Bradwell
Campaigners have called for discharge from a decommissioned nuclear power station to be stopped, claiming the area is being used for an “experiment”. Magnox, which runs Essex’s Bradwell power station, is releasing treated liquid into the River Blackwater. Marine scientist Tim Deere-Jones said there were concerns over the radioactive materials released. The Environment Agency, which granted permission, and Magnox said the process was safe. But Mr Deere-Jones called for discharges to be stopped and an inquiry set up to look at the process.
BBC 2nd Aug 2014 read more »
Areva
Shares in French nuclear power group Areva closed 20 percent lower on Friday, the worst fall since the company was formed in 2001, as it posted a first-half loss, exited a thermal solar power business and cut sales targets.The shares were down by as much as 23 percent earlier in the session with trading the busiest by volume since late February, when Areva posted a net loss of nearly half a billion euros.Chief Executive Luc Oursel dropped a long-held target to sell 10 nuclear reactors by 2016, saying it would “take a few more years” and the firm warned that 2014 revenue would fall 10 percent, more than the 2-5 percent decline forecast in February.
Reuters 1st Aug 2014 read more »
Rolls Royce
The company that builds the nuclear reactors which power the Royal Navy’s fleet of submarines, has pleaded guilty to seven charges of breaching safety and environmental laws after employees were exposed to high levels of radiation at one of the company’s factories in Derby. Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd were accused of undertaking “DIY work” in a critical area of safety after a harmful radiation source fell out of a safety container, which had been modified by Rolls-Royce without consulting the supplier or undertaking a proper risk assessment and was then handled by a radiographer and three welders.
Nuclear Info 2nd Aug 2014 read more »
ROLLS-ROYCE workers exposed to high levels of radiation through failures admitted by the company say they have suffered three years of fear, anxiety and anger. Derby Crown Court heard today that three welders and a radiographer unknowingly handled harmful radioactive material that should have been kept in a sealed container.
Derby Telegraph 31st July 2014 read more »
Radwaste
Australia could end the disadvantage endured by its Indigenous population by opening up traditional lands as dumping sites for nuclear waste from around the world, a former prime minister, Bob Hawke, has said. Hawke said he was confident that the answer to long-standing indigenous socioeconomic problems was to allow radioactive waste to be stored on Aboriginal land, and use the revenue to improve living standards.
Guardian 3rd Aug 2014 read more »
Germany/US
To better understand the US problem in climate change communications, take a look at a large, industrialized, Western nation that actually is taking serious steps toward reducing its greenhouse gas emissions: Germany, which has committed itself to simultaneously weaning itself from fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Germans—including politicians—do talk seriously about Klimawandel, or climate change, and they also like to use the term Klimaschutz, or climate protection. But the buzzword that means action on the issue is neither of those expressions. Rather, it’s an evocative term that symbolizes not loss or some sort of desperate rear-guard defense: Energiewende. In German’s delightful portmanteau tradition, Energiewende means “energy transition.” It has an official bureaucratic meaning as shorthand for Germany’s ambitious goal of converting its economy to run on 80 percent renewable electricity by 2050. But it has a much deeper cultural meaning. That’s because of the word’s second half. Wende means a change of direction in general. But in German, this common noun has taken on a much more specific meaning as a proper noun with a deep historical and social resonance. one of the lessons of Germany’s example, and of that country’s inspiring political Wende, involves marketing. Americans have not yet come up with an evocative term for the change that needs to happen—perhaps one that would call up associations with the US traditions of independence, entrepreneurship, and commingled self-reliance and creation of new communities.
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 30th July 2014 read more »
US
Letter: New Yorkers don’t need Indian Point. Independent expert analysis commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council provides a road map for replacing the aging and risky facility with renewable power — like wind and solar — and increased energy efficiency. A severe nuclear accident at Indian Point could result from plant operator error or natural causes like earthquakes or severe storms, or from an act of terrorism, potentially putting millions of people in the path of harmful radioactive fallout. There’s just no need to live with this risk when clean, safe alternatives are ready and able to replace Indian Point.
New York Times 31st July 2014 read more »
Weapons Convoys
Convoys carrying nuclear bombs and hazardous radioactive materials by road through Scotland and across the UK have suffered 70 safety lapses in five-and-half-years, according to the Ministry of Defence. A new log of incidents obtained from the MoD reveals vehicles have suddenly broken down, fuel has leaked, brakes have overheated, alarms have malfunctioned and many other vital systems have failed in convoys on the move between July 2007 and December 2012. Glasgow Labour councillor and former MSP Bill Butler, who convenes Scotland’s nuclear-free group of local authorities, welcomed the Sunday Herald’s revelations. He also highlighted the 20-vehicle nuclear warhead convoy seen going through Glasgow two weeks ago. “I shudder to think what would have happened if this convoy had been involved in a serious traffic accident or a malicious incident. We now know that convoys are regularly involved in incidents that could easily have become more serious,” he said.
Sunday Herald 3rd Aug 2014 read more »
Nuclear Weapons
A recent debate in Brechin about weapons of mass destruction resulted in not a single supporter in their favour. A spokesman for the Brechin SNP Branch said the debate concluded that WMD were an abomination and their existence on the Clyde should not be tolerated any longer.
Brechin Advertiser 2nd Aug 2014 read more »
Renewables – small hydro
Harlaw Hydro – Edinburgh: The trees have been felled and we have engaged SJB Construction Services Ltd to do the construction work. Work is scheduled to start on Monday 8th September and be completed before Christmas. The group needs a little more working capital so it has re-opened its share offer.
Harlaw Hydro 3rd Aug 2014 read more »
Energy Storage
A few months ago we blogged about the home energy storage system we’ve developed in partnership with Moxia Technology; the Maslow system charges batteries during off-peak hours (when energy prices are lower) or directly from on-site renewables like solar PV, to supply electricity for energy efficient lighting and things like computers and mobile phone chargers. Large-scale battery storage is nothing new, as we touched on in the truth about renewable energy storage, but the development of smart systems and technology to make energy storage more accessible for the home absolutely is. And that’s what we’re testing with Moxia.
Good Energy 30th July 2014 read more »
Fossil Fuels
Governments should not wait for a global climate deal to hike taxes on fossil fuels. That was the message, not from a green campaign group, but a groundbreaking study released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday. The leading financial body said fossil fuels are “widely and substantially underpriced” and correcting those market failures would bring significant benefits.
RTCC 31st July 2014 read more »
