Archive for the 'renewable power' Category
July 28, 2012
Japan:
¶ The Japanese Science Ministry is trying to justify withholding SPEEDI fallout information about the Fukushima Disaster from the public because it was based on “assumptions.” (We might note that all precautions are based on assumptions.) [The Japan Times]
¶ Decontamination work is not going ahead in most areas evacuated after the Fukushima Disaster. [Asahi Shimbun]
US:
¶ The NRC has issued a bulletin on a potential design flaw at US nuclear power plants. It is possible no one thought to install equipment t0 detect the loss of one of three phases in three-phase offsite power, which could affect key safety equipment. (One wonders what else they might have forgotten to install.) [Reuters]
¶ The NRC says that after some study, its current position is that storing spent fuel in spent fuel pools is “adequate” to assure public safety. It will continue to study the issue for as long as five years. [Union of Concerned Scientists]
¶ A new report from the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory provides information on potentials of various sources of energy in the US. According to the report, the potential for PVs is 280,613 TWh per year, and the potential for wind is 49,769 TWh per year; the report deals with other sources as well. By comparison, the current US production of nuclear and coal combined is 2,514 TWh per year. [REVE]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
July 27, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers have found technology that may make it possible to produce photovoltaic cells form virtually any semiconductor, without doping. The cells would have low cost and be highly efficient. [Electronics News]
Japan:
¶ Hokuriku Electric Power Co. has submitted plans to tunnel under a reactor at its Shika nuclear power plant to investigate a fault. Separately, it has confirmed that one of the reactors at the plant has had several tons of seawater leak into its pressure vessel, causing extensive corrosion. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ A Malaysian project addresses poverty in a sustainable and comfortable “smart village.” The village produces both energy and food of its own. [CNN]
¶ In Zimbabwe, solar power makes it possible to cut the electric bill, lower carbon emissions, and take a bath in the cold of winter. [AllAfrica]
¶ In Germany, 26% of electricity supplied in the first half of 2012 was from renewable sources. The “alternative energy” portion of production rose from 3.8% to 22% in ten years. [Clean Technica]
US:
¶ The Vermont Public Service board has denied requests from the Windham Regional Council and the New England Coalition in the case on the Certificate of Public Good for Vermont Yankee. [Brattleboro Reformer]
¶ The US House of Representatives passed a bill that prevents the NRC from taking any “significant regulatory action” until unemployment drops below six percent. [Las Vegas Sun]
¶ Vermont Yankee accidentally drained 2500 gallons of water from its spent fuel pool into a wastewater system. [vtdigger.org]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Germany, New England Coalition, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, Vermont Yankee
July 25, 2012
Japan:
¶ Investigations into the Fukushima Disaster have still not provided a complete understanding of what happened. [The Daily Yomiuri]
… The government will continue investigating, using the new nuclear regulatory agency, when it is set up. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Japanese government is having difficulty finding regulators for their new agency who are knowledgeable on the nuclear industry, but are not too close to it. Cronyism is a serious problem, and is blamed for the Fukushima Disaster. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ A group of retired nuclear engineers is seeking the assistance of the United States as they seek to replace younger workers at Fukushima Daiichi. They had made the offer to TEPCO, because as older people they were less vulnerable to the effects of radiation, but the utility rejected the offer. [Infoshop News]
¶ Fukushima cleanup workers may have been illegally recruited, and may be illegally underpaid. [The Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Now that the investigative reports have been issuing, prosecutors are beginning to accept criminal complaints relating to the Fukushima Disaster. [AsiaOne]
World:
¶ Areva, the French utility known for its nuclear power plants, is investing in biomass technology. The involvement in biomass is not new, as the company already has 5 GW of biomass generating capacity. [Platts]
US:
¶ In the middle of a court case over fish kills in the Hudson River, effecting the operation of Indian Point, the NRC has decided to change to newer data, indicating the number of fish killed is only 0.1% of what earlier studies had found. [newjerseynewsroom.com]
¶ NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane says the matter of Yucca Mountain was not currently before the NRC, though the matter of nuclear waste storage is. She studied Yucca Mountain five years ago, and concluded, “Yucca Mountain is neither seismically nor volcanically stable.” [Bloomberg]
¶ The first commercial tidal energy project in the US was dedicated Tuesday in Eastport, Maine. [The Boston Globe]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power
July 24, 2012
Technology:
¶ Scientists are working on a way to prevent zirconium based cladding of nuclear fuel rods from reacting with steam. [Lincoln Journal Star]
Japan:
¶ A government report says the underlying cause of the Fukushima Disaster was belief in a “myth of nuclear safety.” Managers and officials simply did not believe a major accident was possible, so dangers were ignored, with both preventative measures and disaster preparations unaddressed. unaddressed[The Japan Times]
