Energy Policy
Andrew Simms: Choosing the best possible future means considering radical scenarios that align energy use and industry with climate action. The good news – according to the World Energy Council (WEC) – is that, per person, our energy demand is set to peak before 2030. Of course, there will be more of us around by then too, so that total demand will only slow, rather than level out. A heady whiff of technological optimism accompanies the explanation that this will happen because of “unprecedented efficiencies created by new technologies and more stringent energy policies”. The bad news is that under the scenarios drawn up by the WEC, even keeping to the upper target agreed in Paris of global warming no greater than 2C will require an “exceptional and enduring effort” that goes beyond any current commitments and needs a price for coal, oil and gas that is dramatically higher. To sweeten this pill, the WEC gives its scenarios names which must appear funky in the world of energy policy. “Modern jazz” is about shiny, digitally driven markets, the slightly less enthusiastic “Unfinished symphony” is about emerging greener models for growth, while “Hard rock” is a future of both low and grubby growth. The problem with these and many other scenarios that emerge in the mainstream, is the intellectual editing that occurs before they even begin. Most share two overwhelming, linked characteristics that strictly limit any subsequent room for manoeuvre. Firstly the demand for energy itself is seen as something innate, unchallengeable and unmanageable. It must be met, and the only question is how. Secondly, the assumption remains that the principles and practices of the economic model that has dominated for the last 30 years will remain for at least the next 30 years. There is no sign yet of the ferocious challenge to neoliberal orthodoxy happening at the margins of economics shaping mainstream visions of our possible futures. The merest glance at the history of changing ideas suggests this is short-sighted. At the height of the 2008 financial crisis, the UK government promised to “go beyond the conventional thinking” to put things right. It never did, but with the climate crisis there is no choice. Conventional thinking is off-course and contradictory. Without a balanced, comparative assessment of strategies to align energy use and industry with inescapable climate action, we won’t be able to choose the best possible future. I’m glad to say that work like this is beginning to happen at places such as the University of Leeds’ centre for industrial energy, materials and products. It’s going to mean telling better stories of change, rewriting rules and breaking ideological chains all around, but hey, that’s jazz.
Guardian 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Capenhurst
Firefighters at the Capenhurst nuclear site will go on strike for 25 hours next week in a fight for their jobs. Coincidentally, 25 male and female emergency response and rescue staff at the Urenco uranium enrichment plant are at risk of redundancy. The GMB union says the strike will run between 6am on Wednesday (October 26) and 7am the next day.
Chester Chronicle 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Cumbria
The first Cumbria Nuclear Conference hosted by MP John Stevenson in Carlisle on Thursday 22 September was a clear success and a milestone for the region, for at least three reasons. Firstly, it made a significant impact. Secondly, it brought Cumbria together. The location of the conference in Carlisle, away from traditional nuclear venues on the west coast, indicated its intention to scrutinise the impact and potential that the nuclear sector has on the whole county. Finally, it opened Cumbria’s potential to the world. A concurrent theme was the global renaissance of the nuclear industry, and everyone agreed that Cumbria plays a central role in this rebirth.
In Cumbria 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Utilities
Good Energy has promised to freeze its gas and electricity prices until at least March 2017.
Utility Week 19th Oct 2016 read more »
EDF
The company building Britain’s first nuclear power station for 21 years has been ordered to shut down five more reactors in France for emergency tests. The order from the French Nuclear Safety Agency is a further blow to the finances and reputation of EDF, the state-owned company behind plans to build an £18 billion nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. It brings to 12 the total number of French reactors being examined by experts to determine whether they contain hidden weaknesses in their reactor pressure vessels, a key component that houses the reactor. Theresa May approved plans for Hinkley Point, which will generate 7 per cent of Britain’s electricity, last month, despite intense criticism of the high price tag and concerns about EDF’s reactor technology. The safety agency’s order for EDF to shut reactors at Civaux, Fessenheim, Gravelines and Tricastin for tests has also sparked concerns that the group, the world’s biggest nuclear generator, may struggle to meet French demand for electricity this winter. Nuclear power provides nearly 80 per cent of the country’s electricity. French power prices hit a four-year high yesterday amid fears of a supply crunch. Experts also warned of a possible impact on the UK, which imports French electricity during periods of high demand in January and February.
