New Nuclear
Nuclear advocates must be admired for their optimism if nothing else, writes Mark Diesendorf. Disregarding over half a century of evidence that nuclear power is dangerous, expensive, enables the spread of nuclear weapons, and produces wastes we still don’t know what to do with. Nuclear advocates are fond of claiming that nuclear energy has negligible greenhouse gas emissions and hence must play an important role in mitigating climate change. However, the greenhouse case for new nuclear power stations is flawed. In a study published in 2008, nuclear physicist and nuclear energy supporter Manfred Lenzen compared life-cycle emissions from several types of power station. For nuclear energy based on mining high-grade uranium ore, he found average emissions of 60 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour of electricity generation, compared with 10-20 g per kWh for wind and 500-600 g per kWh for gas. Now comes the part that most nuclear proponents try to ignore. The world has, at most, a few decades of high-grade uranium ore reserves left. As ore grades inevitably decline, more diesel fuel is needed to mine and mill the uranium, and so the resulting CO2 emissions rise.
Ecologist 19th May 2015 read more »
Dounreay
The first two vaults of the new low-level waste (LLW) disposal facility at the UK’s Dounreay site has begun accepting waste. Up to four additional vaults could be constructed at the facility.
World Nuclear News 19th May 2015 read more »
Decommissioning
A WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff consortium has won a new four-year contract to provide specialist nuclear services to Radioactive Waste Management Ltd (RWM) and its parent organisation, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff will work on decommissioning activities across a number of the UK’s nuclear sites. It will provide engineering design, environmental assessments and site characterisation services to support the development of a UK geological disposal facility (GDF). It will also provide support services in the areas of R&D, decommissioning and disposability assessments.
Construction Index 20th May 2015 read more »
Politics
Amber Rudd is the Government’s new climate and energy boss. She may well have the toughest job in politics – but the prize for success is huge. So what should her priorities be for her first year in charge?
FoE 14th May 2015 read more »
From wind farm curbs to fracking boom: what does the Conservative government have in store for the energy sector? BusinessGreen looks at the key challenges facing the low carbon energy sector over the course of the next five years. Any developer of a major infrastructure project will tell you that 2020 was already yesterday in investment terms. Offshore wind farms, nuclear power plants and fracking wells take years to plan, secure consent, mobilise investment, and then build. Investors are required to stump up the cash based on returns that could take over half a decade to first materialise and will then be spread over 20 to 40 years. Understandably, developers and investors tend to be extremely wary of changes to the policy and investment climate that could see projects that have been in planning for years scuppered at the last minute. Sadly the kind of long-term stability investors long for often runs counter to the short term demands placed on politicians, who even now will be thinking about how to win the next election. The tension between long and short term pressures is likely to define the energy sector once again over the course of this parliament, as the newly appointed DECC team strives to mobilise long term investment and keep the UK on its decarbonisation path, while avoiding the short term political pitfalls that stand in its path. Its success or failure will likely be determined by its ability to balance competing demands on a number of fronts.
Business Green 19th May 2015 read more »
Today’s entry reports on the possible removal of onshore wind farms from the Planning Act 2008 regime. The new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd MP, has been speaking to the press about implementing manifesto commitments on onshore wind and fracking. ‘Under current planning rules, big onshore wind farms are handled by a central Government quango which has the powers to over-ride the wishes of local people.’ This is clearly a reference to the Planning Act 2008 regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), which includes onshore wind farms with a capacity of over 50MW (i.e. at least 17 3MW turbines). While it is a quango (the Planning Inspectorate) that ‘handles’ the applications, it cannot not ‘override the wishes of local people’ as it does not take the decisions on applications. Who does the overriding, in fact? None other than the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, albeit to date Ms Rudd’s predecessor, Lib Dem Ed Davey. He was guided by the National Policy Statement (NPS) that says that all forms of electricity generation are urgently needed. How will the return to local control be achieved? Ms Rudd later says ‘local planning authorities combined with no new subsidies will put local people in charge‘, I therefore interpret ‘local people having the final say’ as allowing local planning authorities to give consent to these projects, which they already do for wind farms that aren’t NSIPs, i.e. the 99% that are are 50MW capacity or below.
BDB Law 19th May 2015 read more »
Energy Markets
This paper examines the policies, regulations, rules and incentives governing gas and electricity suppliers in Great Britain (GB) from the perspective of how far these have served to facilitate or prevent a shift towards a more sustainable energy system. The precise context is the desirability of a fundamental shift in the underlying design of the energy system from the supply to the demand side. This paper focuses just on the governance of gas and electricity suppliers, defined as incumbents or independents, in order to explore in detail how their practices enable or constrain greater demand management and how these outcomes relate to energy governance.
