Economics:
¶ Nuclear plants, old and uncompetitive, are closing earlier than expected. This year, utilities have announced the retirement of four reactors, bringing the number remaining in the United States to 100. [New York Times]
¶ If you’ve perceived a hint of desperation in anti-renewable energy arguments lately, there’s a reason. Renewable energy is a threat to the fracking boom. [TheStreet.com]
Science and Technology:
¶ Solar Impulse pilot André Borschberg has landed in Cincinnati as part of a quest to cross the country in a solar-powered airplane. The plane’s lithium-ion batteries allow it to fly at night. [AOPA Pilot]
World:
¶ A power-to-gas plant that converts surplus power from wind turbines into energy-dense hydrogen gas started operating in Germany for the first time this week. The system is intended to store power from renewable resources. [FuelFix]
¶ Nuclear firm Sellafield has been fined £700,000 and ordered to pay more than £72,000 costs for sending bags of low-level radioactive waste to a landfill site. [The Guardian]
¶ Oil, gas, coal, and nuclear power have all fallen victim to sluggish economic growth and dwindling global demand. Solar power generation increased over 58%, and wind energy grew at 18.9%. [NASDAQ]
¶ In further delay, Nuclear Power Corporation of India has postponed the expected date of commissioning of the first unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant to July. [Economic Times]
US:
¶ A carbon dioxide release forced workers to evacuate the turbine building Friday morning at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station. [Timesonline.com]
¶ The TVA’s top nuclear building director said he expects the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor to generate power by 2015. The reactor has been under construction for four decades. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]
geoharvey 