New Nukes
The three firms wanting to build nuclear power plants in the UK said today with one voice that energy market reform is “absolutely key” to their plans. The words were used in turn by Olivier Carret of newly named NuGeneration, Alan Raymant of Horizon Nuclear Power and Chris Bakken of EdF Energy. All three spoke at the Nuclear Industry Association’s annual Energy Choices conference today in London. Clearest on the need for a new framework to promote low-carbon energy was Bakken. He said that EdF Energy wants to see a floor price for carbon dioxide emissions, “so fossil fuel generators pay a price for their pollution just as nuclear power pays for its waste.” This is a stated aim of the UK government, but its proposals on this have not yet been published for consultation. Potentially problematic design issues with both reactor types, the ‘regulatory issues’, now look set to be cleared in time but it remains likely that certain items could be outstanding after the end of the main GDA process. Allars said that suite of reports issued in June 2011 will “start to signal when the end of GDA will actually be”, while Energy Choices delegates told World Nuclear News it could take up to a year to resolve outstanding items in full. The HSE has already “met with industry to outline the extent of likely and potential GDA issues and assessment findings.”
World Nuclear News 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Research published today shows huge support for renewable energy among young people with 94 per cent of those questioned saying that offshore wind was the ‘fairest’ energy technology, 81 per cent saying onshore wind, and 94 per cent supporting solar energy. This is compared to 2.2 per cent for coal energy. “We are very concerned that short-term reasoning is being used to justify building a technology with substantial long-term impacts and responsibilities. The risks associated with nuclear cannot be ignored. Dangerous nuclear waste is a legacy we would rather not leave to future generations, and the heavy investment that will be required threatens to distract us from pursuing safer, cleaner and more future-friendly energy solutions” NB the youth panel is inviting responses – see end of their report.
DECC 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
On Tuesday, the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee grilled the energy minister Charles Hendry on the six energy National Policy Statements (NPSs) (and I understand that they may be having a second session of oral evidence on 14 December). Yesterday, he was back facing the whole of the House of Commons on the same subject. This debate is actually one that was held over from the first round of consultation on the NPSs, but it is so late that it has been overtaken by the second round. The atmosphere was very different from Tuesday’s select committee debate, with a wider range of knowledge and subjects raised from those present. Charles Hendry gave an opening speech lasting nearly an hour of the two and a half allotted hours, but that includes several interventions. He launched into the background to the government’s energy policy and was sidetracked into a discussion on the green deal, off-(gas)grid properties, and the Sheffield Forgemasters loan that was withdrawn.
Bircham Dyson Bell 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
The Energy and Climate Change Select Committee of the House of Commons held its single session today considering the revised NPSs. Charles Hendry MP, energy minister, accompanied by Anne Stuart and Hergen Haye of DECC, was quizzed by the members of the committee. As usual, the members asked a variety of questions not necessarily sticking to the topics previously set out. Although the members do not speak with one voice, if there was a theme, it was that the government was foolish to commit itself to carbon capture and storage (CCS), which had not even been invented yet, as the solution to low-carbon electricity generation, while ignoring, or at least not sufficiently supporting, nuclear power.
Bircham Dyson Bell 30th Nov 2010 more >>
Radhealth
Investigations are underway into future plans for a controversial DNA bank made up of blood samples collected from 8,000 west Cumbrian babies. The questions come as campaigners claim promises to keep families informed over the use of the DNA have not been kept. The North Cumbria Community Genetics Project (NCCGP) collected blood and tissue from the umbilical cord of babies born at the West Cumberland Hospital between 1996 and 2003. The mothers were also asked to give data about their lifestyles, including information about smoking, their education and jobs. Consent forms were collected by midwives. The scheme was based at the BNFL and Newcastle University backed Geoffrey Schofield Laboratories at the Westlakes Science and Technology Park in Whitehaven. But this July, Westlakes Scientific Consulting went into administration.
