Microgeneration
SOLAR panels and other small-scale home energy devices could save the same amount of carbon dioxide as taking all lorries and buses off UK roads within 12 years, according to a new report. The research found that up to nine million gadgets, from wind turbines to solar panels, could be installed on homes by 2020, if new policies are put in place. This would generate as much energy as five nuclear power stations. But the report said much greater policy support and financial incentives are needed to turn home energy devices, known as microgeneration, into a mass market.
Scotsman 3rd June 2008 more >>
Guardian website 2nd June 2008 more >>
Guardian 3rd June 2008 more >>
Telegraph 3rd June 2008 more >>
Home Energy Options
Guardian 3rd June 2008 more >>
See the following link for more details of the independent report more >>
British Energy
The trading floor was buzzing on talk that Iberdrola, one of the names already linked to an offer for Britain’s biggest electricity producer, was set to storm in with a knockout 885p per share bid. While some heads of trading raised a cynical eyebrow over what they thought was a generous price, investors bit hard, sending the UK group storming into the top three FTSE 100 risers of the day. The share gains of 1.91 per cent reversed losses from last week after the group revealed full-year profits had slumped 28 per cent. Other parties rumoured to be interested in a bid include EDF, RWE and Centrica.
Independent 3rd June 2008 more >>
Hinkley
Nigel Cann’s zeal for nuclear expansion at Hinkley Point, Somerset, is not surprising, given his role as director of Hinkley B, but there are other sides to the argument. His reactor has not been “generating electricity safely” for its 32-year life. Accidental releases of radiation have occurred throughout that time, including one episode in the 1980s where radioactive carbon dioxide gas escaped, with claims by a nuclear consultant at the time that the accident was second only to Windscale in severity. Human error seemed to be the trigger. Hinkley B’s construction in the 1970s was found to have been flawed with systematic “bodge” welding to steel pipes owned up to by a former welder. History repeats itself as the new European Pressurised Reactors (EPR), expected to be built in Somerset, have been afflicted with construction faults on two sites in Finland and France. The faults have ranged from concrete foundations having the wrong concrete mix to steelwork having been badly welded by under-qualified sub-contractors. Work at the Flamanville site was halted this week by the French regulators.
Western Daily Press 2nd June 2008 more >>
Nuclear Costs
The estimated cost of new nuclear power plants has tripled in the past few years, with projections now hitting $6 billion to $9 billion per reactor. Cost estimates are expected to continue escalating. Soaring costs make the prospect of new nuclear power even harder to sell to a public that will ultimately pay for new plants through rate increases.
Grist 1st June 2008 more >>
Nuclear power still has so many problems that unless the federal government shovels tens of billions of dollars more in subsidies to the industry, and then shoves it down the throat of U.S. utilities and the public with mandates, it is unlikely to see a significant renaissance in this country. Nor is nuclear power likely to make up even 10 percent of the solution to the climate problem globally. New nuclear power now costs more than double what the MIT report assumed — three times what the Economist called “too costly to matter” — lets focus solely on the unresolved problem of cost. While safety, proliferation and waste issues get most of the publicity, nuclear plants have become so expensive that cost overwhelms the other problems.
Salon News 2nd June 2008 more >>
The Self Limiting Future of Nuclear Power by Joe Romm.
Centre for American Progress Action 2nd June 2008 more >>
It won’t be possible to build a new generation of nuclear power stations without pledging large sums of taxpayers money and extending unlimited guarantees to underwrite the debts of the existing and future nuclear industry, a new study concludes today
FoE Press Release 29th May 2008 more >>
US
The parent company of a Lancashire fuel manufacturer has announced a deal to build two nuclear power reactors in the United States.
Westinghouse Electric Company, which operates Springfields Fuels Ltd in Salwick, near Preston, has agreed the deal to build its AP1000 reactors in South Carolina through its partner The Shaw Group Inc.
Lancashire Evening Post 3rd June 2008 more >>
Electric utilities that build a new nuclear plant may see their credit rating slip during construction, Moody’s Investors Service said in a report today. Analysis of a hypothetical utility showed that credit measurements derived from cash flow tumbled in the second half of a 10-year project as costs rose, Moody’s said in the report, “New Nuclear Generating Capacity: Potential Credit Implications for U.S. Investor Owned Utilities.’’
Bloomberg 2nd June 2008 more >>
Syria
The UN nuclear agency has said that Syria is to allow inspectors to visit the country to investigate allegations that it was building a nuclear reactor. The International Atomic Energy Agency says its inspectors are due in Syria between the 22 and 24 June.
BBC 2nd June 2008 more >>
Independent 3rd June 2008 more >>
Guardian 3rd June 2008 more >>
Telegraph 3rd June 2008 more >>
Times Online 2nd June 2008 more >>
Iran
The prudent starting point for the new paradigm is the return of Iran’s nuclear dossier to the IAEA. Iran has indicated that if this is done, it will implement the additional protocol that allows for intrusive, unannounced visits to anywhere in Iran by the IAEA. According to the latest IAEA report, 14 unannounced visits to Iran’s nuclear facilities were conducted over the past year, implying that Iran is already in substantial compliance with the protocol.
Guardian 2nd June 2008 more >>