IGov 19th May 2015 read more »
EDF & Areva
EDF, the world’s biggest operator of nuclear power plants, is planning to make a bid for the reactor business of Areva in the next few weeks, EDF’s chief executive said on Tuesday, confirming that a reorganization of France’s nuclear industry was at hand. “There’s a certain logic” to a deal for the reactor unit, Areva NP, Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF’s chairman and chief executive, told shareholders at his company’s annual general meeting. Areva, he noted, “is in a fragile state.” EDF, also known as Électricité de France, is France’s main power utility and much larger than Areva, having posted revenue of 73 billion euros, or $83 billion, last year, compared with Areva’s €8.3 billion. That should give it the financial muscle needed to design and build multibillion-dollar nuclear projects.
New York Times 19th May 2015 read more »
Electricite de France SA plans an imminent offer to take control of Areva SA’s unprofitable nuclear-reactor unit, according to Chief Executive Officer Jean-Bernard Levy.
Bloomberg 18th May 2015 read more »
French utility EDF plans to offer to buy the nuclear reactor business of fellow state-controlled group Areva, EDF Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy said on Tuesday, giving few clues on the possible price. The French government has been pushing to find a solution to deep problems in the country’s once-mighty nuclear sector. Hit by lower demand for nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011, the French industry has also suffered from strategic errors and the rise of new competitors. Areva has lost money for four successive years.
Reuters 19th May 2015 read more »
FT 19th May 2015 read more »
Japan
The Fukui District Court has rejected Kansai Electric Power Co.’s appeal of a ruling that prevents the utility from restarting two reactors at its Takahama plant in Fukui Prefecture, according to Tadashi Matsuda, a representative for the plaintiffs who won the case. The court dismissal was decided Monday but not announced to the media. A court official declined to comment when contacted Tuesday. Kansai Electric representatives couldn’t be reached for comment. The Fukui District Court issued an injunction in April preventing the utility from moving ahead with plans to restart the reactors.
Japan Times 19th May 2015 read more »
US – Nuclear Fuel
A group of US electric utilities has formally expressed interest in Lightbridge Corporation’s novel metallic fuel design to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. In a letter to the regulator dated 14 April, the Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board (NUFAB) said it believed the fuel provided opportunities to improve safety and fuel cycle economics significantly. NUFAB’s members include Dominion, Duke Energy, Exelon and Southern Nuclear, and together they represent nearly half of the country’s nuclear generating capacity. The NRC uses such communications to help in forward planning its staffing levels and budgets in anticipation of licensing applications reviews. Lightbridge’s metallic fuel is made from a zirconium-uranium (Zr-U) alloy and uses a unique composition with a multi-lobed and helically twisted rod geometry. The design offers improved heat transfer properties, enabling it to operate at a higher power density than uranium oxide fuels in use today.
World Nuclear News 19th May 2015 read more »
Saudi Arabia
A Saudi defense official on Tuesday dismissed as “speculation” a media report that Saudi Arabia is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan amid growing fears of a nuclear-armed Iran. The Sunday Times of London reported that the Saudis had “taken the ‘strategic decision’ to acquire ‘off-the-shelf’ atomic weapons from Pakistan,” citing unnamed senior American officials.
CNN 19th May 2015 read more »
Trident
Kate Hudson: The revelations about conditions at Faslane and the security of Britain’s nuclear weapons should worry us all – and underline why Britain should lose its nukes.
New Statesman 19th May 2015 read more »
What does it take for a 25-year-old able seaman, as he himself put it, to sacrifice everything – “a good career, a chance to be a millionaire by selling the information, my life savings, my freedom, quality time with family and friends, possibly my life?” We may soon find out if, that is, the Ministry of Defence and police do not simply treat William McNeilly, a crew member on one of Britain’s Trident ballistic-missile submarines, simply as an irresponsible young man motivated only by personal grievances. In an 18-page memo posted on the internet, titled The Secret Nuclear Threat, McNeilly alleges a catalogue of safety and security problems, which, he says, amount to a “disaster waiting to happen”.
Guardian 18th May 2015 read more »
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) calls today for an independent inquiry to be urgently held on the serious allegations published in the „Sunday Herald‟) by Able Seaman William McNeilly of security lapses and key breaches of health and safety on Trident submarines based at Faslane.
NFLA 18th May 2015 read more »
A Royal Navy whistleblower who released documents stating that the UK’s Trident system is a “nuclear catastrophe” which “almost certainly will happen” has handed himself into police after evading authorities.
The Drum 19th May 2015 read more »
Express 19th May 2015 read more »
Daily Mail 19th May 2015 read more »
Local Energy
Western Isles Council is looking for a private sector partner to help it further develop the proposals for their Outer Hebrides energy supply company. The contract is to develop a business plan and Heads of Commercial Terms which would form the basis for a final agreement to be in place by the end of Summer 2015, by which time an energy supply company should be fully incorporated as an independent entity. The requirement is to enable the council to enter into an agreement with a UK licensed supplier to develop a durable, competitive electricity tariff which could be offered to the local community. The Western Isles suffer from some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK. Deadline for bids is by 30 June 2015.