… The same report says TEPCO is still failing to ensure safety properly and is unwilling to examine the problems that caused the Fukushima Disaster. [Wall Street Journal]
… In addition, the report suggests all nuclear power plants are vulnerable to the same problems that underlay the Fukushima Disaster. [The Guardian]
¶ Many hospital patients being evacuated because of the Fukushima Disaster died because of lack of planning and preparation. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Consumers are avoiding beef from the areas around Fukushima. [The Japan Times]
… Nevertheless, octopus from the northern coast of Fukushima prefecture have returned to market. [The Japan Times]
¶ A citizen’s group has found high levels of radioactive cesium at the side of a river 178 km (110 miles) from the Fukushima Daiichi plant. [Infoshop News]
World:
¶ Falling costs of photovoltaics and lithium batters are bringing Australia to the point that off-grid power is economically competitive with grid-based power. [Newsmaker]
US:
¶ The Oyster Creek plant was shut down yesterday because of loss of offsite power. [Star Ledger]
¶ The governor of New Jersey has signed a bill to maintain encouragement of solar power in that state. [Bloomberg Business Week]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: distributed power, electric power costs, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
July 23, 2012
Japan:
¶ The Japanese government is preparing a plan to abandon use of nuclear power altogether by 2025. The group drafting the plan is headed by former Prime Minister Kan, and is working at the request of the secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party. [NHK World]
¶ An official of the subcontracting company accused of faking dosimeter readings admits to the fact he did it, but claims it only happened once. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ A new government report says the Japanese nuclear industry and regulators ignored safety risks. [ABC Radio Australia]
¶ The Japanese are turning more to distributed power and renewable energy. Such power generation can be under local authority, which makes it very attractive to local and regional governments. [The Mainichi]
World:
¶ The head of public affairs at the Swiss Association of Electricity Companies says local photovoltaic panels can replace half of the nuclear generated electricity provided to Switzerland. [Swissinfo.ch]
US:
¶ The Agua Caliente solar farm in Arizona is about two-thirds finished, but is already delivering 200 MW of power to the San Diego area, lightening the load imposed by the shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear plant. [Clean Technica]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: distributed power, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 21, 2012
Technology:
¶ A transparent solar cell can operate in windows with a small reduction in transmitted light. It is 4% efficient in converting sunlight to electrical power. Made from a “polymer-like” material, it is said to be of low cost to manufacture. [Science Daily]
Japan:
¶ Contract workers doing cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi have said they were instructed to cover their dosimeters with lead so they could work in highly contaminated areas longer. The government is investigating. [Deutsche Welle]
¶ The Friday protests outside the prime minister’s residence just get bigger. Though the number in Tokyo seems to have decreased from last week, the movement has spread outside the capital. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is a member of the same political party as the current prime minister, has joined the protesters, and is encouraging the government to pay attention to the wishes of the people. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Testing for radiation in fish indicates that in some areas in the Pacific Ocean the majority are contaminated with radioactive cesium. [PEJ News]
US:
¶ The Union of Concerned Scientists has issued a report on renewable power generation in California. Electricity from renewable sources provided 19% of all retail electric sales in 2010, up from 4% in 2000. Nevertheless, some approaches have been shown to be better than others. [North American Windpower]
¶ GE is reorganizing its energy business into three subsidiaries. The change should be completed in 2012. One of the subsidiaries will focus on power generation, including both renewable and nuclear systems. [Solar Novus Today]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 16, 2012
Japan:
¶ On Monday, a protest in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park drew 170,000 people. It is described as the largest protest Tokyo has had so far. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Japan is allowing the first geothermal power plant to be built inside a national park. [Power Engineering]
¶ Nuclear engineers are leaving Japan for better pay elsewhere. [The Japan Times]
¶ A new report, to be released on July 23, will detail problems in the responses to problems of the earthquake and tsunami at the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini plants. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ Germany had very little power to spare last winter, and probably would have had blackouts at times, but its solar installations and an unusually sunny February prevented that from happening. [EurActiv.com]
US:
¶ A host of problems makes the future of new nuclear plant construction less than rosy. [Journal Gazette]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, solar power
July 14, 2012
Technology:
¶ GE is building a factory for a new battery it says can balance grid loads. [The Green Optimistic]
Japan:
¶ The new Japanese nuclear regulatory agency will disclose documents so citizens do not need to request them. Records will be kept at meetings and made public. [The Japan Times]
