World:
¶ The Centre for Alternative Technology, released an update of its Zero Carbon Britain report saying solar and wind energy sources can be backed up by using carbon-neutral synthetic gas for a rapid shift to a carbon-neutral Britain. [theenergycollective.com]
¶ Saudi Arabia aims to become the world’s foremost market for renewable energy with an aggressive investment budget of $109 billion. By 2032, the country strives to generate as much as a third of the Kingdom’s energy demands using renewable energy (54 GW). [Arab News]
¶ The World Bank has decided that it will halt the financing of coal-fired power plants and will allow it only under rare circumstances where there are no other feasible alternatives to coal. [The Green Optimistic]
¶ Wind integration studies suggest that European grid operators could cope with more renewable power without adding big back-up plants, so governments need not intervene in power markets. This could be done by having grids increase cooperation across regions. [Business Recorder]
¶ The UK’s government has introduced tax-payer funded benefit packages for people living in the vicinity of future nuclear reactors. Some £128m will be awarded to the area around Hinkley Point. The plans have encountered criticism. [E&T magazine]
¶ The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2013 was published last Thursday and revealed a measly growth of over 1.2 GW during 2012 globally, compared to 32 GW of solar growth in the same time. The decline results from Fukushima and renewable power. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Another day brings another mishap at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Tokyo Electric Power Company said on Thursday that steam has been spotted coming out near the pool storing machinery on the fifth floor of the reactor 3 building. [The Japan Daily Press]
US:
¶ The Vermont Energy Partnership recently published its latest study, “The Three-Legged Race: Vermont’s Pursuit of 90% Renewables by 2050,” an overview of progress towards reaching the Vermont Department of Public Service goal of using 90% renewable energy by 2050. [Mountaintimes]
¶ US power producers must reduce their dependence on water or they may be forced to lower output as drought and other extreme weather events curtail their access to water supplies, researchers said today. Coal and nuclear plants are affected most. [FuelFix]
¶ Michigan’s Palisades nuclear plant has had two leaks since shutting down in May to repair a leaking water tank. One was in a pipe in the service water system. The other had a small amount of water dripping from the control room ceiling onto a panel. [The San Luis Obispo Tribune]
¶ Arizona utilities can’t use electricity generated by burning trash to meet their renewable energy requirements, a judge ruled Wednesday. A chapter of the Sierra Club had filed a suit to stop a trash-burning plant near Phoenix from being counted as renewable. [Arizona Daily Star]
¶ America’s fleet of aging nuclear power plants is rapidly becoming uneconomical to operate, according to a new report, “Renaissance in Reverse,” by Mark Cooper of the Vermont Law School. [Plain Dealer]
¶ Construction on the first 65 miles of California’s high-speed rail project is about to begin, and according to a report from the California’s High Speed Rail Authority, the project will produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Xcel has lifted the secrecy about cost overruns at its Monticello nuclear power plant, revealing that recently completed upgrades, originally budgeted at $320 million, were actually costing $640 million. [MENAFN.COM]
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