Archive for October, 2012
October 31, 2012
Japan:
¶ TEPCO is reducing its projected losses for this year from ¥160 billion to ¥45 billion ($564 million. [The Voice of Russia]
¶ A study by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found poor monitoring of the radiation doses at Fukushima Daiichi. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ As a result of its deal with Hitachi, Britain will have advanced boiling water reactors. [World Nuclear News]
¶ South Africa has approved an initial $5,4 billion worth of clean energy projects that will allow it to develop 1,400 MW of renewable generation capacity of electricity, reducing dependence on coal-fired generation. [NewsDay]
¶ Based on the success it has had so far, the government of Scotland is seeking to move toward its renewable goals faster, and hopes to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. [BBC News]
¶ Abu Dhabi is looking to making biofuels from algae. [Gulf Today]
¶ UK Energy minister John Hayes is suggesting a halt be made to the growth of wind farms. He says policy on wind turbines should not governed by “a bourgeois Left article of faith.” [The Week UK]
… Others in the governing coalition point out that John Hayes does not represent the government as a whole and cannot make policy by himself. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ Operations affected by Hurricane Sandy included an alert at Oyster Creek; shutdowns of one reactor at Indian Point, Salem, and Nine Mile Point; and reduced power at Millstone, Vermont Yankee, and Limerick. [Power Engineering Magazine]
… The alert at Oyster Creek is still in effect today (story filed at 3:40 am EST). [Newsroom America]
… A more serious problem at Oyster Creek was narrowly averted. [Center for Research on Globalization]
¶ Progress Energy Florida said it could take months more to decide whether to repair Crystal River or shut it down permanently. [Sunshine State News]
¶ Energy is being used more efficiently in the US, and more of it is coming from renewable resources. [environmentalresearchweb]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 30, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have what promises to be a cost-effective alternative to standard batteries. Their battery is able to charge quickly and efficiently, and shows no energy loss after 1,000 charges. [R & D Magazine]
¶ Neste Oil Corporation, a refining and marketing company, has opened a pilot plant for producing microbial oil from waste and residues at its site in Porvoo, Finland. [Equities.com]
Japan:
¶ Six municipalities near nuclear plants voiced criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Agency for apparent errors in projections of the potentials for radioactive fallout in the event of meltdowns. [The Japan Times]
… The Nuclear Regulation Authority has acknowledged the error and apologized. A utility had found the errors in the forecast maps. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ TEPCO has surveyed the operating floor of Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1. [The Denki Shimbun]
World:
¶ The French nuclear regulatory agency says the types of regulatory failures that led to the Fukushima Disaster are being repeated in other countries. [Businessweek]
¶ Nuclear plants in Canada are bracing for the storm, as Hurricane Sandy downgrades to a storm. [The Vancouver Observer]
¶ Hitachi has entered into a £700 million deal to complete two nuclear plants in the UK. [Evening Standard]
¶ Poland has already surpassed its planned output for renewable energy capacity for 2012. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The London Array Offshore Wind Farm has started generating electricity. It has a capacity of 630 MW. Located in the Thames Estuary, it will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm. [Offshore Technology International]
¶ Given current rates of growth, renewable power will have a greater capacity than nuclear power in the UK by 2018. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ Oyster Creek declared an alert because of high water levels. A reactor at Indian Point was shut down. One reactor at Salem was shut down. Millstone reduced output to 75%. [Fox11online.com]
¶ Sixteen people have died in the US because of Hurricane Sandy. There is no power for 15,000,000. And it is not over yet. [CNN]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 29, 2012
Technology:
¶ The new solar cells designed by NREL scientists are 30% more efficient than older ones. (This is more information on a technology reported earlier.) [AZoNano.com]
World:
¶ The director of the Philippine Department of Energy cites renewable power sources as contributing to energy security. [Philippine Information Agency]
¶ The Indian wind energy saw debt funding totaling of $437.3 million (Rs 2348.30 crore) during the third quarter. [Economic Times]
US:
¶ Nuclear plants on the East Coast of the US are watching and waiting as Hurricane Sandy approaches land. [New York Times]
¶ Local solar companies hire local graduates. [El Paso Inc.]
