British Energy
GDF Suez, the French utility giant, has declared its interest in the UK nuclear energy market despite ruling out a bid for British Energy. Unveiling GDF Suez’s interim results yesterday, chief executive and chairman Gerard Mestrallet said: “On British Energy, we are not interested in acquiring the company and have stopped all talks.”
Telegraph 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Guardian 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Proliferation
William Hague noted that the removal of technological barriers and a globe-spanning black market have improved the availability of WMDs, both for rogue states and terrorists.
Spectator 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Radwaste
Letter from Rachel Western & Pete Wilkinson: We are puzzled by Professor Gordon MacKerron’s view that, in the light of the Environment Agency’s research, we should dispose of waste as quickly as possible. Buried drums would immediately become saturated as ground water inundated the disposal facility, so any soluble radioactivity would readily be carried away towards drinking water supplies and surface crops. Whereas drums stored above ground are accessible and can therefore easily be repackaged, a process that would not be possible for wastes cemented into a leaking repository half a mile underground. It is imperative that the implications of a hurried and potentially irreversible approach to the decisions concerning nuclear waste are fully appreciated in order that the wellbeing of people in the future is not put in jeopardy.
Independent on Sunday 31st Aug 2008 more >>
Scottish Renewables
A new generation of large hydroelectric dams and smaller plants across the Highlands could produce enough clean energy for more than half a million homes, a ministerial taskforce has estimated. A report published today by Scottish ministers suggests that up to 128 new dams and scores of smaller schemes powered by the natural flow of a river could be built across the western and southern Highlands, generating enough electricity for a quarter of Scotland’s homes. Scottish executive officials said this would be a “significant step forward” to meeting the Scottish National party’s ambitions of generating half the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Guardian 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Microgeneration
The German energy company RWE, owner of npower, said yesterday it was spending £6m on a minority stake in the British wind turbine maker Quiet Revolution. Quiet Revolution specialises in small-scale, vertical-axis turbines that are more suitable for use in built-up areas than more conventional turbines. The company’s flagship product, the QR5, can produce up to six kilowatts of power. The triple-helix-shaped wind turbines are five metres high and just over three metres wide.
Guardian 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Nuclear Tests
Weather data will help scan for nuclear tests and explosions under a tracking system unveiled on Monday by the U.N. weather agency and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO).
Reuters 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Germany
Victory for the CDU in the 2009 general election would more than likely herald a turning point in Germany’s energy policy in favour of an expansion of nuclear power. Given the high fuel tax burden imposed on German consumers, any impact on electricity prices is likely to be marginal. The benefits to the country’s research and development sector could be far more substantial.
Economist 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has asked Germany’s RWE and Belgian Electrabel to improve again their offers for a 49 percent stake in a planned nuclear power plant, Bulgaria’s energy minister said on Monday.
AFX 1st Sept 2008 more >>
Iran
The EU is acutely conscious of its reliance on Russian energy supplies and the need for Russian co-operation on issues such as the Middle East conflict and Iran’s nuclear programme.
FT 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Mr McCain’s confrontational instincts are even more to the fore when it comes to Iran. He has said that the only thing worse than a war with Iran would be a nuclear-armed Iran. Taken at face value – and given what we know of Iran’s nuclear programme – that sounds like a commitment to attack Iran within the first term of a McCain presidency.
FT 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
Iran’s apparent determination to put itself within reach of its own nuclear weapons is one of America’s most difficult foreign problems. Bombing Iran’s suspected nuclear sites – and there might be hundreds – was never attractive, and is not now. But the unfortunately phrased conclusions of the National Intelligence Estimate, published at the end of 2007, allowed Iran to claim the high ground. No option is attractive, but it is at least easier for Bush’s successor, not having branded it part of an “axis of evil”, to consider talking to Iran about mutual interests for security in the region.
Times 2nd Sept 2008 more >>