Times 20th Oct 2016 read more »
The French nuclear safety authority has requested five of EDF’s nuclear power units are taken offline for additional inspections on their steam generators within the next three months. The steel in parts of those components has been found to contain high concentrations of carbon. The upper and bottom heads of the reactor pressure vessel for the EPR under construction at Flamanville 3 were manufactured at Areva’s Le Creusot facility in September 2006 and January 2007, respectively. A high carbon content in those parts prompted Areva to review the company’s quality management process in 2015 for some 400 heavy steel components made at the Creusot Forge plant since 1965.
World Nuclear News 19th Oct 2016 read more »
A string of unscheduled nuclear reactor closures at French nuclear power utility EDF show France needs spare generating capacity instead of phasing out nuclear plants, opposition energy expert Herve Mariton said on Wednesday. Mariton, an ally of leading opposition presidential candidate Alain Juppe and a prominent energy specialist in the conservative Les Republicains party, also said he saw no reason to reduce the share of nuclear in France’s electricity mix. French nuclear watchdog ASN on Tuesday ordered EDF to close five more nuclear reactors before year-end to check the resilience of the steel in their steam generators. EDF now has 20 of its 58 nuclear reactors halted for maintenance or inspection, forcing the country to import the equivalent of the production of about four nuclear plants from neighbouring countries. Mariton rejected the Socialist government’s plan to close EDF’s ageing Fessenheim nuclear plant when its new reactor opens in Flamanville in 2018, as the country needs reserve capacity.
Reuters 19th Oct 2016 read more »
The French day-ahead power contract price on Wednesday jumped to its highest in four years on concerns that nuclear power supply from utility EDF will lag rising demand as the weather gets colder in coming weeks. Persistent doubts over EDF’s ability to meet French and wider European electricity demand for winter has roiled markets, pushing spot and forward power prices to new highs.
Daily Mail 19th Oct 2016 read more »
France’s Nuclear Safety Authority has ordered the country’s EDF utility to conduct checkups at five nuclear reactors ahead of their scheduled maintenance tests, citing potential weakness in critical parts manufactured by a Japanese company, French media reported Tuesday.
Japan Times 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Areva
French Areva is struggling to find a buyer for its new nuclear fuel unit, analysts and sources said, a key condition for the European Union to clear a state rescue package for the group, hit by years of losses. Experts say third-party investment would prove to the European Commission that the new nuclear fuel group is a viable enterprise in which a savvy investor is willing to invest but so far, progress has been slow. Any buyer would be taking on Areva’s financial problems and its poor record of building reactors on time and on budget. The nuclear industry has also seen a steep downturn in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Reuters 19th Oct 2016 read more »
AP1000
Toshiba-Westinghouse AP1000 New Nuclear Power Station Piping Defects Appear Never-Ending; Any Part You Want, As Long as It’s Defective? On September 29th, the US NRC reported piping deviations for the Vogtle AP 1000 “two flanges identified with deviations on Passive Core Cooling System pipe spools for the Vogtle Unit 3 AP1000r project had incorrect raised-face dimensions. This appears to have been caused by the two flanges being transposed due to an inadvertent fabrication error that occurred at the pipe spool supplier’s facilities (CB&I Laurens). The error was subsequently discovered after delivery to the fabrication facility (Aecon Industrial).” And, what does this mean? Did they replace it? Or? An expert assures me that this means that they did the equivalent of forcing a door shut, which doesn’t want to go. It should have been replaced rather than corrected: “The flange configuration was corrected and the Q223 Mechanical Module was delivered to the Vogtle Unit 3 site…” Thus, Aecon is potentially producing defective “modules” in Canada. Greenberry of Vancouver, Washington has also made defective modules: The Greenberry facility seems to be in Oregon.
Mining Awareness 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Germany
The German government has presented a landmark bill on splitting up the multibillion euro cost of storing thousands of tonnes of nuclear waste, a critical element of the country’s efforts to deal with its nuclear legacy. Berlin decided after the 2011 Fukushima disaster to switch off all its nuclear power stations by 2022, and has been trying to figure out ever since who should bear the cost of the shutdown and subsequent clean-up, which is expected to total 48bn euros. The bill presented on Wednesday confirms that the operators of Germany’s nuclear power stations – the utilities Eon, RWE, Vattenfall and EnBW – will pick up the tab for decommissioning and dismantling their reactors. But the state will now take over financial responsibility for stor ing the waste they have produced. However, in doing so, it will be reliant on funds provided by the utilities. They have set aside a total of 17.4bn euros to deal with the issue, which they will now transfer into a new state-controlled fund.
