Plutonium
Americas General Electric will this week offer to build an advanced nuclear power plant at Sellafield that would consume Britains dangerous stockpile of plutonium. Sellafield is home to about 112 tonnes of plutonium, which takes thousands of years to decay. It was produced in the recycling of nuclear fuel and for the atomic weapons programme. Several schemes have been proposed to deal with it, including the construction of a deep underground store and the building of a new plant to turn it into mixed-oxide (Mox) fuel for atomic power plants. Sellafields first Mox plant turned out to be a white elephant it cost about £1.4 billion to build and was closed this year with the loss of 600 jobs. This week GE will offer to build its Prism reactor to burn up the plutonium. Experts say the advantage of the GE proposal is its ability to use plutonium as a fuel. It is a more attractive proposition than building a new Mox plant, said one senior industry source.
Sunday Times 27th Nov 2011 more >>
New Nukes
The coalition has pinned its hopes on growing the British economy in an age of severe cuts through infrastructure, bringing the unfashionable construction industry to the forefront. An updated National Infrastructure Plan a £200bn blueprint was produced last year will offer ideas of how to attract private-sector investment into building roads, bridges and even energy networks.
Independent 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Companies
Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has been examining the possibility of buying RWEs North Sea oil and gas assets for up to 2bn (£1.7bn). The move comes as German power company RWE looks to sell assets, including all or part of its oil and exploration unit RWE-DEA, to bolster its debt-laden balance sheet.
Telegraph 27th Nov 2011 more >>
Japan
How the crisis at Fukushima developed.
Telegraph TV 25th Nov 2011 more >>
Germany
Anti-nuclear protesters have scuffled with police in northern Germany where activists are holding demonstrations to try to disrupt a train carrying nuclear waste from France.
DW-World 27th Nov 2011 more >>
German police said 20 officers have been injured during clashes with protesters ahead of the arrival of a shipment of nuclear waste in the north of the country.
Express 26th Nov 2011 more >>
Anti-nuclear protestors demonstrate yesterday against the transport of nuclear waste containers in Berg in southwest Germany near the French border. The containers are on their way to the intermediate nuclear storage facility in the northeast German town of Gorleben. The text on the placard reads “The dark side of the future.”
Waste Management World 26th Nov 2011 more >>
Microgeneration
Round-up of the news of the fight against FiT changes and other news.
Micogen Scotland 26th Nov 2011 more >>
Energy Efficiency
Local authorities and other public bodies, already struggling with spending cuts, will be obliged to fit schools, swimming pools and libraries, with state-of-the-art insulation, boilers, generators and windows. Councils say the plan as it affects them alone would cost taxpayers up to £50bn. The draft Energy Efficiency Directive states public bodies should “lead by example” and “purchase only products, services and buildings with high energy efficiency performance”. Public bodies will also be obliged to refurbish 3% of their properties to the high energy-efficient specification each year, under the plans.
Telegraph 26th Nov 2011 more >>