¶ After calling a restart of the reactors at Niigata vital, the chairman of TEPCO has come to admit the restart faces trouble. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Barriers and buses blocked the way, but the 16th consecutive Friday protest of nuclear power in Tokyo was well attended. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Regulatory capture of nuclear regulatory agencies is a global problem. [Huffington Post]
¶ The UK is taking title of four tonnes of German plutonium in the country for processing, and giving ownership of an equal amount to France in a title transfer. This means shipping is not needed, and security is enhanced. [World Nuclear News]
US:
¶ Entergy has developed a plan that it believes will convince Vermont the deep bedrock ground water under VY is safe, and so has agreed to resume testing of a well. [Brattleboro Reformer]
¶ The NRC is one of several US government agencies that will be offering retirement incentives to trim its workforce. [Government Executive]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Vermont Yankee
July 13, 2012
Japan:
¶ A set of 1198 census evaluations of animal populations compares the Fukushima Disaster to Chernobyl. The idea that nuclear disaster creates a sort of wildlife refuge where things can grow in abundance is a myth. [New York Times]
¶ Evacuees from Fukushima are dying of fatigue and stress. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ Jobs lost when nuclear plants close may be more than replaced by jobs in the renewable electric sector. A combination of reports indicates that for every job lost in the japanese nuclear industry, renewable power might create ten. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ Some scientists have revised the estimates on Fukushima radiation doses from high to safe. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ In the UK, prices are going up for both nuclear plants and the electricity nuclear plants generate. [Bloomberg]
US:
¶ The NRC has released a detailed report on the steam generator tubes at San Onofre. Reports differ on the meaning of the report, and I am sure there will be updates on this. The Associated Press report indicates 3420 tubes in one generator need to be replaced, nearly five times the maximum at which the generator needs to be retired. [Associated Press]
… Another take on the same data is that things are bad, but no worse than had been previously acknowledged. [Orange County Register]
¶ US anti-nuclear groups are warning that the mindset that underlay the Fukushima Disaster also characterize the NRC. [Environment News Service]
¶ Solar Power works in the rain forest of southeastern Alaska. [Juneau Empire]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: electric power costs, Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 12, 2012
Technology:
¶ New amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells can capture power both as heat and electricity. [Ecoseed]
Japan:
¶ A doctor who has specialized in health of A-bomb victims is concerned about the symptoms he is seeing in Fukushima residents. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Ohi Unit 4 reactor will be restarted on July 19. [Kuwait News Agency]
¶ TEPCO says the debris in Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 have been removed. [Power Engineering]
World:
¶ Australian group Beyond Zero Emissions has a plan to make that country 100% renewable in ten years. [REVE]
¶ Ireland plans to get 40% of its electric power from renewables by 2020. [Environmental Expert]
US:
¶ Former New York City mayor Ed Koch wants Indian Point closed. [Metrofocus]
¶ A report from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board calls for prompt action because of deficiencies in safety and safety culture. [Huffington Post]
¶ The Palisades nuclear plant is producing power again after an unplanned shutdown to fix a leak in the safety injection refueling water tank. [Nuclear Street]
¶ Honeywell is evaluating safety upgrades at its Metropolis Works nuclear conversion facility. Completion of upgrades will take 12 to 15 months, during which time staff will be at 50%. [NASDAQ]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
July 6, 2012
Technology:
¶ Graphene added to photovoltaic cells may improve efficiency by over 50%, and double-sided cells could be 50% more efficient as well. [Home Heating Guide]
¶ A new wind turbine design is being built in the UK. It is intended to be mastless for urban installation. [Specifinder]
… The article does not have a picture, but one can be seen at the McCamley website.
Japan:
¶ This BBC article lists the main points and recommendations of the parliamentary report on the Fukushima Disaster. [BBC]
¶ The report puts safety of the entire Japanese fleet into question, by implying the other reactors are vulnerable. [Atlantic Wire]
World:
¶ Worldwide nuclear electric production dropped by 4.3% in the aftermath of the Fukushima Disaster. [Bloomberg Businessweek]
¶ A report from the Confederation of British Industry says the government can cut its deficit in half by embracing renewable energy. [Solar Power Portal]
¶ The International Energy Agency projects 40% growth in the renewable sector in the next five years, increasing from recent growth of around 20%. [Engineering News]
Palestinians are installing PVs to reduce dependence on Israel. [Al-Monitor]
US:
¶ Departing Chairman Jaczko says the agency may not be able to renew licenses for operating nuclear plants for “a few years” because of a federal court ruling, but the plants may continue to operate anyway. [Platts]
¶ The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still divided and does not know what to do about nuclear safety, according to departing chairman Jaczko. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ We can cut the price of solar power in half by cutting the red tape. [Forbes]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
July 5, 2012
Opinion:
¶ Can a nuclear disaster happen here?
