Hinkley
The two Chinese companies expected to help finance the Hinkley Point nuclear plant are only willing to take a 30 percent stake in the project, the Times reported on Saturday, in a blow to the site’s owner EDF. Hinkley Point project is owned by the British subsidiary of the French energy company. China General Nuclear Corp and China National Nuclear Corp had been expected to take a combined 30-40 percent stake. However the Times reported on Saturday that the two Chinese firms were holding out for a 30 percent stake or less. EDF in Britain declined to comment.
Reuters 3rd Oct 2015 read more »
Infrastructure
One of Labour’s pre-eminent thinkers is to resign his party’s whip in the House of Lords after being recruited by George Osborne to head a newly created National Infrastructure Commission. The new commission, which will be modelled on the independent fiscal watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility, set up in legislation after the 2010 election, will advise the government on which infrastructure projects should be prioritised. These will cover roads and rail, including the east-west HS3 rail line, the new north-south Crossrail 2 line linking Surrey and Hertfordshire, and energy projects such as the new generation of nuclear power stations.
Guardian 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Among proposals it is likely to consider are HS3 and Crossrail 2 rail links to cross the north of England and offer a new north-south route through London respectively. It will also make recommendations on Britain’s energy requirements, including on the number and siting of nuclear power stations. It will not set totals for new homes but will make proposals to speed up and clarify the planning system.
Times 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Herald 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Cybersecurity
Nuclear power plants around the world are harbouring a “culture of denial” about the risks of cyber hacking, with many failing to protect themselves against digital attacks, a review of the industry has warned. A focus on safety and high physical security means that many nuclear facilities are blind to the risks of cyber attacks, according to the report by think-tank Chatham House, citing 50 incidents globally of which only a handful have been made public.
FT 5th Oct 2015 read more »
BBC 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Energy Supplies
Supplies of electricity this winter are likely to be so tight that Britain could be reliant on imports via an undersea power cable from the Netherlands, industry experts fear. This month, National Grid is expected to set out its forecasts for power supplies in its annual winter outlook report. It is set to predict that the UK’s electricity supply margin could be as slender as 1.9 per cent or less at times of peak demand during December and January. Zoe Double, an analyst at ICIS, an energy consultancy, said that the BritNed cable from the Netherlands and another from France were likely to play a pivotal role in preventing supply disruptions. “If there is an outage, they will be very important,” she said. “It’s unlikely we will see blackouts, but there is a very tight supply margin.”
Times 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Nuclear Weapons
Jeremy Corbyn has undermined national security by vowing to never use nuclear weapons if he ever becomes prime minister, David Cameron has said. The Labour leader sparked a fierce row in the final hours of Labour’s party conference in Brighton by telling journalists he would never deploy weapons of mass destruction.
Press and Journal 4th Oct 2015 read more »
David Cameron has said there are circumstances in which he would launch a nuclear attack on another country. The PM described nuclear bombs as “the ultimate insurance policy” and said the attack could be “justified”. Mr Cameron’s statement comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would not use nuclear bombs on another country’s population. “If you … believe like me that Britain should keep the ultimate insurance policy of an independent nuclear deterrent, you have to accept there are circumstances in which its use would be justified,” Mr Cameron told BBC One’s Andrew Marr show on 4 October.
Independent 4th Oct 2015 read more »
Renewables
Governments must put an end to ‘stop-go’ political support for renewable energy – which by 2020 will generate more electricity than the combined demand of China, India, and Brazil – the International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned.
Scottish Energy News 5th Oct 2015 read more »
Renewables – Scotland
The SNP has raised concerns that thousands of Scottish jobs in solar energy could be lost due to Tory cuts to renewable subsidies – yet a UK government consultation into the proposed changes will not include any impact on employment.
Scottish Energy News 4th Oct 2015 read more »
Renewables – tidal
Edinburgh-based marine energy company Nova Innovation has reported progress on installing the first of five planned tidal turbines in its Shetland tidal array. The company has raised £3.75 million for the Shetland Tidal Array – with most of the money coming from the Scottish Government and its local development agencies – with the Belgian renewable energy firm ELSA also providing funding.
Scottish Energy News 5th Oct 2015 read more »
