Nuclear Subsidies
Huhne said in an interview with Sky News today that wind energy deserves government aid because the industry is in its infancy, while nuclear power has been well established over decades. The Dogger Bank in the north east of England, off the North Sea, was an area for development for offshore wind turbines, he said.
Bloomberg 25th July 2010 more >>
There’s something really rather strange about Chris Huhne’s announcement that there will be no state subsidies for nuclear energy generation: Mr Huhne, one of the leading Liberal Democrats in the cabinet, used an interview with The Sunday Telegraph to speak out in favour of harnessing both onshore and offshore wind power in comments likely to alarm Conservatives and place further strain on the coalition. The Energy Secretary, ahead of a key Commons statement on energy policy on Tuesday, also stressed there was “no money” for state subsidies for a new generation of nuclear power plants – the favoured option of both the Conservatives and Labour. The strangeness is that every other form of non-fossil fuel generation is getting massive subsidies, so why this prissiness over some to nuclear? The answer lies in how the other subsidies are calculated and paid, not in any principled objections or even any acknowledgment of economic rationality.
Adam Smith Institute 25th July 2010 more >>
HPA
The Health Protection Agency that handles public health emergencies such as swine flu is to be axed under reforms, the government has confirmed. It, plus the fertility watchdog the HFEA, is among the eight or ten of the 18 “arms-length bodies” that will go or be merged with other organisations. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the aim was to save costs and cut bureaucracy in the NHS. He stressed that essential work would be moved to other bodies.
BBC 26th July 2010 more >>
Dept of Health Press Release 26th July 2010 more >>
EDF
EDF chooses Atos Origin for maintenance and upgrade of its nuclear simulators.
Consultant News 26th July 2010 more >>
China
China has become the eighth country in the world to generate electricity using the latest advances in nuclear reactor technology. Scientists there have reported successfully testing the country’s first so-called ‘fourth generation’ reactor. Zhang Donghui, general manager of the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) project, said: “The CEFR is safer, more environment-friendly, and more economic than its predecessors.”
Edie 26th July 2010 more >>
Poland
Poland’s nuclear programme is back. The country of 38.6 million is a member of NATO and the European Union. Before the recession it ranked as the 24th largest economy in the world with a 2008 GDP of $450.6 billion according to the International Monetary Fund. In 2007, Business Monitor International was forecasting Polish real GDP growth averaging 4.95% per annum between 2007 and 2012. The country’s power consumption was expected to increase from 141.7 TWh in 2007 to 176.4 TWh in 2012.
Nuclear Engineering International 25th July 2010 more >>
Burma
Burma is working on a nuclear weapons programme, experts have concluded, after its existence was exposed by leaked photographs.
Telegraph 26th July 2010 more >>
Korea
Fighter jets cut through the skies and submarines cruised underwater yesterday as a flotilla of American and South Korean warships led by a nuclear- powered United States supercarrier began exercises that have enraged North Korea.
Scotsman 26th July 2010 more >>
Express 26th July 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran has told the EU it will “regret” imposing its toughest economic sanctions yet to force Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and return to negotiations about its nuclear programme.
Guardian 26th July 2010 more >>
Turkey, Brazil call on Iran to be open in dealings with West over its atomic programme.
Middle East Online 25th July 2010 more >>
The world is watching the uninteresting continuation of confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program and the opportunist journalists find this tedious charade the best subject to entertain their readers and enrich their portfolio.
Middle East Online 25th July 2010 more >>
Renewables
Britain’s offshore wind ambitions will face a 10bn funding gap within five years, energy experts will warn today, and the Government’s legally-binding 2020 green targets will not be met unless the deficit can be closed. This comes a day after Energy Minister Chris Huhne revealed plans for a huge expansion of the UK’s wind turbines, saying wind power would be an “important part” of meeting the country’s energy demands in the future. A whopping 30bn of capital investment in offshore wind farms is needed over the coming decade if the UK is to produce the 30 per cent of electricity from renewable sources needed to comply with European regulations, according to the report from consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Independent 26th July 2010 more >>