Japan:
¶ The Japanese Parliament released its report on the investigation into the Fukushima Disaster. A one sentence summary: “Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis was a preventable disaster resulting from ‘collusion’ among the government, regulators and the plant operator.” [Reuters]
¶ Some say TEPCO is repairing the damaged reactors at Fukushima Daini. [Associated Press]
… Another take on the situation is that they are considering decommissioning the plant. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ Because of ongoing fallout from Fukushima Daiichi, at the Fukushima Daini plant, it is safer inside the reactor buildings than outside. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ The Brazilian national energy agency says electricity from home solar panels is now cheaper than power supplied by many of grid suppliers. [Clean Technica]
US:
¶ Economics may close the San Onofre power plant. [Washington Times]
¶ The Connecticut Attorney General has come out against Indian Point license renewal, based on dangers to human health and safety. [Stamford Advocate]
¶ Californian electric customers have installed over a gigawatt of solar capacity. [PV Magazine]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: electric power costs, Fukushima, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power
July 4, 2012
Opinion:
¶ As I see it – the future of electricity generation.
Japan:
¶ The Japanese government will not allow people who have worked in the nuclear industry in the last three years to work for the new regulatory agency. [Power Engineering]
¶ Yusuhara, in Kochi Prefecture, is considered a model in use of renewable power generation. [Power Engineering]
¶ Japan is still struggling to define its energy future. Some experts see the nuclear industry as desperate, commenting, “But basically, there is very little they can do to turn the clock back.” [Reuters]
World:
¶ Grameen Schneider Electric will equip nearly 200,000 households in Bangladesh with home solar systems. [Construction Week]
US:
¶ Dominion, owner of the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant, wants to increase the number of dry casks on site. [The Day]
¶ The Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation found a lot of flotsam from Japan in a survey it conducted in Alaska. Tests were conducted and nothing was found to be radioactive. [Alaska Dispatch]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
July 3, 2012
Japan:
¶ After 15 months, 40% of the people evacuated from Okuma, in Fukushima Prefecture, have given up on the idea that they will ever return home. [Daily Yomiuri]
¶ Mitsui OSK has built a hybrid ship to use for ferrying cars. It has solar, battery, and diesel power systems. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ G24 Innovations is starting to sell photovoltaic cells built in a factory in Wales. They produce power from ambient light. [RECHARGE]
¶ GE is supplying a wind farm in Sweden with ten 2.75 megawatt wind turbines. [The FINANCIAL]
US:
¶ The Union of Concerned Scientists is requesting the NRC to rule that all spent fuel at US nuclear reactors be moved to dry cask storage, allowing only five years to cool in spent fuel pools. [San Diego Reader]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
July 2, 2012
Japan;
¶ The Unit 3 reactor has been restarted at Ohi. Demonstrators at the site are described as raucous. [CNN]
¶ As time passed, and rain fell, hundreds of protesters remained, blocking the road to the Ohi reactors. Residents of Ohi generally were not protesting, as most of the people in the town are employed or otherwise subsidized by the owner of the plant. [The Japan Times]
¶ Demand for electricity for the month of June fell 4.1% from 2011 to 2012. [Reuters Africa]
¶ KEPCO, owner of the Ohi plant, also restarted a mothballed oil powered plant this weekend. [Reuters]
¶ Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Corp., is keeping a commitment that his company would build at least 10 renewable power facilities with a combined capacity of more than 200 megawatts. He contrasts his company’s actions with those of politicians who fail to keep their commitments. [Wall Street Journal]
US:
¶ There were about three hundred protesters at the VY gate. Forty entered the grounds and were arrested. [Rutland Herald]
¶ Locked out workers at Pilgrim are losing health care benefits. [Boston Herald]
¶ As government incentives disappear, installations of solar power systems decline, but not by much. The lack of incentives has been made up for by a decline in prices. [knoxvillebiz]
¶ Public Service of New Mexico is adding geothermal generating to its power portfolio. [REVE]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, renewable power, Vermont Yankee
July 1, 2012
Japan:
¶ Reactors at Ohi are restarting. Many people are protesting. Protesters in Ohi say they are attempting to block access to the power plant. [CNN]
¶ The Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization designed the first nuclear safety drill since the Fukushima Disaster. The drill did not include dealing with meltdowns for fear that doing so would be too upsetting to citizens. [The Japan Times]
¶ Protesters are attempting to blockade roads to the Ohi reactors. [Emirates 24/7]
¶ A problem developed in the cooling system at Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 4 spent fuel pool. [The Japan Times]
… Latest word is that a temporary cooling system has been started. [Australian Broadcast Corporation]
