New Nukes
Greenpeace launched a judicial review of the Nuclear Power National Policy Statement (NPS), the only challenge made to any of the six energy NPSs after they were designated (brought into force) on 19 July 2011. Greenpeace argued that the designation of the NPS was premature in the light of the Fukushima accident in Japan in March, given that at that time Mike Weightman had only produced an interim report on lessons learned for the UK and suggested that there should be more evidence on flood risk, off-site electricity supply and on-site emergency controls in relation to the eight sites named as potentially suitable for new nuclear reactors. I have recently learnt that back on 12 December 2011, Greenpeace’s challenge was refused, and I understand that it is not taking it any further. I have only seen extracts of Mr Justice Ouseley’s decision, but it appears that he said that essentially the NPS only sets out sites as ‘potentially’ suitable for new nucler reactors. It will be up to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) and the Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) to decide whether they are actually suitable for the purposes of their roles when applications come along. The IPC will decide whether each of the sites is suitable in planning terms, and the ONR, formed last year by a merger of the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Office for Civil Nuclear Security and the UK Safeguards Office) will decide whether they are suitable in safety terms.
Bircham Dyson Bell 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Lawyers working on behalf of campaigning organisation Energy Fair have written to the EU Commission’s Director-General for Competition alleging that new incentives which will be introduced to nuclear operators as part of the Government’s current electricity market reform programme, in addition to seven ‘subsidies’ already in operation, amount to “unlawful state aid for nuclear power and constraint on trade”.
Out-Law 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Hinkley
Yesterday was the deadline for making representations on the application and I have learnt that around 1200 such representations were made. They will be published on the IPC website in due course – this usually takes about a week. I expect Greenpeace will be among the representors. Although most of the representations will be objections, there may well be a few in support of the application.
Bircham Dyson Bell 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Somerset nuclear plant application generates 1,200 comments.
Planning Resource 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Concerns with transport, tourism and accommodation are just some areas that need to be improved in EDF Energy’s planning application for a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C near Burnham-On-Sea.
Burnham-on-sea.com 23rd Jan 2012 more >>
West Somerset Council is calling for a fairer deal for local people and actions to ensure long-term economic prosperity, in its initial response submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC) today (January 23) on EDF Energys proposed development at Hinkley Point C.
eGov Monitor 24th Jan 2012 more >>
How much do you value your peace of mind? One Somerset council has set the price at £9 million a year. Thats how much Sedgemoor District Council believes EDF Energy should pay in return for tolerating two new nuclear reactors nearby, The Times has learnt. Local officials at the council believe residents should be compensated for worrying about the risk however small of falling victim to a Fukushima-style meltdown at nearby Hinkley Point. They will make their case today to a committee of MPs examining energy infrastructure projects. They will say that the money would be used to cut the electricity bills of local residents on the lowest incomes and to fund projects such as new community halls or school buildings.
Times 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Sellafield
A plan to build a plutonium-burning reactor at Sellafield in Cumbria has been rejected by the UK government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Internal emails seen by the Guardian reveal that the NDA regards the reactor technology as immature and commercially unproven. It would also create large amounts of plutonium-contaminated waste and increase the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons, the NDA says. The reactor plan was announced by General Electric (GE) Hitachi in November as a way of converting the UK’s 82-tonne stockpile of plutonium at Sellafield into power. Known as “Prism” (Power Reactor Innovative Small Modular), it is a new design of sodium-cooled fast reactor that is fuelled by plutonium. In an email to GE on 29 November 2011, the NDA’s strategy and technology director, Adrian Simper, said that the two organisations “have struggled to reach a clear agreement on the work necessary to demonstrate credibility, without which neither NDA nor government can consider Prism further in the development of our strategy.”
Guardian 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Rob Edwards 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Reuters 24th Jan 2012 more >>
The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority remains in talks with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to build its Prism fast reactors at Sellafield as a means of managing and disposing of the UKs 84-tonne stockpile of civil plutonium, an NDA spokesman said January 24. NDA spokesman Bill Hamilton described reports in todays Guardian newspaper that the NDA had rejected GE-Hitachis proposals as completely without foundation. Discussions are ongoing, Hamilton told i-NUCLEAR. He said the NDA was prepared to provide financial support to develop the proposals if ongoing discussions demonstrate promise. The GE-Hitachi proposals involve burning the UKs plutonium stockpiles in the Power Reactor Innovative Small Module (Prism) fast reactors. The Guardian newspaper report was based on internal NDA emails released under a Freedom of Information Act request from Cumbria-based nuclear critic Jean McSorley. In the time that has passed since the emails the author references in his story, dialogue between GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and the NDA has developed, and continues to develop, as we are able to share and explain more about PRISM, GEH said in its statement. We are working to demonstrate the advantages of the proposal to the NDA and show why PRISM makes the plutonium more proliferation-resistant than other options and can be readily deployed as soon as the licensing process allows, the spokesman said.
i-Nuclear.com 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Wylfa
I am tired of seeing stickers saying No to Wylfa B. Why does someone not produce some stickers saying Yes to Wylfa B?