¶ The Sustainable Energy Research Facility at Frostburg State University, which is opening today, is off-grid. It is heated and powered by renewable sources including solar, wind, hydrogen fuel cells. [ABC2 News]
¶ The US is cutting carbon emissions by moving from coal to natural gas and renewable sources. The problem is that the coal not used in the US is being burned anyway, because it is being exported to be used elsewhere. [MSN News UK]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 28, 2012
Science:
¶ Fracking can cause small earthquakes. This is a matter of concern, but the NRC says it is not interesting to them because the earthquakes caused in the past have been small. [Timesonline.com]
Japan:
¶ TEPCO is rapidly running out of space to store radioactive water at Fukushima Daiichi. The 200,000 tons already accumulated are in tanks, but there is no more space to install tanks. A treatment facility should be open next year. [The Japan Times]
¶ Fish off the coast of Fukushima could be too radioactive to be eaten for another decade. Since indications are that the plant is still leaking radioactive water, there is no way to calculate when levels will be safe. [WND.com]
World:
¶ Nuclear companies are hawking their goods in the developing world, because countries with nuclear plants are not anxious to have more. Developing countries are noticing. [The Guardian]
¶ In South Africa, wind is now the least expensive power source coming from new facilities. The country is large enough that wind could supply 25% of the power without any power storage, because the wind is always blowing somewhere. [Independent Online]
US:
¶ More than a dozen nuclear power plants are in the path of Hurricane Sandy. They are preparing for flooding and other damage. [MINING.com]
¶ The owner of the Kewaunee nuclear plant is opting for SAFSTOR, so it will be sixty years before the plant is decommissioned. [Green Bay Press Gazette]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 27, 2012
Science:
¶ Marine biologists are becoming alarmed at the fact that the oceans are becoming more acidic. The source of the acid is atmospheric carbon dioxide. [abc7news.com]
Japan:
¶ The reactors at Fukushima Daiichi may still be leaking radioactive materials into the sea. The levels of radiation in the aquatic life of the are not declining. [CRIENGLISH.com]
World:
¶ UK Environment Secretary Owen Patterson, who denied the idea that global warming was caused by human activity and opposed wind farms, is changing his views on both subjects. [Huffington Post UK]
¶ The UK’s largest coal-burning generating plant is converting to biomass. [CoalGuru.com]
… There are doubts about how sustainable biomass is, when it is used at such a great scale. [Energy and Environmental Management (EAEM) Magazine]
US:
¶ NRG Expert, a London and Toronto based energy intelligence and market research publisher, has calculated that by 2012, 16.25% of electricity generated in the US came from renewable power sources. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ Operators of East Coast nuclear plants are making preparations for Hurricane Sandy. [The Star-Ledger – NJ.com]
¶ The Florida Public Service Commission is reviewing the status of the Crystal River nuclear plant in a conference starting this month. Crystal River has been out of service since 2009. [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
¶ Ocean Renewable Power Company, of Portland, Maine, plans to put 24 underwater turbines into the Western Passage of the Bay of Fundy in 2014. Each turbine will generate 150 kW as the tide changes. [Lewiston Sun Journal]
¶ The George W. Bush Presidential Center is contracting to have all its power from wind. This supports a goal of getting the center LEED platinum certification. [Equities.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 26, 2012
Japan:
¶ Fish taken off Fukushima are still contaminated. This implies the plant is still leaking radioactive material into the ocean. [CNN]
¶ Fukushima Daiichi is running out of room to store radioactive waste water. [Newser]
¶ Japan is starting to work in the area of offshore wind power. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The government of India is looking at fusion as a way to generate power. [Forbes India]
¶ China is failing to develop wind resources because of transmission grid monopolies. [Utility Products]
US:
¶ The California Public Utilities Commission has decided to investigate the outage at San Onofre with a view to determining whether it is right for rate payers to pay for the plant when it is not supplying power. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ The NRC takes no interest in the fact that a fracking well is near a nuclear power plant. [RT]
¶ The era of cheap natural gas is very likely coming to an end soon, according to an expert at Chevron. Fracking gives us access to plenty of fuel, but it will be expensive. [Live Trading News]
¶ Solar energy is good to go, but the US is not ready for it. This is partly because big, investor-owned utilities that provide about 85 percent of America’s electricity see solar as both a technical challenge and a long-term threat to their 100-year-old profit models. [Businessweek]
¶ Important market investors and managers are urging immediate extension of the production tax credit for renewable energy. The credit is set to expire on December 31. [Environment News Service]
Vermont:
¶ A federal U.S. District Court judge dismissed Entergy’s lawsuit against the state of Vermont for imposing a higher generating tax for power from the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power plant. [vtdigger.org]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 25, 2012
Japan:
¶ Many Japanese people have to store their own radioactive waste on their own property. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Some rice harvested in Fukushima Prefecture has exceeded the limit for radioactive cesium. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ The electric supply in Japan will be sufficient for next summer, even if it is unusually hot. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ The Chinese government is ending its moratorium on new nuclear plants. It will approve a small number in the next three years, and none will be inland. [eco-business.com]
¶ Singapore has decided against allowing nuclear power plants to be built there. The decision would have been made regardless of the Fukushima Disaster. [AsiaOne]
¶ Ikea will spend $1.8 billion on new renewable projects. [solarserver.com]
¶ According to a report released in Australia, renewable energy investment is up $18 billion there, and the wholesale price has dropped $10 per megawatt hour as a result. Blaming rising retail electricity rates on renewable power is wrong. [The Australian]
US:
¶ According to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 100% of new electrical generating capacity added in the U.S. in September was from wind and solar sources. Wind accounted for 300 MW, and solar totaled 133 MW. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ Information is available on New York State’s Energy Highway. The plan is to spend $5.7 billion on 3.2 MW of generation and transmission facilities. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ A proposed new transmission line would link solar, hydro, and wind projects in Maine and Canada with Boston and other areas. [The Republic]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 24, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers from Penn State University in the US have developed sensors, driven by the heat of a nuclear reactor, that can monitor fuel rods in the case of a disaster. [The Engineer]
