This is Devon 1st Jan 2011 more >>
Microgeneration
This week Micro Power News is now available. The news this week is dominated by proposals for solar farms and concerns that the Government is planning to cut them off from the feed-in tariff.
Microgen Scotland 31st Dec 2010 more >>
Energy Efficiency
Big property firms are cutting costs and attracting tenants by giving buildings a green overhaul, making them more energy efficient.
Sunday Times 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Solar Power
Cornwall has given the go-ahead to what will be one of Britain’s first large-scale solar farms. Small investors are likely to finance it. Councillors approved a planning application just before Christmas for a 25-acre solar array on part of the Lanhydrock National Trust estate near Bodmin. The five megawatt station will be the largest built so far in Britain.
Sunday Times 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Shale Gas
Substantial deposits of shale gas have been found near Blackpool in Lancashire and later this month the exploration company Cuadrilla Resources will carry out a test using the controversial “fracking” technique, which is designed to unlock gas molecules trapped in hard rock, rather than those which have gathered into easily exploitable pockets or reservoirs. Campaigners say the controversial new technique for drilling gas wells has polluted water courses in America.
Independent on Sunday 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
Municipal Waste
Thousands of tons of food are being needlessly buried or burned as councils across the UK fail to meet recommendations on how to deal with biodegradable waste. An Independent on Sunday survey of local authorities has revealed that while the vast majority collect garden waste for composting, less than half pick up food waste separately from general household rubbish.
As a result, food waste that could be used for composting or to generate power is being sent for landfill or incineration. But there is growing opposition to the spread of a new generation of incinerators across the UK. More than 80 sites have been earmarked as part of a so-called “dash for ash”, which could see the amount of household waste that is burnt more than double.
Independent on Sunday 2nd Jan 2011 more >>
