New Nukes
Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East and other oil-rich areas are “queuing up” to invest in UK nuclear power, according to Charles Hendry, the energy minister. Experts have been worried that the UK will find it difficult to attract enough companies willing to fund an estimated £40bn for new nuclear plants. However, Mr Hendry is no longer concerned about this, since key government ministers have been courting cash-rich foreign funds. “It’s going to be easier to find the funding than it is to find the capacity to build it,” Mr Hendry said. “Some of the sovereign wealth funds are keen to invest as a way to diversify. They are showing a very keen interest in British nuclear and queuing up to know more about the opportunities. In the course of our travels we highlighted the opportunities to them.”
Telegraph 5th Oct 2011 more >>
The UK is the most exciting place in the world for new nuclear build, the Tory party conference has been told. Pro-nuclear energy minister Charles Hendry said the Government was committed to making Britain a serious nuclear nation but re-iterated the coalition agreement the industry would receive no public subsidy. Mr Hendry told a packed conference hall in Manchester: We are addressing the issues of planning, of approving the reactor designs and reforming our electricity market, so the UK is now the most exciting place in Europe, if not the world, for nuclear new build.
Cumberland News 4th Oct 2011 more >>
It is still too early to evaluate fully what the Fukushima accident means for the future of nuclear energy. But several OECD countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan and Switzerland, among others) have already decided to phase out nuclear. Before Fukushima, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) predicted that nuclear plants would add 360GW by 2035; it is now reckoning on half that. This is due partly to diminishing public acceptance, but also to the increased costs of nuclear security improvements and of insurance premiums for accident-related damages. The estimated probability of major nuclear accidents, which was considered very small in the past, has increased significantly. The pre-Fukushima estimate for the probability of a major nuclear accident was roughly 1 in 100,000 for the 440 reactors in operation over the next 2025 years. But the likelihood of core melt and containment failure had been underestimated: the accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima amount to catastrophic meltdown in four nuclear reactors over the past few decades, more than originally assumed. A simple calculation shows that in reality, the probability of any of the currently operating nuclear reactor having a major accident over the next 20¬25 years is 1 in 5000. This means that another major nuclear accident can be expected to occur once every 20 years. Based on the earlier estimate, we were expecting one accident over a 100-year period.
Oil Price 4th Oct 2011 more >>
SciDev 28th Sept 2011 more >>
Nuclear power promises clean energy for developing countries. Dave Elliott charts its progress and prospects after the accident at Fukushima. (Part of a series on Nuclear Power after Fukushima)
SciDev 28th Sept 2011 more >>
Hinkley
Photos and videos from the blockade.
Stop Hinkley 4th October 2011 more >>
More than 200 people blockaded a nuclear power station yesterday in protest at plans to build new reactors at the site. The Stop New Nuclear alliance, which is composed of several anti-nuclear groups, says it is barring access to Hinkley Point power station in Somerset in protest at EDF Energy’s intention to construct two new reactors. These would be the first of eight new nuclear power stations to be built in Britain.
Morning Star 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Protesters who blockaded a nuclear power station yesterday have said their actions were a “phenomenal success” in shedding light on opposition to new nuclear reactors. Members of several anti-nuclear groups who are part of the Stop New Nuclear alliance barred access to Hinkley Point power station in Somerset in protest against EDF Energy’s plans to renew the site with two new reactors.
Western Morning News 4th Oct 2011 more >>
More than 200 anti-nuclear campaigners blockaded Hinkley Point nuclear power station yesterday to protest against Government proposals for a new wave of nuclear power stations, set to start with Hinkley C. But EDF Energy, the French-owned company which runs Hinkley, said the long-planned blockade had no effect on the Somerset nuclear plant.