¶ A pilot project is testing technology that promises to ‘turn buildings into power stations.’ Steel and glass, which is coated to make it conductive, will be incorporated into buildings, so it’s the fabric of the buildings themselves that generates, stores and releases the electricity. [ITV News]
Japan:
¶ The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority has proposed a radius of 30 km from a nuclear plant as a rough standard for areas where special preparations against fallout exposure should be made. In some cases, it may not be enough. [The Japan Times]
¶ New robots are being prepared to examine the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. [CNET]
World:
¶ Three leading UK scientists have called for a moratorium on the building of new conventional power plants following research indicating that renewables could be implemented much faster than the majority of people realize. [Solar Power Portal]
¶ The Isle of Wight, off the UK’s south coast, could become self-sufficient in renewable energy over the next decade thanks to an ambitious new project. [Energy Efficiency News]
¶ Two companies are planning to build a total of 3.5 gigawatts of wind capacity in the Firth of Forth. [Herald Scotland]
¶ Protesters against a rate increase have occupied the offices of a South African utility, charging that it is failing to switch from coal to renewable power sources. [The New Age Online]
¶ The government of China has released a white paper on energy policy, encouraging private investment. [The West Australian]
US:
¶ Experts say that because of low natural gas prices, the nuclear industry may be nearing its first round of retirements since the mid-1990s. [New York Times]
¶ The federal government will conduct a study into rates of cancer for people near nuclear power plants. [CNN]
¶ According to a new poll, the majority of people living in the lower Hudson River area want Indian Point to continue operating. [Newsday]
¶ Xcel is dropping the proposed upgrade at its Prairie Island nuclear power plant. [Mankato Free Press]
¶ Fracking has increased US petrochemical production for four years in a row, but the price of gasoline has not gone down. [Huffington Post]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 23, 2012
Japan:
¶ The Japanese government is refusing to join an initiative at the UN by sixteen countries to work toward banning nuclear weapons. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Parts of the restricted zone at Fukushima are being overrun by alien plant species. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ Greenpeace is charging that Japanese radiation testing is unreliable. [Greenpeace]
World:
¶ A poll in the UK shows the public majority favors wind, strongly favors solar, and does not favor any other power source. [Director of Finance online]
¶ The past failures of the Indian nuclear industry argue against selling uranium in that market. [Australian Mining]
¶ Ikea says it will power all its stores and buildings with solar and wind by 2020. [Straits Times]
US:
¶ The Kewaunee nuclear plant will close because of competition from other forms of electrical generation. Shutdown will begin in six months, and will be completed before the end of 2013. [Door County Advocate]
¶ A hydrogen leak was found at San Onofre, in a non-nuclear area. The gas is dissipating, and there is said to be no danger. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ Rooftop solar installations in Los Angeles added 22 megawatts of capacity last year, up from 9 the previous year, and 5 the year before that. This is part of a drive to install solar panels on a million rooftops. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, who live near a coal-fired power plant outside Las Vegas, are taking complaints about air quality to a federal appeals court in San Francisco. [CBS News]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 22, 2012
Japan:
¶ The IAEA and the Japanese government plan to set up a long-term research base in Fukushima to study decontamination and waste disposal methods. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ According to a new poll, most Germans back the government’s decision to phase out nuclear power and switch to renewable energies within a decade, despite rising electricity bills. [Phys.Org]
¶ Worldwide subsidies for fossil fuels are far greater than those for renewable sources. We could cut a lot of expenses by dropping them. [Businessweek]
¶ In an extremely competitive market, the German electronics giant, Siemens, is dropping solar manufacturing in favor of wind and hydro. [pv magazine]
¶ Scottish Renewables said 15% of the country’s total carbon emissions have been displaced by renewables projects. [NewNet]
US:
¶ A minor earthquake hit the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. No damage has been reported. [Businessweek]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 21, 2012
Japan:
¶ Expressing her thoughts during birthday observations, Empress Michiko had only one sincere wish regarding the people of Fukushima, “and that was for the victims to receive the most accurate information available and proper care should be given to those working valiantly at the Fukushima plant.” [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Marubeni Corporation will begin construction of Japan’s largest solar power plant in Kyushu next month. It will generate 81.5 megawatts, enough power for 25,000 households, and will be completed by the end of March 2014. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ The government of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu is planning to install 3000 MW of solar power over the next three years. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ The Chinese government will provide incentives to make it more attractive for companies to connect solar power to the grid. This is seen as a support for solar PV manufacturers. [SteelGuru]
US:
¶ Chesapeake Energy has obtained a permit for hydraulic fracking one mile from the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. [Timesloline.com]
¶ The risk of meltdown from flooding is higher in the US than at Fukushima. This article has some interesting maps. [Center for Research on Globalization]
¶ Santee Cooper is closing two major coal-burning plants, the first time it has closed any since it began generating power, 70 years ago. There will be no layoffs. [Equities.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 20, 2012
Japan:
¶ Areva will fit all 23 Japanese pressurized water reactors with hydrogen recombiners to help prevent hydrogen gas building up in emergency situations. [World Nuclear News]
World:
¶ The government of Saudi Arabia plans to go to 100% renewable energy sources. [Treehugger]
US:
¶ Some details have come out on a censored NRC report that has been in the news because of whistle blowers. The US has thirty-four nuclear reactors that could face flooding hazards greater than they were designed to withstand if an upstream dam fails. An example of the report’s contents is that the Oconee plant could melt down within three days of a failure of an upstream dam; this was discovered in 1996, but no action was taken. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
¶ Vermont Yankee has finished testing wells for tritium. [Ct Post]
¶ The NRC is not allowed to issue licenses until the nuclear waste situation is updated. The solution, which will be implemented by September, 2014, is to update the rules, rather than deal with the waste. [Bloomberg] (This seems to refer to a document with access number ML12264A451 at ADAMS. I am unable to download from ADAMS at this time.)