FT 20th Oct 2016 read more »
Deutsche Welle 19th Oct 2016 read more »
The Local 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Bulgaria
Bulgarian prosecutors charged former economy and energy minister Petar Dimitrov on Wednesday with losing 77 million euros ($86 million) of state money in an equipment sale to Russia’s Atomstroyexport related to a canceled nuclear project. Bulgaria canceled the 10-billion-euro Belene project on the Danube River in 2012, after failing to find foreign investors and under pressure from Brussels and Washington to limit its energy dependence on Russia. Dimitrov, 67, was economy and energy minister from 2007 to 2009. Prosecutors said he failed to stop NEK signing a deal with Russia’s Atomstroyexport that cost the state 77 million euros ($86 million) in losses.
Reuters 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Slovakia
Slovakia’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority said on Wednesday the expected completion of a third block at the Mochovce nuclear power plant had been delayed by a year to November 2017. The fourth block should be finished a year later, in November 2018, the regulator added. The Mochovce plant is run by the country’s biggest electricity producer Slovenske Elektrarne, owned by Italy’s Enel , Czech group EPH, and the Slovak state. The project has faced several delays and cost overruns, partly due to increased security standards following Japan’s Fukushima accident in 2011.
Reuters 19th Oct 2016 read more »
France
France produced the most power from fossil fuels for September in 32 years to help meet demand as nuclear generation dropped. Output from coal and gas plants more than doubled as Paris-based Electricite de France SA was forced to keep reactors offline for inspections. French month-ahead power prices have risen to near the highest since 2009.
Bloomberg 19th Oct 2016 read more »
US
An energy industry coalition including competitive non-nuclear electricity producers sued on Wednesday to oppose a plan to subsidize nuclear power plants in New York State. The lawsuit in federal court said the New York Public Service Commission’s (PSC) plan to raise electric rates across the state by requiring consumers to pay for zero emission credits (ZECs), infringes illegally into federal regulators’ territory. The coalition said in a statement that the litigation was “solely to save several New York nuclear plants that, allegedly, can no longer compete successfully in the federally-regulated wholesale electric power market.” The subsidies were part of an effort to keep the nuclear reactors, which produce almost no emissions, operating at a time of low prices for power and natural gas, an alternative generator fuel.
Reuters 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Renewables – wind
The Scottish government has approved plans for a new 19-turbine wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills between East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. Economy Secretary Keith Brown granted consent for Community Windpower’s Aikengall IIa project. Scottish Borders Council and East Lothian Council both opposed the project due to its landscape impact. Mr Brown said it could generate community funds and support job creation and approved the scheme.
BBC 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Herald 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Public support for onshore windfarms is far higher than widely believed, according to a new opinion poll, even in rural areas. Wind turbines are also far more popular than fracking or nuclear power, contrasting with the UK government’s decision to block onshore windfarms but back shale gas exploration and new nuclear power plants. The ComRes poll, conducted for climate change charity 10:10, found that 73% of the British public supported onshore windfarms, with just 17% opposed, and the rest not sure. Strong support remained even when only considering the views of those from rural areas, who might live near windfarms: 65% support versus 25% against.
Guardian 20th Oct 2016 read more »
Renewables – solar
A company founded as a “spin-out” from the University of Oxford has received a new equity investment of £8.7m, as it aims to accelerate the commercialisation of a solar cell that could boost the performance of photovoltaics by 30%. Oxford Photovoltaics (Oxford PV) latest investment has seen the total equity raised over the last 18 months reach £21.3m, and the funding will be used on a “breakthrough” perovskite technology which is applied as a thin-film layer to silicon solar cells. Further investment is also expected before the end of 2016.
Edie 19th Oct 2016 read more »
A Deutsche Bank report has predicted “sharp declines” in US solar module and inverter prices that it says could drive payback periods down to less than five years and spark a “final ‘gold rush’” in the American residential, commercial and industrial markets, starting in 2017. “We expect the final “gold rush” in the US market to begin in 2017. Our view is also supported by the strong pipeline of utility scale-solar projects – we estimate roughly 8GW of solar projects under development in Texas and 31GW in the entire US.