World:
¶ The UK has had large gains in renewable electricity production. Wind is producing 50% more than last year. At the same time, consumption of electricity has declined slightly. [Clean Technica]
¶ A new 32,000 ton metallurgical grade silicon producing plant in Iceland, which will require 52 megawatts to operate, will be entirely powered by renewable resources. [MELODICA.NET]
US:
¶ New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he is likely to sign new legislation to that will reinvigorate the state’s solar industry. [CleanEnergyAuthority]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, renewable power, wind power
June 30, 2012
A quote for today:
“A lot of people think that Fukushima is behind us, in fact it’s ahead of us.” Jean-Christophe Niel, head of ASN, the French nuclear safety authority. [quoted in RFI]
Japan:
¶ The weekly protest at the Prime Minister’s residence has grown from 300, in April, to a huge number, yesterday. Police claim there were 17,000 people in the crowd, organizers say 150,000, and various media put the number at between 20,000 and 200,000. [Japan Daily Press]
¶ The Japanese government is presenting three plans for the future of energy production, so they can be debated publicly. [Reuters]
¶ The Anglican Church in Japan is calling for the abolition of nuclear power. [Anglican Communion News Service]
US:
¶ A rally to shut down VY is scheduled for July 1. [OpEdNews]
¶ The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is making new rules for wind, solar, and energy storage. A projection used as a basis, dating from 2010, is that 60% of new energy resources will be solar and wind by 2019. [Forbes]
¶ The US Senate confirmed Kristine Svinicki and Allison Macfarlane to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [The Hill]
¶ Decommissioning Zion is costing upwards of $100 million more than anticipated. [Chicago Tribune]
¶ The DOE gave Southern Company a sweetheart deal to finance building two reactors at Vogtle. Critics say the deal is excessive. [Inter Press Service]
Posted in renewable power, solar, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 29, 2012
Japan:
¶ The chairman of TEPCO says the company needs to restart reactors at Niigata. [The Japan Times]
¶ Former Prime Minister Kan and a number of lawmakers are pushing for immediate decommissioning of 12 reactors. They also want to end use of nuclear power by 2025, while decommissioning all reactors that reach the age of 40. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The French nuclear safety authority has issued a list of 900 upgrade requirements reactors must meet because of Fukushima. Électricité de France officials say it will cost them €10 billion ($12.5 billion). They are also looking at spending €45 billion to keep old reactors going past age 40. [Platts]
¶ There has been a large increase in renewable energy production in the UK, and a decline in demand. [Business Green]
US:
¶ Entergy is ending health care coverage of locked-out union employees at Pilgrim on Saturday night. [MarketWatch]
¶ The Connecticut Attorney General opposes the relicensing of nuclear reactors at Indian Point until a thorough investigation is made of environmental impacts. [Hartford Courant]
¶ Southern California should get through the summer without blackouts. [CBS]
¶ The NRC is investigating safety culture at Palisades because of a letter from a whistleblower. [ABC 57 News]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | Leave a Comment »
June 27, 2012
Japan:
¶ Two prominent seismologists are warning against restarting the reactors at Ohi. [news24]
¶ TEPCO is being accused of lying and covering up its own incompetence in its report on its internal investigation of the Fukushima Disaster. [Radio Australia]
… There have been protests at the stockholders’ meeting over the report. [Australian Network News]
¶ Shareholders have voted to allow TEPCO to be nationalized. [RTT News]
World:
¶ European Desertec, a consortium including such companies Siemens, E.ON, Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Enel, and Shell, says it will use wind and solar energy from northern Africa and southern Europe to eliminate 95% of the emissions from generating electricity by 2050. [REneweconomy]
US:
¶ The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled in favor of the US NRC in its suit with the State of Vermont on the issue of the water quality permit. The state contended that since Entergy never applied for a water quality permit, as required by the law, the NRC issued the license renewal illegally. [Reuters UK]
¶ The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled unanimously that the EPA has the authority to limit carbon dioxide emissions. [ieee spectrum]
¶ One take on the news says the investigation into Chairman Jaczko faults him because he was not supportive of his colleagues, and his actions were inconsistent with policy. [Wall Street Journal]
… Another take says he committed no violations. [New York Times]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, solar power, wind power
June 24, 2012
Japan:
¶ The size of the crowd protesting restarting nuclear reactors at the prime minister’s residence was larger than previously reported in mainstream media. According to organizers, there were 45,000 people involved. There were also protests elsewhere, in Japan, in the US, and in Brazil. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Amid the oil and gas wells of British Columbia, Dawson Creek (pop. 11,583) provides more electricity than it needs from wind and solar power. [Leader-Post]