¶ One of Mitt Romney’s top donors is majority owner of a company that seeks to profit from storing uranium-based waste from nuclear and weapons plants. [Shreveport Times]
¶ The schools in Hemet, California, will save $300,000 per year from the installation of 4.4 MW of solar power. The panels also shade parking lots. [EON: Enhanced Online News]
¶ A former Maine state economist says cheap coal and the federal government’s unwillingness to enact a carbon pollution tax are the primary reasons Maine residents pay more for power than most other Americans. [Bangor Daily News]
¶ The Killington ski resort will power its lifts with manure from local farms. [ESPN]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 19, 2012
Technology:
¶ A company in the UK demonstrated in a laboratory project that it could capture carbon dioxide from the air, and turn it into petrol. This process is powered by electricity. [Daily Mail]
Japan:
¶ Stories of families in Fukushima Prefecture are the subject of a documentary being released in the US. It indicates a widespread cover-up of problems resulting from the Fukushima Disaster. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ A new robot developed to survey the contents of the failed Fukushima Daiichi reactor buildings was shown to the press. [The Denki Shimbun]
World:
¶ Chile’s environmental evaluation service has approved construction of a 162 MW solar power park in the mineral-rich Atacama region. [PV-Tech]
¶ The European solar industry believes it will have at least 15% of production, and possibly up to 25%, by 2030. [EurActiv]
¶ A new report suggests that concentrated solar power could play an essential role in achieving a secure and diversified energy future for India, especially to deal with the issues of energy blackouts. [The Hindu]
US:
¶ For the first time, output of wind generators was greater than hydro plants in the Pacific Northwest. [EarthTechling]
¶ A report just released says Nebraska is missing an opportunity to add jobs to the state economy while producing a cleaner form of energy, at just a time neighboring states are building wind capacity. [The Republic]
¶ A “Perfect Storm” may be brewing for US solar manufacturers. [Consumer Energy Report]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 18, 2012
Opinion:
¶ Renewable energy would be the real winner in a world of cheap, stable fossil fuels, which no longer need massive subsidies. [chinadialog]
Japan:
¶ Los Alamos National Laboratory is proposing the use of muons to detect where the location of corium that escaped from reactors at Fukushima Daiichi. [Examiner.com]
¶ Researchers showed a full-body robotic suit, intended to protect workers for cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The new Chinese nuclear safety program will cost over $12.7 billion US dollars. [China Post]
¶ The European Commission has released a proposal that will limit the global land conversion for biofuel production and increase the climate-related benefits of biofuels consumed in the EU. [Biodiesel Magazine]
¶ Ambassadors of thirteen European countries, Korea, and China are protesting the Bulgarian electricity regulator’s decision to introduce grid access charges on all operating renewable energy producers. [Balkans.com Business News]
US:
¶ One of ten points being contended on the Indian Point relicensing is being settled. The settlement will have fish in the Hudson River tested regularly in multiple places for radioactivity, and the results made public. [The Daily Voice]
¶ The NRC issued a Confirmatory Order to Honeywell International, Inc. outlining actions the company must take before it can resume its uranium conversion operations at the Honeywell Metropolis Works facility. [Occupational Health and Safety]
¶ Renewable energy was discussed in the presidential debate by both candidates. [solarserver.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 17, 2012
Japan:
¶ A remote-controlled camera taken pictures of the fuel in the spent fuel pool of Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 3. The company says it now knows “approximately” where a 35-ton chunk of steel landed on top of the fuel, and the claim is made that the fuel is intact. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection has issued a report acknowledging concern over the safety of China’s nuclear reactors. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ A study by the Crown Estate says there are “tens of gigawatts” of tidal and wave power that could be developed in the UK. [Out-Law.com]
¶ Current low prices and difficulties with financing resulting from lack of demand after the Fukushima Disaster are projected to lead to reduced exploration for uranium, mine closures, and increased prices for uranium fuel. [The Australian]
¶ In addition to nature, bad design, and human error, South Korea’s nuclear fleet is exposed to the possibility of nuclear war. [OilPrice.com]
¶ German Chancellor Angela Merkel will review taxes with a view to shifting the cost of switching to renewable power away from consumers. [Businessweek]
US:
¶ Pittsburgh ratepayers can specify 100% renewable for their electricity source, and doing so gets them a 10% reduction in price. [CleanTechnica]
¶ An oil sheen on Gulf waters near the site of BP’s Deep Water Horizon is causing concern. A robotic submarine is being sent to find the source. [Rigzone]
¶ The State of California is considering an investigation into the cause and the costs of the San Onofre shutdown. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ The NRC has reached an agreement with the Prairie Island Indian Community over waste storage at the Prairie Island nuclear facility. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ Crude oil is being removed from the Bayou Corne Sinkhole and the failed cavern beneath it. It is being shipped out for salvage. [The Advocate]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 16, 2012
Technology:
The Wall Street Journal awarded Kurion, Inc., an innovator in nuclear and hazardous waste management, its 2012 Technology Innovation Awards in the environmental category. Kurion’s technology has been used for cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi. [Environmental Expert]
World:
¶ Canadian solar PV capacity in Canada increased from 20 MW in 2006 to 500 MW in 2011, and is forecast to reach 6,579 MW by 2020. [Power Engineering]
¶ Germany could save around €570 billion ($740 billion) by 2050 if it stays with its plans of replacing nuclear with renewable sources. [Energy Live News]
¶ A joke on French TV about the “Fukushima effect” has drawn a protest from the Japanese Government [The Voice of Russia]