Western Daily Press 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Bristol Evening Post 4th Oct 2011 more >>
A CHEST of £1.3million will be at disposal of three Somerset authorities to scrutinise EDF Energy’s expected 90000-page application for Hinkley Point C. The energy giant has agreed to fund Sedgemoor District Council, West Somerset and Somerset County Council.to compile a Local Impact Report following lengthy negotiations, as heard by the district council’s special meeting of the executive on Friday.
Bridgwater Mercury 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Inside Hinkley Point B.
Energy Live News 29th Sept 2011 more >>
Wylfa
Daily Post quizzes Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan on some of the burning issues affecting us.How important is the development of new nuclear at Wylfa to the economy of North Wales, as well as the UKs energy supply? How confident are you that the planning process will not cause undue delays? I consider it vital to Anglesey and the North Wales economy that Wylfa has been named as one of the eight strategic sites for new nuclear power generation. Developing a new nuclear power station on Anglesey will be very significant to the local economy, creating thousands of much-needed jobs, replacing many of those lost as a consequence of the closure of Anglesey Aluminium. It is important North Wales retains the skills it has developed in the nuclear power industry. Nuclear is important in our future energy mix and we have developed expertise, at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd, that needs to be retained.
Daily Post 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Hartlepool
NUCLEAR power, new stations and job opportunities were high on the agenda at Hartlepool Power Stations first open day. More than 35 people attended the event which saw plant manager Nick Collins and other members of the stations lead team give a talk to the audience about the site and EDF Energys role in developing new stations. Other specialists from the station were also there for curious people to ask questions on all aspects of nuclear energy generation, recruitment and training.
Hartlepool Mail 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Hunterston
EDF Energy restarted its 500-megawatt Hunterston B-7 nuclear reactor on Tuesday after work on a leaking water pipe, the operator said.
Reuters 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Companies
DEESIDE scaffolding firm NSG UK has appointed a business development manager to help expand into the offshore, nuclear and environmental sectors. Chris Edwards has a wealth of experience in the construction and engineering design industry, joining from design consultancy GHA Livigunn. He will be based at NSG UKs headquarters, but will work to drive business nationwide across the firms core services, which includes scaffolding and access, painting, blasting and thermal insulation.
Liverpool Daily Post 5th Oct 2011 more >>
A facilities management firm has clinched a £200 million contract to provide cleaning, maintenance and security services to nuclear businesses across Cumbria. Mitie Group has clinched the deal with the Cumbria Collaboration a group of nuclear companies which includes Sellafield, the Low Level Waste Repository, near Drigg, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), nuclear rail haulage firm Direct Rail Services and shipping company International Nuclear Services.
Cumberland News 4th Oct 2011 more >>
France
French state-controlled utility Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR), or EDF, has asked the government to delay an investigation into the planned Penly nuclear reactor as its engineers were busy working on stress tests carried out on its existing reactors. The investigation into the project to build a reactor, on France’s northern coast, involves preparation of technical documents ahead of consulting residents. The process was due to start in mid October, she said. EDF didn’t ask for a specific time frame for the investigation. “The Penly project is not suspended,” French Energy Minister Eric Besson’s office said Tuesday. “EDF told the ministry its file is not ready yet. The probe won’t be launched before all the file will be sent to (the nuclear safety agency) ASN.” The investigation won’t start before 2012, the ministry said.
FoX Business 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Electricite de France SA, Europes biggest power producer, underestimated radioactivity levels in a furnace that exploded at a waste-processing site this month, killing one and injuring four, the nuclear watchdog said. EDF has been told to explain how it gave incorrect data, Autorite de Surete Nucleaire said in a statement, adding that the immediate environment and population were unaffected by the events. The watchdog had previously sought safety improvements at the facility, while allowing it to continue to operate.
Bloomberg 29th Sept 2011 more >>
Japan
Six months after the meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, the Japanese utility that owns the plant is fighting to keep its pre-disaster emergency-response procedures a secret from politicians and the public, arguing they contain valuable trade information. Tokyo Electric Power angered members parliamentary committee last month when it handed over manuals outlining steps that its nuclear plant operators are meant to follow in the case of accidents. All but a few words of the texts were redacted with black ink.
