EMR
Westminster Energy Secretary Ed Davies was told to “come clean” today over the coalition’s dalliance with EDF Energy while claiming that it isn’t subsidising nuclear power. South Scotland MSP Chic Brodie said it was “simply semantics” to say that the government wasn’t subsidising nuclear operators. The SNP politician’s broadside came after EDF’s chief Vincent de Rivaz suggested that electricity prices could double. The energy giant’s boss told the Sunday Telegraph that EDF’s “strike price” – where the government pumps money into a firm if market prices fall below it – could be set between £100 and £140 per megawatt hour. Current rates are about £50 per megawatt hour, meaning the coalition would have to shovel money to the French-owned company, which heavily relies on nuclear power.
Morning Star 3rd September 2012 more >>
Short of appointing Jessica Ennis as head of government relations it is hard to think what more EDF could have done to get the UK government to give them the go-ahead to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. But still no decision has been taken on the crucial issue of pricing structures. Almost every other potential investor has tired of waiting and pulled out of the game. How much longer will EDF wait?
FT 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
New Nukes
South Koreas dramatic success story since the Korean War 60 years ago may help explain what it takes at a national level to launch a sustained civil nuclear power programme. We know that building nuclear power stations anywhere today is extremely challenging, even in those countries such as China, Russia and South Korea which have the major share of units currently under construction. In what is usually called the western world, the number of units under construction is very low and, although there are many energy scenarios showing much more nuclear power in the world by 2030 or 2050, most of them see nearly all the growth being achieved elsewhere. Indeed, I argued in March 2012 that it isnt just nuclear projects where these countries have a major problem. They also struggle with any major infrastructure projects, on account of public opinion problems, financing difficulties or (it unfortunately seems) just sheer lack of will to get things done.
Nuclear Engineering International 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
Hinkley
It was not the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration ever staged, but when a few dozen flag-waving folk marched the final six miles to the gates of Hinkley Point nuclear power station on Saturday many of them did so armed with a passion gleaned from experience. A handful of the protesters had walked the 130 miles from the Governments nuclear establishment at Aldermaston after recently completing a similar march through the devastated Fukushima area of Japan and they said they were in Somerset to bear witness to the potential dangers of radioactivity.
Western Daily Press 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
R&D
A new report by the government’s chief scientific adviser Sir John Beddington has warned that substantial budget cuts to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) could derail efforts to develop the new clean technologies required to decarbonise the energy sector. The report also called for DECC to take a more strategic approach to the development of nuclear power, and argued that it needed to “guard against uncritical reliance” on external expertise. It urged DECC to undertake a “rigorous assessment” of the UK’s nuclear science and engineering capability, along with proper consideration of the economic, technical and societal arguments for and against private sector delivery of nuclear power to support UK future energy needs.
Business Green 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
Radwaste
This wednesday 5th Sept, Cumbria County Council will be asked to “slam the door shut” on the nuke dump plans for Cumbria. Radiation Free Lakeland and others will be speaking at the last Council meeting before the decision is made to continue on the toxic slide to a nuclear sacrifice zone. The proposals are for the worlds largest nuclear dump under wild Ennerdale or towns and villages in Allerdale.
Northern Indymedia 3rd sept 2012 more >>
Iran
Iran has claimed it is on the path to installing a sophisticated domestically-produced air defence system that will shield the country’s nuclear facilities.
Telegraph 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
Japan
Japan is scheduled to set national energy policy early next week, Economics Minister Motohisa Furukawa said on Tuesday, although he said the government had not taken any particular position on the main question over the role of nuclear power.
Reuters 4th Sept 2012 more >>
Trident
EDM No.96: That this House notes the findings of the National Security Strategy that a nuclear weapon threat from another state is oflow likelihood; further notes a procurement cost of 25 billion and an estimated lifetime cost of over 100 billion for the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapon system; believes that there are greater spending priorities both at the Ministry of Defence and across other departments; and urges the Government to cancel plans to replace Trident.
Parliament 3rd Sept 2012 more >>