¶ The future of nuclear power in Central Europe is becoming more doubtful. [Financial Times]
¶ The Iraqi government plans to add 400 MW of solar and wind power over the next three years. Part of the reason is to free up oil for export. [Recharge]
US:
¶ The evacuation plan for an emergency at the Pilgrim nuclear plant, could have both bridges over the Bourne Canal closed, providing residents of Cape Cod no route to safety at all. [Bizjournals.com]
¶ An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel is beginning an evidentiary hearing addressing ten technical and environmental challenges to license renewal for Indian Point. [The Daily Voice]
¶ The State of Pennsylvania has a new law allowing fracking and fossil fuel extraction on college campuses. [SustainableBusiness.com]
Vermont:
¶ CalcoGreen has launched a new website to help clean energy developers and funding sources find each other. [Green Energy Times]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 15, 2012
Technology:
¶ Solar Junction, a Silicon Valley based developer of high-efficiency solar cells for the concentrating photovoltaics market, has set a world record of 44% for energy efficiency of a commercial-ready production solar cell. [U.S. Politics Today]
Japan:
¶ The internal document produced by TEPCO, in which it admitted the Fukushima Disaster could have been prevented, is available online. [TEPCO web page]
World:
¶ In a non-binding referendum, 32% of Lithuanians voted in favor of a nuclear power plant, and 62.1% voted against it. The Japanese reactor builder is likely to pull out of the project, given the poll results. [Baltic Business News]
¶ A worldwide poll on nuclear power shows an increase in support since the period immediately after the Fukushima Disaster, but worldwide, most still oppose it. [Nuclear Engineering International]
US:
¶ In southern California, ratepayers are being charged an average of $10 each month to cover costs of a nuclear power plant that has not delivered them any power for nearly a year. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ In an election year, no decision is forthcoming on regulating coal waste. [Washington Post]
¶ The Bayou Corne sinkhole is covered with a thick layer of crude oil, which is spreading into the adjacent environment. [Examiner.com]
Vermont:
¶ Governor Shumlin’s administration is being criticized for opposing a wind project in Windham County. The administration takes the view that they cannot support the project because local regulations block the project. [NewsOK]
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Tags: electric power costs, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 14, 2012
VERMONT:
¶ A HUGE solar project is starting up in Vermont. The 200-megawatt project will use 800,000 panels. Training for the first 500 employees will begin this winter. Other, similar projects are planned to follow. [Green Energy Times]
Technology:
¶ A new, anti-reflective surface developed at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory increases the efficiency of solar cells dramatically. The surface uses nanostructures to achieve 18.2% efficiency. [CleanTechnica]
Back to the Future:
¶ Sailing merchant ships are appearing once again, some traditional, and some of more modern design. [CNN]
Japan:
¶ A group of farmers in Fukushima Province are growing rice with 3% of the limit for radiation, from contaminated fields. To do this, they are using techniques learned from the Chernobyl disaster or developed on their own. [The Japan Times]
¶ Nobel Prize-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe was among the leaders of a rally in Tokyo to protest the resumption of construction of a new nuclear power plant in Aomori Prefecture. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ Mexican President Calderon inaugurated the first utility-scale solar power plant in Latin America, in the northwestern state of Baja California. [Hispanically Speaking News]
¶ An 80% drop in the price of solar cells over the past five years is helping Pakistan overcome its energy crisis. [The Express Tribune]
US:
¶ Environmental groups are questioning the economics of a nuclear reactor power uprate for Prairie Island. The question has implications for other uprates. [Equities.com]
¶ Complicated laws, resistance from power companies, poor tax incentives, and an emphasis on nuclear energy have kept solar power from achieving success in sunny South Carolina. [equities.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 13, 2012
Japan:
¶ TEPCO failed to introduce new safety measures it knew to be needed because of “concern of litigation risks” and “it would exacerbate … public anxiety and add momentum to anti-nuclear movements.” [The Epoch Times]
¶ An advisor appointed to oversee reforms in TEPCO says the nuclear industry should adopt standards common in other Japanese industries, which lead to excellence in performance. Under such standards, any worker can stop a process if he sees a defect. [Chicago Tribune]
World:
¶ The renewable energy surcharge may raise electric costs 11% in Germany next year. [PV-Tech]
¶ There is a plan underway in Germany to have a cap on renewable energy subsidies to take some pressure off consumers. At the same time, the government is planning to increase the goal from 35% renewable by 2020 to 40%. [Bloomberg]
US:
¶ A paradigm shift is under way for use of public lands for energy. Currently, 66% of such use is for coal mining, and 1% is for renewables. Newer development practice would change that. [ThinkProgress]
¶ A plan for streamlining solar projects in the Southwest has been approved, making it easier for developers to establish projects on 445 square miles of land. The land could produce over 16 GW. [The Desert Sun]
¶ The Natural Resources Defense Council and Riverkeeper have released a report detailing how Indian Point can close without causing an electricity shortage or major cost increase. [The Daily Voice]
¶ The NRC says Diablo Canyon is seismically safe. [Chicago Tribune]
¶ A 2.8 MW fuel cell system using biogas for fuel is now online at a California waste treatment plant. It is the largest such system in operation. [Fuel Cell Today]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 12, 2012
Science:
¶ The University of Texas at Austin will conduct a study of how much methane leaks into the atmosphere as a result of natural gas operations. [Environmental Defense Fund]
Japan:
¶ A probe into Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 finds conditions a little different from what was expected. There is more water in the reactor than anticipated, and though radiation was quite high at some distance above the reactor, it dropped as the probe got to the water. No one really knows where the melted core went. [The Japan Times]
¶ A statement from TEPCO says the company had known safety improvements were needed before last year’s meltdowns, but feared the political, economic and legal consequences of implementing them. [TIME]
World:
¶ Energy investment has fallen for the first time in eight years, as the industry deals with problems of overcapacity. [Environmental Expert]
¶ The German government is looking at ways of capping incentives as the goals for renewable energy generation are realized and renewable power can compete with conventional generation. [Bloomberg]
¶ The British government says it will work with energy officials in Scotland to advance the development of marine and wind energy. Scotland intends to have 100% renewable electric generation by 2020. [UPI]
US:
¶ The US Department of Interior has announced authorization of a 3 GW windfarm complex for Wyoming. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a report on biomass, which says the country could supply 20% of its electrical energy needs by 2030. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
¶ A sinkhole releasing methane, such as the one at Bayou Corne, was predicted in 2010. The prediction said it would be a result of the BP oil disaster, and the way the well was capped. [Examiner.com]
¶ Wells Fargo is investing in solar projects. [NASDAQ]
¶ Two more “imperfections” were found at welds in the reactor head at Beaver Valley in addition to the crack reported earlier. The owner considers this “ordinary” and is applying a new weld. [Timesonline.com]
¶ A roadside solar installation in Carver, Massachusetts brings the state’s capacity to 163 MW, up from 3 MW, when Governor Deval Patrick took office. [Wicked Local]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 11, 2012
Japan:
¶ A load of tobacco grown in Fukushima Province has been rejected by Japan Tobacco because it was above the safe limit for radioactive cesium. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Solar power accounts for 83% of new installations approved in Japan. [Businessweek]
World:
¶ A study in Germany, done by the Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies, indicates that no additional power storage is required when 40% of the energy is from renewable sources. [The Green Optimistic]
¶ BMW is moving its supercomputers to Iceland to take advantage of the renewable power already available there. [TechWeekEurope]
¶ Northern Ireland is adding 800 MW of wind power. [MSN News UK]
US:
¶ An ultrasound inspection revealed a degraded weld at a control rod penetration in the Beaver Valley Unit 2 reactor. The cracks did not provide a pathway for radiation release. [Nuclear Street]
¶ The US is applying heavy tariffs on Chinese solar panels, which are being sold below cost. [Phys.Org]
… The Chinese are accusing the US of obstructing conversions to renewable power. [Recharge]
¶ New Hampshire’s Groton Wind Farm is expected to begin generating power next month. [PSU The Clock] (It will ultimately produce 48 MW.)
¶ A report from the University of Texas at Austin says switching from coal to natural gas could reduce water usage for power plants by 60%. In Texas, this is very important. [energybiz]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 10, 2012
Japan:
¶ Japan’s carbon tax will cost utilities ¥80 billion ($1 billion) per year. [Chicago Tribune]
¶ The emperor and empress will visit a village that lies partially in the no-go zone around Fukushima Daiichi. They are doing this to inspect decontamination work and encourage residents. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The Indonesian government is planning to develop renewable energy as a way to keep exporting petroleum. [Platts]
¶ Australia’s first utility-scale solar farm has been put into service. It provides 10 MW. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ Solar hot water systems have been installed in 858,000 homes in Australia. [Energy Matters]
US:
¶ An NRC public meeting on the future of the San Onofre plant drew an audience of 1600. The crowd had a lot of anti-nuclear activists in it, along with a lot of nuclear workers. [Capistrano Dispatch]
… Permission to restart San Onofre is not a done deal, according to the NRC’s regional administrator. [Chicago Tribune]
¶ The Federal Government has approved 10 GW of renewable installation on federal lands. [KCET]
¶ A group of activists is planning to sue Entergy for polluting Cape Cod Bay. [WGBH]
¶ The sinkhole at Bayou Corne is getting bigger. The hydrocarbons coming up on the water turn out to be crude oil. [The Advocate]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 9, 2012
Japan:
¶ During the Fukushima Disaster, workers needed to open a valve to supply coolant, but could not do so because the backup battery, an ordinary car battery, was damaged. They did not have the cash needed to buy one, so TEPCO sent a helicopter with the cash the next day. [ROCKETNEWS24]
¶ TEPCO is looking into importing shale gas from the US to lower costs. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The government of India is committed to installing 55 GW of renewable power by 2022, providing electrical power to millions of households. [Hindustan Times]
US:
¶ The NRC’s review of the plan to restart San Onofre could be very long. According to the regional administrator, a licence amendment may be necessary, and this could take up to two years. [Washington Post]
¶ Connecticut’s current plan is to have 20% of its electrical power from renewable sources by 2020. The governor is considering increasing that for job growth. [North American Windpower]
¶ Economists say clean coal is too expensive. [WyoFile]
¶ Haliburton has recovered the radioactive device it lost in a desert in Texas a month ago. It had been the object of an extensive search with sophisticated detection gear. It was found by an oilfield worker, who recognized it from a flyer. [Equites.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 8, 2012
Japan:
¶ The Japanese government estimates 20 GW of power could be derived from the country’s geothermal resources, and is interested in using it to replace nuclear power. [Hydrogen Fuel News]
World:
¶ The South Australian regulatory agency responsible for retail electricity prices has released a draft price determination that proposes an 8.1% reduction in the minimum price for electricity. The reason behind this appears to be the increases in supply of renewable power. [SBS]