Anglesey Today 19th Jan 2012 more >>
Sizewell
Increased concern over carbon emission reduction targets, along with rising energy costs, is likely to increase levels of retrofitting, energy efficiency measures and microgeneration technologies, which will become increasingly important in driving construction growth in the East of England over the longer term. The nuclear new build programme will also stimulate growth in the sector with nuclear power stations planned for Sizewell, Suffolk and Bradwell, Essex, in 2015 and 2017.
Eastern Daily Press 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Radwaste
Cumbria is sleepwalking towards accepting a nuclear dump that will change the Lake District forever, campaigners have claimed.
Carlisle News & Star 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Westinghouse
In the US, Westinghouse Electric Co. has installed its reactor coolant pump (RCP) passive thermal shutdown seal in one dual-unit nuclear plant, and has received orders from five more utilities for a total of 37 reactor coolant pump (RCP) installations.
The Engineer 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Netherlands
Dutch utility Delta and its partners EDF and RWE have postponed plans to build a second nuclear power plant in the Netherlands because of the poor investment climate and low electricity prices. Delta had plans to build a nuclear power plant with a maximum capacity of 2,500 megawatts in the southwest of the country, next to an existing plant near the town of Borssele, but said on Monday it was delaying these for two to three years.
Reuters 23rd Jan 2012 more >>
Iran
Robert Fisk ….we don’t know that Iran really is building a nuclear weapon. And after Iraq, it’s amazing that the old weapons of mass destruction details are popping with the same frequency as all the poppycock about Saddam’s titanic arsenal. Not to mention the date problem. When did all this start? The Shah. The old boy wanted nuclear power. He even said he wanted a bomb because “the US and the Soviet Union had nuclear bombs” and no one objected. Europeans rushed to supply the dictator’s wish. Siemens not Russia built the Bushehr nuclear facility.
Independent 25th Jan 2012 more >>
There is as yet no firm evidence that Tehran has taken the decision to develop a nuclear weapon. But the report by the International Atomic Energy Agency last year made clear that, at the very least, Iran is determined to acquire the capability to make nuclear weapons. It is also true that having a nuclear option is one of the few issues that unites a divided regime and dissatisfied population.
FT 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Britain could send military reinforcements to the Gulf if the dispute with Iran escalates, the Defence Secretary has revealed. Philip Hammond said the decision to send HMS Argyll as part of an international flotilla of warships through the sensitive Strait of Hormuz on Sunday sent a ‘clear signal’ to Tehran. And he warned that reinforcements will be available if needed.
Daily Mail 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Japan
The No. 5 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture was to be taken offline early Wednesday for scheduled maintenance and inspections, leaving only one out of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s 17 still in service. All of Tepco’s reactors will go offline by the end of March when the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant will be switched off for repairs and safety checks. Among Japan’s 54 commercial reactors, only three not operated by Tepco are currently in operation.
Japan Times 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Japan is expected to announce its first trade deficit since 1980. For decades the country has used an export policy to build up brand names such as Toyota, Sony and Canon, but official trade figures are expected to show a deficit caused by energy imports to cover the loss of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster. Economists say Japan’s trade will be in deficit for the next few years as it copes with the catastrophe that has forced most nuclear power stations to close. Japan’s central bank said it expected the economy to shrink by 0.4% in the year to March, instead of expanding as forecast.
Guardian 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Quite simply, the Fukushima Daiichi clean-up is too big and too important to complicate with national sentiment. Japan should remain ready to use all the help it can get.
FT 24th Jan 2012 more >>
US
Moving away from large-scale, toxic nuclear reactors, the Department of Energy announces a plan to develop safer, smaller options. Mini reactors the future of nuclear power? The US Department of Energy announced that it would support the new design of small modular nuclear reactors last week. Contracts to design and begin production of the reactors by 2022 will be awarded to select companies and funded under the DOE.
Oil Price 24th Jan 2012 more >>
World Nuclear News
Since beginning this news service in January 2007, the staff of World Nuclear News have been proud to deliver the vital developments on nuclear power in a format that is open, accessible and free of charge. This would have been impossible without the support gratefully received from members of the World Nuclear Association and a readership that includes the most knowledgeable and well-connected professionals of the nuclear sector. In celebration of its fifth anniversary WNN is pleased to present this interactive timeline of landmark nuclear industry stories, as well as some of its own milestones from its first five years
World Nuclear News 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Submarines
India has taken possession of a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia on a 10-year lease.
BBC 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Damage caused by a blaze on board a nuclear-powered submarine at Devonport Naval Base was being assessed yesterday. Firefighters were called to deal with the small fire on the Trafalgar-class submarine, HMS Talent, on Sunday evening. The sub’s crew were reported to have put out the fire, which happened at around 8.15pm.
Western Morning News 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency
Despite an outcry from U.S. conservatives that new lighting efficiency standards infringe on personal freedom, legislation mandating greater efficiency became law on January 1. Those new standards, along with major progress in lighting research and development, are helping usher in a technological revolution: Lighting companies both large and small, in the U.S. and abroad are rapidly building a better light bulb. Even small steps have big ripples in this field: According to the U.S. Energy Star efficiency program, if every home replaced just one bulb with a more efficient version, the country would save $600 million a year.
Guardian 24th Jan 2012 more >>