Scottish Energy News 20th May 2015 read more »
Renewables – Onshore Wind
A leading Scottish renewables energy company has called for new UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd to provide greater clarity – and dispel continued confusion – surrounding the proposed Conservative majority-government ban on onshore wind subsidies. Following her taking over the reins from wind advocate Ed Davey, Rudd has spoken of her commitment to securing a binding worldwide carbon agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in late 2015, calling it “one of the most important things I am going to do this year”. Paul McCullagh, Chief Executive of Glasgow-based turbine developer Urban Wind, said: “Amber Rudd’s initial priorities for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) seem to be completely at odds with each other. “While she must be commended for showing a real commitment to securing a global climate deal, to follow this by suggesting the complete withdrawal of support for one of our cheapest and deployable green energy technologies seems totally self-defeating.
Scottish Energy News 20th May 2015 read more »
When is a wind farm subsidy not a subsidy? Questions remain over whether the government will be able to scrap Contract for Difference support for onshore wind farms. The government has refused to confirm further details relating to its plan to end subsidies for new onshore wind farms, raising questions over the extent and legality of its plans to curb future development of one of the UK’s most cost-effective sources of renewable energy. The new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd, told the Sunday Times this weekend she hoped an end to subsidies for new onshore wind farm projects would be announced in the Queen’s Speech at the end of this month and come into force from May 2016.
Business Green 19th May 2015 read more »
Renewables – Tidal
A unique renewable energy scheme involving underwater “kite-turbines” is being launched off the coast of north Wales. As part of the £25m project, 20 turbines will be anchored off Anglesey and when fully operational should generate enough electricity to power 8,000 homes. Initially 30 jobs will be created but if the system works well, the Swedish company behind it, Minesto, believes hundreds more could follow. The Welsh government is keen to promote wave and tidal energy and find ways of bringing skilled jobs to places like Anglesey. Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones said: “This will not only help create greener and more efficient sources of energy, but will also create jobs and vital op portunities for growth in north Wales.”
Guardian 20th May 2015 read more »
Energy Efficiency
All of today’s buildings will need to be renovated by 2050, doubling the current building renovation rate. To promote low energy innovation in building and refurbishment in order to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, we need to set up new intermediary actors (politically and financially neutral bodies, energy service companies with system focus, etc.) driving for change and to empower existing actors to take on roles as low energy intermediaries.
Sussex Energy Group 19th May 2015 read more »
The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has called for more clarity from the Conservative government on its energy efficiency policy, and for a review of the Green Deal. The EUA’s chief executive Mike Foster told Utility Week that the Conservative’s election manifesto was “sparse in detail”, but welcomed the certainty a single party government will bring to the industry. The Conservative manifesto only mentioned energy efficiency twice, pledging to “bring energy efficiency measures to over one million homes” during the next five years, but giving little detail on how this will be done. In addition, Foster said a review of why the Green Deal failed to deliver meaningful change should also be undertaken.
Utility Week 18th May 2015 read more »
Fossil Fuels
Staff at a major power station on the West and North Yorkshire border have been told the plant will stop generating and close in March 2016. People working at the Ferrybridge C power station were called to a meeting with managers on Tuesday afternoon and told the news.
BBC 19th May 2015 read more »
Independent 20th May 2015 read more »
Weak coal pollution standards being considered by the EU could result in 71,000 preventable deaths across Europe, due to increased risk of stroke, heart disease, asthma and other illnesses associated with air pollution.
Greenpeace 20th May 2015 read more »
Guardian 20th May 2015 read more »
Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande have pledged to strive for an end to fossil fuel pollution as part of a “profound transformation” of the global economy this century. The leaders of the EU’s two largest economies said they had “firmly decided to take all efforts to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and binding” global climate deal at a UN meeting of almost 200 countries in Paris in December. “We will strive to decarbonise fully the global economy over the course of this century,” the German and French leaders said in a joint statement in Berlin after talks with other country representatives ahead of the Paris summit. World leaders have been reluctant until now to spell out so clearly the idea of including a goal to end carbon emissions in the Paris agreement, a move some analysts say could mark a turning point in th e decades-old UN climate talks.
FT 19th May 2015 read more »
Public opposition to fracking in the UK has continued to rise, according to polling released as the new Conservative energy secretary said she would “deliver shale” now the impediment of the Liberal Democrats had been removed. In her first interview since being appointed, Amber Rudd told the Sunday Times the government would push ahead with its promises to expedite the extraction of shale gas and change the law to allow frackers to drill beneath national parks. But YouGov polling, commissioned by the newspaper, showed support for fracking has dwindled to just 32% in the last 18 months – a fall of 12 percentage points. Meanwhile, opposition rose to 43%, up from 29%.
Guardian 19th May 2015 read more »