¶ The Chancellor of the UK has been warned by a number of large corporations that mixed messages on renewable power will have a negative effect on investment. [Financial Times]
¶ The UK is becoming an important center for research in marine power, in part because the Severn estuary has the world’s second largest tidal range. [ESI-Africa]
¶ The protests against the Kudankulam atomic power project resulted in 5000 security personnel being called out. Villagers intend to lay siege to the plant. [The Asian Age]
¶ A radiation researcher is making the case that the Kudankulam plant is completely unprepared for solar Coronal Mass Ejection, and could be badly damaged by it. [IBNLive]
US:
¶ Ohio State University has entered an agreement to get 25% of its electric power from wind. [OSU – The Lantern]
¶ Coal is being replaced by natural gas as the main fuel source for generating electricity. [Financial Times]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 7, 2012
Japan:
¶ This weekend, officials from Japan and Europe are meeting to discuss energy solutions at a forum in Kyoto. The focus is the Japanese plan to replace nuclear atomic power with other resources by 2040. [Gulf Times]
¶ The Japanese Prime Minister toured Fukushima Daiichi and inspected the reactor at Unit 4, as workers prepare to remove fuel from it. He is also scheduled to tour municipalities undergoing decontamination. [Radio Netherlands]
World:
¶ A Polish plan restores many incentives for renewable power generation that had been proposed to be cut earlier. The measure also shifts the emphasis away from biomass and onshore wind, toward solar power, offshore wind, and micro-generation. [Reuters]
¶ Before the opening of the first Anaerobic Digestion Conference in Northern Ireland, the country’s Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill, told the press she wanted to see more farmers benefit from renewable power to help support farming activities, and that funds were available too assist in that. [Farming Life]
US:
¶ One place the difference between presidential candidates can be seen most clearly is in their energy policies. [Budgeteer]
¶ In Michigan, voters will decide on Proposal 3, which would create a constitutional amendment requiring 25% of power be from renewable sources by 2025. The issue is controversial. [Lansing State Journal]
¶ The amount of methane in the air is potentially life-threatening in some places around the Bayou Corne sinkhole, according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. It is coming up out of the ground and waters of an expanding area in southern Louisiana, at “bubble sites,” and in household water wells. [Examiner.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
October 6, 2012
Japan:
¶ A citizens group that has been monitoring radiation in Fukushima Prefecture says its readings are consistently higher than the figures the government released. It is suggesting the government somehow manipulated the data it released and purposely misinformed the public. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ Despite claims to the contrary, generating electricity with coal continues a long decline in Germany, and the country continues to export power, even though several nuclear plants were closed. Renewable resources are now contributing more than either nuclear or hard coal. They may surpass soft coal this year as well. [Renewable Energy World]
¶ Chinese solar panels have been selling at below cost, helping to drive the boom in solar power. That may end soon. What effect it will have on the solar electric market is less certain. [Washington Post]
¶ The UK may be facing higher electric costs and blackouts by 2015, because coal plants will be closed early, according to the energy regulator. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ An ongoing news issue is that NRC whistleblowers are accusing the agency of concealing details of a possible problem from the public. A forty-year-old 385 foot tall earth dam, which supplies cooling water, is upriver from the Oconee nuclear plant. If it fails, the plant could be flooded, and its three reactors damaged. [Greenville News]
¶ Those who have a little extra time may want to visit some of the thirteen homes and businesses on the Solar Tour in Fairbanks. It is from 10:00 to 4:00 today, Alaska time. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner]
¶ New York’s Lincoln Center will be getting its electric supply entirely from wind power. [North American Windpower]
¶ According to Boeing’s Chief Technology Officer, the airline industry is “begging” for biofuels to power its fleets. [Agri News]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 5, 2012
Japan:
¶ It seems no one in Japan wants to take responsibility for deciding on reactor restarts. The Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary says that the new Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has the ultimate responsibility. The NRA has said it will only decide on matters of science, and not make decisions about whether reactors should restart. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Ampere Down movement is gaining supporters in Japan. People are replacing circuit breakers with new ones rated for fewer amps, and living within the resulting limitations. Electricity bills go down as power is saved. Also, more Japanese are choosing to live off the grid. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The EU’s report on the results of stress tests has issued, and as expected, says practically all nuclear plants are in need of safety upgrades. [Telegraph.co.uk]
… The EU’s energy commissioner says nuclear operators should have to buy liability insurance to cover damages from accidents, just like everyone else. [Financial Times]
¶ Developing wind resources in Ireland could produce 30,000 jobs and €18 billion in revenues for the state by 2020. [Irish Examiner]
US:
¶ Southern California Edison is proposing to run San Onofre Unit 2, the less damaged of the two reactors, at 70% power. [Wall Street Journal]
… The NRC says the review needed to restart San Onofre will take months. [Reuters]
… Unit 3 will remain offline for at least until next summer. [Los Angeles Times]
…Workers at San Onofre say they are working in a climate of fear and distrust. [Inside Climate News]
¶ According to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, 205 coal-fueled generating plants will shut down by 2015 because of environmental regulations. [CoalGuru.com]
(Bear in mind, the cause is the regulations, not the pollution.)