US:
¶ In Michigan, debate is starting over a ballot initiative to put green energy requirements into the constitution. [Battle Creek Enquirer]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, renewable power
June 20, 2012
A quote for today:
“By telling the naked emperor to go get dressed, the Court has delivered an overdue rebuke to the NRC’s bad habit of pushing for the nuclear power plants while postponing the problems, as we now know the Japanese to have done at Fukushima. It’s hard to see how federal and state officials can justify putting more taxpayer or customer money at risk on new reactor projects until this situation is resolved.” Former NRC Commissioner, Peter Bradford [International Business Times]
Technology:
¶ Scientists and regulators are trying to figure out what to do about the potential for solar storms to disrupt nuclear plants, the electric grid, communications, and so on. [AOL Energy]
Japan:
¶ TEPCO’s report on the disaster has been announced by the chairman of the committee drafting it. According to CNN, it draws the stunningly obvious conclusion that TEPCO was not prepared for what happened. [CNN]
¶ Industry minister Edano has apologized for the fact that the Japanese government failed to use radiation maps supplied by the US during the disaster, with the result that evacuees were put in the path of fallout. [Business Recorder]
World:
¶ Solar panels are reducing Australia’s mains electricity consumption. [Eco-Business]
US:
¶ According to the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, current renewable technology could supply 80% of the electrical power in the United States by 2050, but government agencies grossly underestimate the apparently exponential growth in renewables. [Washington Post]
¶ A protest is planned for July 1, in which anti-nuclear activists plan to swarm the gates at Vermont Yankee. [Valley Advocate]
¶ Workers at the Pilgrim plant will vote on a new contract. [Boston Globe]
¶ A total of 174 MW of solar panels were installed in New Jersey during the first three months of 2012. [NJ Spotlight]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, solar power, Vermont Yankee
June 18, 2012
Technology:
¶ The price of solar power has fallen to the point that it is becoming competitive with fossil fuels. [The Conversation]
¶ Energy storage is becoming increasingly important as the world switches to renewable power. [The Motley Fool]
Japan:
¶ In a press conference, the Japanese trade minister said the new regulatory agency, which is set to begin operations in August, will make its own decisions on the 48 reactors that remain idle, independently of the cabinet. If this is true, then it could be that no additional reactors will be started before fall. [The Daily Yomiuri Online]
¶ In the days following the Fukushima Disaster, the Japanese government received accurate radiation maps from the US Energy Department, but chose not to use them as people evacuated. Some went into areas with high radiation. [The Asahi Shimbun]
¶ The Japanese government approved billions of dollars of subsidies for renewable power. [Eco-Business]
¶ There is a building boom for solar electric installations in Japan. [Bloomberg BusinessWeek]
¶ Those who wish to return to widespread use of nuclear power in Japan do not have a clear path ahead. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Worldwide wind generating capacity increased by 40 GW in 2011. [REVE]
¶ German utility company RWE AG has decided not to replace its German reactors with new reactors outside the country, but is thinking about cooperating with communities to build solar farms. It may enter the private consumer solar business, as well. [Wall Street Journal]
US:
¶ The US is now producing more renewable energy than nuclear. [geoharvey page]
¶ A former nuclear waste dump in Pennsylvania is being closely guarded by Homeland Security after nuclear materials there were found to include materials that should were more “complex” than expected. [Centre Daily Times]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 16, 2012
Technology:
LCD makers may begin to switch to manufacturing solar cells. The result could be a price reduction to 30¢ per watt. [Article in Bloomberg]
Japan:
Prime Minister Noda says he wants to reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear power. [Article in euronews]
Prime Minister Noda has ordered the restart of two Ohi Reactors. [Article in the New York Times]
Ruiko Muto lives a Thoreau-like life in a rural setting in Fukushima Prefecture. She is a bit of a hermit, making grass tea and acorn curry, and reading by an oil lantern. Now she is an important voice of the Fukushima protest movement. [Article in Asahi Shimbun]
World:
Geothermal energy could provide all the domestic heat and about 20% of the electricity for the United Kingdom. [Article in Electric Light and Power]
The British Energy Secretary says the U.K. is committed to its renewable power goals. [Article in iStockAnalyst]
The Natural Resources Defense Council has released a scorecard ranking G20 nations and their commitment to clean energy development. We refrain from comment on how the US does. [Article in EnergyBoom]
US:
The U.S. military wants to get 3 gigawatts of renewable generating capacity, and is willing to deal creatively to get it. [Article at AOL Energy]
