Technology:
¶ Cool Planet Energy Systems hopes to sell biomass-based gasoline for about $1.50 per gallon by having small, distributed production facilities use local fuel sources. Potential fuels include waste wood, agricultural waste, etc. Investors include Google, GE, and BP. [greenbiz.com]
¶ A company in Western Australia has developed a system for “smoothing” the power supply from solar farms by use of an integrated cell battery management system. [Science Network Western Australia]
Japan:
¶ Experts for the Nuclear Regulation Authority disagree over whether a fault directly beneath the Ohi nuclear plant could open up in a future earthquake. More study is being done. Two reactors at Ohi are currently the only ones in Japan generating power. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ A former US Deputy Defense Secretary says the US has a need to see that Japan maintains its nuclear capability. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Japanese government had decided not to seek approval from the Diet for appointments to the country’s new Nuclear Regulation Authority during the current session. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ The German exit from nuclear power and move toward renewable energy sources is reportedly already providing measurable economic and environmental benefits. One top expert says it is probably a game-changer for the nuclear industry worldwide. [Newsroom America]
¶ The German government’s decision to cut solar feed-in tariffs did not prevent unimpeded growth in the solar market in September. Germany will probably set a new record for installations this year. [Seeking Alpha]
US:
¶ According to a report from Pike Research, North America will add more than 400,000 megawatts of renewable capacity from 2012 through 2015, making it the leading region in the world for new renewable energy. [AZoCleantech]
¶ It looks more and more like Calvert Cliffs 3 will not be built. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is terminating review of the reactor application, because UniStar failed to meet its 60-day deadline to find a U.S. partner. [So Md News]
¶ The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is asking owners of the Dresden nuclear plant, in Illinois, to explain how operators would handle a catastrophic flood at the plant. Relative to maximum flood waters, the plant is nearly 11 feet lower than current standards would allow. [Chicago Tribune]
¶ Employment in the US solar industry has grown 13.2% in the past year. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The third of four old steam generators replaced at San Onofre is leaving for the scrap heap on a special, 400-foot-long vehicle. It weighs 350 tons, and will be on the road for three weeks in its trip from California to Utah. [Business Wire]
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