Carlisle News & Star 29th Nov 2010 more >>
Whitehaven News 1st Dec 2010 more >>
Hinkley
EDF Energy has submitted a planning application to West Somerset Council for preparation work at the site for two proposed new Hinkley Point nuclear reactors. During talks between the local authority and EDF at the House of Commons last week, West Somerset Council leader Cllr Tim Taylor said it could refuse or delay giving planning permission if the application lacked enough detail.
This is the West Country 1st Dec 2010 more >>
World Nuclear News 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Wylfa
Nobody in Anglesey takes it for granted that a second Wylfa nuclear power station is in the bag. Horizon Nuclear Power has been staging exhibitions around the region to reveal plans and gain public support for what will be one of the UK’s largest construction projects – on a par, according to Alan Smith, Wylfa’s head of site development, with the building of the London Olympic facilities. Should the £8bn project proceed, 6,000 jobs will be created in the construction phase, expected to begin in 2013/14. As many as 1,000 permanent jobs could also be created at the site. With the facility expected to be operational for close to a century, the potential knock-on benefits would be helpful for the rather shaky economy of Anglesey and Gwynedd.
Insider Media December 2010 more >>
ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners are stepping up their opposition to the building of a new nuclear power station in Wales after a new report warned of serious health risks. Dutch nuclear expert Jan Willem Storm van Leeuwen warned in his report that economic imperatives would be likely to drive safety standards down, increasing the risk of radioactive leaks. But the biggest continuing problem would be the difficulty of storing nuclear waste securely and safely on a permanent basis.
Western Mail 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
Cumbria
Cockermouth School has officially opened its £35,000 BNFL Legacy Science laboratory.
Times & Star 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Dounreay
Dounreay’s owners today published for consultation their 2011/12 business plan, which includes a summary of key decommissioning tasks to be completed next year.
DSRL 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
IAEA
There is now a 120 tonne stockpile of low-enriched uranium available to countries that could be denied access to normal nuclear fuel markets. Russia’s Rosatom announced yesterday that it had completed arrangements for the fuel store in the vault of the International Enrichment Centre at Angarsk. It will be managed under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
World Nuclear News 1st Dec 2010 more >>
Litvinenko
The widow of Alexander Litvinenko said that leaked US diplomatic cables vindicated her long-standing claim that Vladimir Putin had authorised her husband’s murder.
Guardian 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran has said it has has arrested “some elements” working with Western spy agencies and connected to the murder of a senior nuclear scientist, amid claims Tehran’s scientists were the targets of “terrorists.”
Telegraph 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
BBC 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
Time magazine is running a slightly strange story, without byline or dateline, on Monday’s assassination of one nuclear scientist in Tehran and the wounding of another. The piece appears to give new details of the attacks following by the arresting phrase: “according to a Western intelligence expert with knowledge of the operation”! That sounds like Time has been talking to the people who did the deed, and the article hints heavily that those people work for Mossad.
Guardian Blog 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Iran today said it would increase security for its nuclear scientists after one of its top nuclear experts was killed and another injured in co-ordinated attacks on Monday.
Guardian 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Namibia
Namibia is seeking to develop a nuclear energy program in order to make use of its uranium resources, AfricaNews reported. “It is the expressed decision of the Namibian government to seriously consider the development of nuclear power in order to complete the national energy mix and provide sufficient energy for our development,”
World Nuclear News 2nd Dec 2010 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
A proposal to reduce nuclear weapons highlighted the debate within the German government about when and how to get rid of nuclear weapons on its soil, a new WikiLeaks document shows. Its release also reveals the presence of nuclear weapons in several European countries and Turkey, information not normally released by NATO.
CNN 1st Dec 2010 more >>
Barack Obama gained ground in his push for Senate ratification of a stalled nuclear treaty as once-reluctant Republicans signalled their willingness to back the pact with Russia.
Guardian 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
Submarine
The nuclear submarine that ran aground near Skye is to resume its sea trials. The crew of HMS Astute could now spend Christmas making up for lost time.
Scotsman 3rd Dec 2010 more >>