Entergy has postponed an emergency drill at Pilgrim. Striking members of the plant’s union say this is an indication of Entergy’s valuing profits above safety of workers and the community. [Article in the Boston Globe]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: nuclear power, renewable power, solar power, wind power
June 14, 2012
Technology:
A new catalyst may lead to artificial photosynthesis and solar manufacture of fuels. [Article in Scientific American]
A new report indicates offshore wind costs may be reduced by a third by 2020. [Article in REneweconomy]
Japan:
The new Japanese nuclear regulatory body will review the 40 year operating limit. [Article in Power Engineering]
As the last of local politicians agree to the restart, Japanese media says restarting of the Ohi reactors may begin this weekend. [Article in the Washington Post]
World:
World nuclear production of electricity fell by 4.3% in 2011. [Article at Utilities-ME]
US:
Part of Seabrook’s administrative building had to be evacuated because of an ammonia spill. [Article in the Boston Globe]
An agreement among senators of both parties backs both nominees to the NRC board. [Article in the Wall Street Journal]
Davis-Besse is running again after refueling and maintenance. [Article in the Toledo Blade]
Nine states have joined with the New England Coalition and other advocacy groups to support Vermont in its appeal of Judge Murtha’s decision. [Article in Power Engineering]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: New England Coalition, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
June 13, 2012
Technology:
Scientists at the University of Utah believe they have found a way to protect electronic devices in highly radioactive areas. [Article in e! Science News]
Japan:
Experts warn of more pending disaster at Fukushima. [Article in the Hindu]
It will take at least five weeks to restart the Ohi reactors, which means the period of summer heat will be half over by the time they are online. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]
The sea walls at Ohi may be too short. [Article at Wall Street Journal Japan Realtime]
World:
Nuclear power is more costly than renewables. [Article from xinhuanet]
German utilities are suing the government for billions of Euros over the decision to abandon nuclear power. [Article in The Local]
US:
The senate will begin a hearing on nominations of Allison Macfarlane to chair, and Kristine Svinicki to serve on, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [Article in the Hill News Alerts]
The Palisades nuclear plant has gone offline for a small leak in the plant’s safety injection and refueling water tank. [Report from WSJM]
An NRC report indicates seven problems need to be addressed for Seabrook to be relicensed. [Article in the Newburyport Daily News]
Citizens of two small communities in Iowa pooled their resources and are now generating more electricity from wind than they consume. [Article in R&D]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power
June 12, 2012
Japan:
Prime Minister Noda is telling the people the Oi reactors need to be restarted, and others as well. He wants the ones that can’t be restarted to be replaced with new nuclear reactors. [Article at theenergycollective]
Fifteen months after the disaster, the Wall Street Journal’s Japan Realtime is starting a column called “Fukushima Watch,” which it says is intended to better served those who are “obsessed” by the matter. [Article in the WSJ’s Japan Realtime]
World:
According to some pundits, now is the time to invest in nuclear power, because investors fled after Fukushima, driving down stock prices. They say the future of nuclear is the brightest of any form of energy. [Article in Wall Street Daily]
Worldwide investment in renewable energy was $257 billion in 2011. [Article in Fuel Fix]
The International Energy Agency is calling for $23.9 trillion in spending on clean energy by 2020, and $140 trillion by 2050. [Article in AlertNet]
Is it possible to raise enough money to meet the demand?
The Indian parliament has never debated nuclear power, and so the issue is entirely dependent on the prime minister, who is directly in control of the Department of Atomic Energy. [Article at CounterCurrents]
US:
In a 2007 interview, Allison Macfarlane said the nuclear industry could not grow without subsidies. Now she is nominated to Chair the NRC. [Article in Business Week]
Industry leaders are backing away from coal. [Article in FierceEnergy]
The National Conference of State Legislatures is filing papers in support of Vermont’s appeal of the ruling by Judge Murtha of the U.S. District Court in Brattleboro. [Article at CBSNews]
Duke Energy and Sumitomo have announced completion of a 131 MW wind farm in Kansas. [Article in REVE]
The appeals court ruling saying the government could not grant licenses until waste management has been cleared up could give the state a basis for refusing the Certificate of Public Good to Vermont Yankee. [Article in VTDigger]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | Leave a Comment »
Tags: nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, Vermont Yankee
June 11, 2012
Technology:
Alta Devices has provided details on new solar film technology allowing for flexible, highly efficient photovoltaic cells. [Article in Compound Semiconductor]
Japan:
Inpex, the largest oil and gas company in Japan, is increasing its purchases of overseas assets. [Article in Financial Times]
The Japanese government expects that 18% of Fukushima evacuees will be unable to return home for at least another ten years. [Article in the Japan Times.]