Renew Economy 20th Oct 2016 read more »
Renewables – Scotland
Scotland’s renewable energy industry displaced the production of 13 million tonnes of CO2 last year, a rise of 10% new figures show. But the head of the industry body warned that the sector’s future was “far less certain” as the UK government is set to rule out onshore wind and solar power from the next rounds of auctions to supply power. Environmental groups urged governments to up renewables targets for all energy production, including heating and transport, to maintain progress in the sector. The new statistic on the record rise in renewable electricity production came in a written answer from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Scottish Renewables said. The body’s chief executive Niall Stuart, speaking ahead of a Westminster reception in London last night, called for “supportive policies” to help grow the sector. He said: “These new figures show the ever-growing contribution of renewable energy to the fight against climate change.
Energy Voice 20th Oct 2016 read more »
Demand Management
A new National Grid pilot to encourage energy intensive firms to use more energy when wind and solar technologies are generating excess power has been labelled a success, with the grid operator indicating it will likely look to double the scheme’s size next year. On sunny weekends and windy evenings during the summer months grid generation regularly outstrips demand for energy. Rather than curtail clean energy generation, National Grid’s Demand Turn-Up (DTU) scheme, which ran for the first time this summer in the UK between May and September, paid large energy users to increase their energy use or curb their use of on-site energy sources to use up the excess power.
Business Green 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Fossil Fuels
The battle being fought for the future of the oil industry, between America’s upstart shale sector and the old-school Opec cartel, was laid bare yesterday when the leader of the world’s biggest oil company locked horns with Saudi Arabia’s energy minister. Only minutes after Khalid al-Falih, the influential Saudi energy minister, had told industry figures in London that falling investment could create big challenges, Rex Tillerson dismissed warnings of an impending supply crunch and said it was “difficult to see” how the world might face a shortage over the coming years. Amid warnings that global supplies could fall as short as ten million barrels per day by 2020, the chief executive of ExxonMobil argued that North American shale production had changed the game and would be able to tackle a shortage.
“I don’t quite share the same view others have that we are somehow on the edge of a precipice,” he said. “I think because we have confirmed viability of very large resource base in North America, that serves as enormous spare capacity in the system. It doesn’t take mega-project dollars and it can be brought on line much more quickly than a three to four-year project.”
Times 20th Oct 2016 read more »
Scientists have accidentally discovered a way to reverse the combustion process, turning carbon dioxide back into a fuel. Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US used complex nanotechnology techniques to turn the dissolved gas into ethanol. Because the materials used are relatively cheap, they believe the process could be used in industrial processes, for example to store excess electricity generated by wind and solar power. The researchers had hoped the technique would turn carbon dioxide into methanol, but ethanol came out instead.
Independent 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Groups representing Britain’s 600,000 doctors and health professionals say it is “imperative” to phase out coal rapidly to improve health and reduce NHS costs. The doctors and nurses say tackling outdoor air pollution from traffic and power stations would cut climate emissions, reduce air pollution, and deliver a powerful boost to the nation’s health.”Climate change and air pollution are both major health threats,” says the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change in a report. “They share a common driver: the combustion of fossil fuels. Pollution from coal plants alone costs the UK as much as £3.1bn each year in human health impacts” The group of 15 health bodies includes seven royal colleges of medicine and the British Medical Association. Pollution from coal plants causes many serious health conditions including stroke, coronary heart disease and lung cancer. It disproportionally affects children and kills more people than road accidents , says the report.
Guardian 19th Oct 2016 read more »
Climate
The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) is an anti-climate policy advocacy group in the UK that often releases misleading scientific “reports.” The group also hosts annual lectures, and this year, they booked a room at the Royal Society. Many members of the Royal Society expressed concern that the GWPF would exploit the organization’s credibility, and asked that the event be cancelled. The Royal Society’s governing council met and decided to allow the event to proceed, for fear that cancellation would give it “an unwarranted higher profile.” As a spokesperson for the Royal Society told DeSmog UK: The evidence shows us that the earth is warming and that recent warming is largely caused by human activities. Once that is accepted, there is scope for debate on the policy responses and that is the area that the GWPF claims to be interested in. If the GWPF uses this opportunity to misrepresent the scientific evidence it would undermine the legitimacy of its views on policy responses to climate change.
Guardian 19th Oct 2016 read more »