FT 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Hormonal and other irregularities were detected in the thyroid glands of 10 out of 130 children evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture, a Nagano Prefecture-based charity dedicated to aid for the victims of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident
Mainichi Daily 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Fukushima Update 30th Sept to 3rd Oct.
Greenpeace International 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Japan is now proposing we add nuclear power projects to the CDM. Their people suffered a devastating blow from the tsunami and subsequent Nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, and now they want to throw away the emission-reduction treaty except for the part that allows them to export their failed nuclear industry to poor countries around the world? Seriously? Were going to keep digging into this and push back hard.
Adopt a negotiator Project 3rd Oct 2011 more >>
A team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency will visit Japan this week to help with the massive cleanup of areas contaminated by a radiation-leaking nuclear power plant, officials said Tuesday.
Washington Post 4th Oct 2011 more >>
In a fresh blow to public confidence, a reactor in southern Japan went into automatic shutdown on Tuesday because of problems with its cooling system, clouding the outlook for an imminent restart of the countrys idled nuclear plants.
New York Times 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Costs, risks, and myths of nuclear power: NGO world-wide study on the implications of the catastrophe at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station is a collaborative work of non-governmental researchers, scientists, and activists. It was released on 11 September 2011, six months after the disaster at Fukushima and in advance of the high-level meeting on nuclear safety and security that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will convene at the United Nations on 22 September. Its release is also timed to coincide with the UN system-wide study of the implications of Fukushima commissioned by Ban.
Reaching Critical Will September 2011 more >>
India
Britains Lloyd’s Register, well known for its maritime interests, is reportedly close to signing a nuclear agreement with India. Lloyd’s Register CEO Richard Sadler is currently in India to look for new business. Sadler told journalists that Lloyd’s Register is a major advocate of nuclear power in shipping, commenting, “It will be the way forward and a safe way,” The Asian Age reported. Lloyd’s Register is now involved with 30,000 megawatts of power projects in India as they inspect the manufacturing end of the supply chain to help ensure a consistent and reliable energy flow.
Oil Price 4th Oct 2011 more >>
US
Six months after the accident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant, two-thirds of those questioned in a new US public opinion poll continue to support the use of nuclear energy.
World Nuclear News 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Submarines
Ambush, BAE Systems second Astute Class hunter-killer submarine, has successfully completed her first dive and now prepares for sea trials early next year.
Manufacturer 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Supergrid
In this groundbreaking book, energy systems modelling expert Dr Gregor Czisch analyses electricity supply options for Europe and its neighbouring regions. He describes how our electricity supply could be structured in an optimally cost-effective manner largely based on currently available technologies. Czisch proposes that power plant usage and selection be optimised in a manner that takes full account of the availability and intermittency of renewables. To this end, the author provides a number of solutions entailing a wide range of thought-provoking scenarios. Czischs visionary study shows that a pan-European renewables-based supergrid using high-voltage DC lines extending into North Africa could supply an area spanning 50 countries with a combined population of 1.1 billion. The author demonstrates that such a supergrid would obviate the need for fossil fuels and nuclear power, and that its costs would be on a par with or perhaps even lower than our current electricity supply system.
Institution of Engineering and Technology September 2011 more >>
Coal
Environmental groups have lost a legal challenge against plans for a 3bn coal-fired power station in Ayrshire. A judicial review challenged a decision by the Scottish government to include the planned facility at Hunterston in the National Planning Framework. This meant campaigners could not challenge the need for the plant – only matters such as the site and design. Judges ruled that a consultation process undertaken by the developer, Ayrshire Coal, had been sufficient.
BBC 4th Oct 2011 more >>
Times 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Scotsman 5th Oct 2011 more >>
Herald 5th Oct 2011 more >>