A group of 1800 people have filed a criminal complaint against 33 TEPCO executives, saying they should be held responsible for the Fukushima Disaster. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]
A panel of scientists appointed by the governor of Fukui Provence has approved restart of the Oi reactors. [Article in the Business Week]
World:
Cuban officials say they will increase the share of renewable power in their electric production from 3.8% to 16.5% within the next eight years. [Article in Fox News Latino]
GE will be investing $900 million in wind generators in Turkey, over the next three years. [Article in REVE]
US:
Workers at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, who have been locked out during labor negotiations, say the plant is not safely run by people temporarily assigned to replace them. [Article at socialistworker.org]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar, technology, wind | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
June 10, 2012
US:
A Duke Energy wind farm will soon house a 36 MW storage battery. [Article in OA Online]
Opinion:
Johnny Johnson, Prairie Island tribal council president, spoke to the press about a decision made by an appeals court on Friday. The decision instructed the NRC to review its practice of allowing in situ long-term nuclear waste storage. He said, “Today’s court decision is a strong signal to the federal government that rather than avoiding its responsibility and looking for ways to legalize long-term radioactive storage at temporary sites, the federal government needs to comply with the law to build a permanent repository and remove nuclear waste from Prairie Island.” The Federal Government needs to obey the law! Wow! The Federal Government needs to accept its responsibilities! Bravo!
The quote appears in an article in the Post-Bulletin, of Rochester, Minnesota.
Here, in New England, we have a lot of groups of people working to bring some sanity to the use of nuclear power. The New England Coalition (NEC) puts efforts into legal and legislative battles, and is among those who represent science based sanity before public boards and the NRC. The NEC has also provided legal and technical support to the states of Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and New Jersey, including support helping produce Friday’s court decision. Pilgrim Watch has worked tirelessly in court and before the NRC to close the Pilgrim nuclear plant. Many other groups, such as the Citizens Awareness Network, and Safe and Green, have worked to increase awareness among the public of the dangers they face for the sake of the profits of corporate owners and managers.
Johnny Johnson has eloquently reminded me once again that we are all in this together. Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, and Indian Point take up much of my attention. Fukushima gives me bad dreams. But there are groups fighting the same fight in Minnesota, and, indeed, all over the world. Johnny Johnson has reminded me of the eternal and cosmopolitan nature of valuing responsibility and lawfulness, which our government and corporate leaders seem to have forgotten.
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, technology | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, renewable power, Vermont Yankee
June 9, 2012
Japan:
TEPCO has put a 60-ton cover on the spent fuel pool of Unit 4 at Fukushima Daiichi. [News release from TEPCO]
World:
German solar power farms supplied 10% of the electricity used in Germany in May. [Article from Federal News Radio]
A 9000 GWh per year solar farm is being planned for Tunisia to sell electricity to Europe. [Article at Tunisialive]
US:
A federal appeals court ordered the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to redo environmental analysis that allows nuclear waste to be stored at plant sites for 60 years after the plant closes. The order says that the NRC may not depend on an underground waste storage facility, like the one proposed for Yucca Mountain, because it might not happen. [Article at the Wall Street Journal]
Even if Yucca Mountain opened tomorrow, it would not solve the problem. [Article in the New York Times]
The NRC may not issue new licenses or renew old ones until the storage is worked out. [New York AG Press Release]
Rep. Edward Markey is demanding answers from the NRC about how Pilgrim’s emergency response capability can be maintained while the plant’s full-time staff is off work during a labor dispute. [Article in Power Engineering]
Opinion:
Depending on nuclear power is like depending on narcotics. [geoharvey blog page]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power, solar | Leave a Comment »
Tags: nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, renewable power, solar power
June 8, 2012
Technology:
A new study shows increases of probability of cancer for children who have CT scans. [Article at CNN]
Japan:
Prime Minister Noda says it is necessary to restart the two reactors at Oi, a decision expected to be confirmed by the cabinet, but opposed by the Governor of Fukui Prefecture, who has some say in the matter. [Article in the Climate Spectator]
A former Japanese ambassador said in an interview on the situation at Fukushima that the situation there is gravely dangerous. [Article at PanOrient News]
The Japanese Prime Minister will have extraordinary authority during any nuclear crisis in the future. [Article at Daily Yomiuri Online]
An executive at Tokyo Gas is predicting a 50% cut in the use of nuclear power for the future. [Article in The Japan Times]
Crews entered the rooms housing the suppression chambers of units 2 and 3 for the first time since the disaster, looking for the sources of leaks, but were unable to find any. [Article in RTT News]
World:
The International Renewable Energy Agency has released two reports, one dealing with the socio-economic impact of renewable energy, and the other dealing with employment prospects of the renewable sector.
US:
Engineers found a coolant leak at Davis-Besse as the reactor was being readied to start up after refuelling. [Article at Cleveland.com]
San Onofre will probably be offline until at least the end of summer. [Article in the Los Angeles Times]
The NRC will hold public meetings on San Onofre. [Article in the Los Angeles Times]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, solar power, Vermont Yankee
geoharvey 