¶ Amid fears that natural gas is spreading through the local aquifer from the area of the Bayou Corne sinkhole, testing is being done on gasses bubbling out of the water farther away, and wells will be drilled, to discover the extent of the problem. [The Advocate]
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Tags: coal power, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 4, 2012
Japan:
¶ Most of Japan’s 46 leading newspapers have called for the abolition of nuclear power. Twenty-eight of them, 61%, called for halting nuclear power altogether; fourteen, 30%, called for gradually replacing nuclear; two called for continuation, and two did not support any position. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ The Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Authority says its mission is to assess the safety of reactors scientifically, and not to make judgments on whether they should be restarted. [Power Engineering]
World:
¶ The UK’s troubles attracting investors in new nuclear plants have resulted in continuation of depressed uranium prices. Australian mining operators had been hoping on recovery from their problems following the Fukushima Disaster, but it has not come. [The West Australian]
¶ The UK is doing an apparent about-face to renew support for renewable projects, and getting praise from business for it. [edie.net]
US:
¶ The owners of the Crystal River nuclear plant issued a statement on whether the plant will be repaired or closed permanently. The statement says say they do not know what to do. [Melodika.net]
¶ Sumitomo of America is joining its Japanese parent company to invest in a 550 MW solar array in California. Sumitomo already has 1800 MW of renewable capacity in the US. [Solar Industry]
¶ A federal judge has granted a request by the State of Vermont for expedited oral arguments in the appeal of Entergy’s lawsuit against Vermont. [Brattleboro Reformer]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 3, 2012
Technology:
¶ Highview Power Storage, a company in the UK, has been operating a prototype energy storage unit for two years. Excess power from wind farms is used to liquefy nitrogen, which can then be boiled off to produce power when it is needed. [Extreme Tech]
Japan:
¶ Japan Petroleum Exploration has retrieved oil shale from below the Ayukawa oil and gas field in Akita in northern Japan, and hopes to be able to extract fuel from the area. [Reuters]
¶ TEPCO is removing fuel from a reactor at Fukushima Daini. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Hakodate municipal government is considering filing a lawsuit to stop construction of a nuclear plant in nearby Oma, Aomori Prefecture. Hakodate has a population of about 280,000. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ The EU commission is being accused in parliament of dodging the tough safety questions on nuclear power, failure to address important issues, and having no proposals to close unsafe reactors. [TheParliament.com]
¶ Wales has relaxed rules to allow certain organizations to install solar panels and some other renewable energy devices without planning permission. [Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine]
US:
¶ An independent poll of registered voters in areas served by San Onofre shows 50% want the plant shut down, and 30% want it to continue generating power. [U-T San Diego]
¶ The US nuclear power industry is trying to get export controls eased, so it can sell nuclear technology to such countries as China and Russia. [Sydney Morning Herald]
¶ A new poll by Hart Research shows Americans love solar. Among swing voters, 59% say developing solar is very important. The poll covers a lot of other questions about power. [CleanTechnica]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 2, 2012
Japan:
¶ Construction of the nuclear plant in Aomori Prefecture, reported by local media yesterday, is now quite certain. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets estimates Japan will have 24.9 GW of renewable capacity by 2016. [Clean Technica]
World:
¶ A decision by the Bulgarian government to abandon construction of a nuclear power plant has put it at odds with Russia. [Telegraph.co.uk]
¶ A report based on the European stress tests has been seen by members of the press prior to release. It says nearly all nuclear reactors in Europe need upgrades for safety. Costs are expected to range from €30 million to €200 million ($38 million to $250 million). [Wall Street Journal]
… The results of the stress test leave many questioning whether nuclear plants are currently safe enough to operate. [Deutsche Welle]
¶ According to a new report from Green Budget Germany, the true total cost of wind power is about half that of electricity from coal. [RenewEconomy]
¶ The Australian government is looking into 100% renewable scenarios for 2030 and 2050. [Climate Spectator]
US:
¶ Customers in Tampa Florida were offered rebates for new PV systems. The total available to all was $1 million. Signing up started online, and the rebates were all claimed in one minute. [WTSP 10 News]
¶ Cost estimates for Crystal River repairs keep going up. A new figure from Zapata, Inc., says that the costs will be $1.5 billion, $200 million more than the owner’s estimates. The estimate for the worst case scenario is $3.4 billion. [Nuclear Street]
¶ An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear objections to renewal of the Indian Point license, beginning October 15. [Reuters]
¶ A shutdown at Palisades was the result of cracks in a pipe associated with a control rod, which leaked radioactive cooling water. The cause of the cracks is unknown. [WOOD-TV]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
October 1, 2012
Japan:
¶ Yoshinori Kobayashi, a comic-book artist famous for his right-wing, nationalist views of Japanese history, has released a comic book called “Exit Nuclear Power.” He believes it will have a negative impact on sales of his books, but is morally necessary for him to take an anti-nuclear stand. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ According to local media, Japan Electric has decided to resume construction of a nuclear plant in Aomori Prefecture. [Global Times]
World:
¶ Investment in renewable technology is moving into Asia, with half the world’s green energy projects in such places as India and China. [EcoSeed]
¶ Geothermal power is becoming increasingly important. Though development is not fast in the US, it is in double digits elsewhere. [Nevada Appeal]
US:
¶ The Florida Supreme Court is considering whether it is right for people to be forced to pay in advance for a product they might never get, and whether, having paid, they are due a refund if the product never comes. The questions center on power from nuclear plants. [Power Engineering]
¶ Renewable energy projects produce jobs. Because of this, a number of important Republican governors are pushing clean technology. [Triple Pundit]
¶ A new coal-burning power plant is starting up in Virginia. It has reduced emissions, with mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate emissions reduced by 99%. [Melodica.net]
¶ The Alabama Public Service Commission has struck a deal to buy electricity generated by Kansas and Nebraska wind farms. The price it is paying is below what it would cost to generate the power using conventional plants in Alabama. Coal supplied 77% of Alabama’s electricity in 1999; today it is supplying 47%. [Clean Technica]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
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