New Nukes
The UK’s £20bn nuclear programme is facing delays because of a failure to tackle design problems with their reactors, the Health and Safety Executive has warned. A report by the HSE said the two firms in the running to build the reactors had to put more resources into dealing with the safety assessment process if it was to be completed on time. One of them, Japanese-owned Westinghouse, came in for particular criticism for failing to provide a report on external hazards such as flooding. The HSE also criticised it for its “slow progress” in responding to questions on civil engineering design codes. It said: “We’ve not seen evidence the civil structure design conforms to the standards we’d expect to be applied to new nuclear construction.” Another cause of concern is last week’s statement by the US nuclear regulator, which said Westinghouse would have to modify its designs to receive approval in the States. The HSE report also discussed French company Areva, the other candidate to provide third-generation reactors to the UK. In July, it expressed concerns about the control and instrumentation systems on Areva’s pressurised water reactor. It said the matter was still on its “red indicator” list of worries, although it added that it expected the matter to be resolved satisfactorily.
Building 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Sellafield (reactor site)
WORK will start on a new nuclear power station near Sellafield in 2015. A consortium, including energy firms Iberdrola SA, GDF SUEZ SA and Scottish & Southern Energy plc, has bought land, which has been earmarked for a new nuclear power station to the north of the existing plant, said Britain’s Energy Coast board. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said the 470 acres was sold for “a value of a least £70 million.”
Times and Star 28th Oct 2009 more >>
Hinkley
EDF Energy Renewables – part of the EDF group which hopes to build a third nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point – last week outlined plans for nine 400ft two-megawatt turbines on land in parts of East Huntspill, Puriton, Woolavington and which could produce electricity for around 10,000 homes. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP for the area, who has already grilled the Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman, about the East Huntspill wind farm plans, told the Weekly News the turbines would “destroy” the Levels.
Bridgwater Mercury 28th Oct 2009 more >>
Nuclear Transport
TWO Russian ships that had been expected to pick up controversial shipments of nuclear material in the French port of Le Havre have been diverted away from the port following protests by environmental organisation Greenpeace.
Lloyds List 29th Oct 2009 more >>
US
Toshiba has told San Antonio City Council in Texas its new twin $13bn ABWR reactors will cost $4 billion extra, prompting the Council to postpone a crucial vote on the project’s financing until January. Even before the latest jump price jump, the city was planning “a 9.5 percent base rate increase to cover the nuclear expansion and the utility’s other capital projects.” Such preemptive rate increases years before the plant would even deliver a single kilowatt hour are inevitable when you pursue nuclear power.
Climate Progress 28th Oct 2009 more >>
SNL 29th Oct 2009 more >>
A combination of electric vehicles with clean generation and nuclear power for baseload will solve America’s climate and energy security problems, according to testimony from a senior utility chief. David Crane of NRG Energy, which has some 24,000 MWe of generating capacity, spoke in front of the US Senate’s Committee on Climate Change Legislation yesterday. Crane said: “We need to build a zero carbon baseload foundation under our wind farms and solar fields. That foundation is new advanced nuclear power.” NRG is one of the largest US power generators but at present only 5% of its power comes from nuclear – from a 44% stake in two reactors at South Texas Project, although it has a 50% share of a plan to build to more there.
World Nuclear News 29th Oct 2009 more >>
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has made available through the Internet thousands of documents and publications related to nuclear research. In collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the DoE’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI) has made more than 180,000 documents publicly available through the IAEA’s International Nuclear Information System (INIS).
World Nuclear News 29th Oct 2009 more >>
Sweden
At a press conference later on Friday Vattenfall is expected to announce, in cooperation with Industrikraft, the construction of at least one new nuclear reactor on Swedish soil.
The Local 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Belgium
GDF Suez has confirmed its plans to extend the operational lifetime of three nuclear units in Belgium after reaching agreement with the Belgian government over the future of nuclear power in the country. The French utility, which owns Belgian energy company Electrabel, says that the agreement gives it a long-term framework for its future operations in the country and that it will support the government in its energy and climate policies. The deal follows an announcement earlier in October from the government that it would allow Electrabel to extend the lives of three nuclear units in exchange for an annual levy.
Utility Week 29th Oct 2009 more >>
Iran
Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough over Iran’s nuclear programme were dwindling tonight after Tehran demanded changes to a uranium exchange deal that European diplomats described as “unacceptable”.
Guardian 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Times 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Telegraph 30th Oct 2009 more >>
The UN’s nuclear watchdog has said it hopes an agreement with Iran can be reached soon, as Tehran responded to a new offer on uranium refinement.
BBC 29th Oct 2009 more >>
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has proclaimed victory in his battle with the West, claiming he has compelled the US and its allies to ‘co-operate’ with Iran’s nuclear programme.
Telegraph 29th Oct 2009 more >>
Disarmament
A cross-party group of senior politicans joined former defence chiefs today to promote the cause of nuclear disarmament, an issue they described as critical but too often ignored. They launched the Top Level group of parliamentarians, including former foreign and defence secretaries from both main parties. “Nuclear weapons, after climate change, are the greatest threat to the human race,” said Lord Guthrie, a former chief of defence staff. Des Browne, a former defence secretary and convener of the group, said it would provide an authoritative voice in support of Barack Obama’s appeal for nuclear disarmament. He hoped similar groups would be set up elsewhere around the world.
Guardian 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Climate
Poland and other more recent and poorer EU members threatened to block agreement on a financial package for funding global warming action in the developing world, a central plank of the international pact needed if the Copenhagen talks are to succeed. At the end of yesterday’s talks, no deal had been agreed on funding for tackling climate change in developing countries. Talks are to continue today.
Guardian 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Renewables
Ofgem will announce on Friday £300m of European funding for investment in power lines from offshore wind farms, as the regulator tries to encourage the “forgotten infrastructure” behind Britain’s green revolution.
Telegraph 30th Oct 2009 more >>
Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has sold a 50 per cent stake in three British wind farms to an American fund management group, in the latest sign of renewed investor interest in the industry. Centrica said that Trust Company of the West (TCW), a Los Angeles-based fund manager, was buying the stake in its Lynn and Inner Dowsing offshore wind farms off the Lincolnshire coast, and Glens of Foudland, an onshore wind farm in Scotland. The £84 million deal comes amid rising interest in the wind industry, which was virtually paralysed in the credit crunch last year. Last week, The Times reported that multinational companies, including Google, were examining opportunities in the industry in the UK.
Times 29th Oct 2009 more >>
