Archive for the 'wind' Category
January 15, 2013
Science and Technology:
¶ Teams of scientists are testing ways to get rid of nuclear waste. One approach is an American design being tested in the UK, to combine fusion with fission. Another is a Belgian test of Carlos Rubbia’s Energy Amplifier, an Accelerator-Driven System. [IEEE Spectrum]
¶ At the Ecobuild event in London, on March 5-7, Mitsubishi Electric will highlight projects using existing renewable technologies to improve energy performance and decrease carbon emissions, while often decreasing energy bills as well. [IBTimes.co.uk]
World:
¶ The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) conference is putting emphasis on low-carbon economy, giving investors the understanding that there is great potential for growth in low-carbon technology. [UPI.com]
¶ A panel of experts at Irena are calling for distributed power from renewable resources because current models of energy generation and distribution are more expensive and less sustainable. [gulfnews.com]
¶ The portion of our energy that is renewable has to double by 2030, according to an Irena announcement. We need to accelerate the move to renewables to achieve that. [News24]
¶ The headquarters for Irena will be in Abu Dhabi, the first such agency to have its headquarters in the Middle East. [gulfnews.com]
¶ Promoters of an 80-acre energy park in Cornwall are offering residents within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of the park a 20% discount on electricity. The park will consist of 75 acres of solar PVs and 14 wind turbines. [This is Cornwall]
US:
¶ Duke Energy added 800 MW of windpower in 2012. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ The new US approach to storage of nuclear waste will begin with getting consent from the community hosting the waste. Waste will go to interim storage first, and then to long-term storage. [World Nuclear News]
¶ A panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals have heard arguments on whether the Vermont Senate can prevent Vermont Yankee’s continued operation by preventing issuance of a certificate of public good. [vtdigger.org]
… Nine states, New York, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire and Utah filed a court document supporting Vermont. [The Saratogian]
¶ The State of New York has made the area of the Hudson River on which Indian Point sits into a critical wildlife area. Entergy is claiming the designation was illegally applied and will interfere with operation of the power plant. [The Journal News | LoHud.com]
¶ What appears to be one of the new reactors for Vogtle got stuck in port when a rail car broke down on December 15. The car distinctive and could hardly be mistaken. It sits today by the side of a road, without any protection against sabotage, which would be a violation of NRC regulations. [The Aiken Leader]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
January 13, 2013
Science and Technology:
¶ Scientists at Berkeley are researching artificial photosynthesis. They have already been able to make hydrogen, and are trying for more complex materials that can be used for fuel. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Not Energy, but Interesting Sustainability:
¶ Plastic fishing traps are being used instead of tree bark in Indonesia. They last longer and are less destructive than earlier practice, providing an interesting example of use of plastics as a replacement for natural product can protect the environment. [Bernama]
¶ Greenpeace is highlighting sustainable production of palm oil tested in Indonesia. It is being praised by the Minister of Agriculture, who says it shows how producers can be profitable without destroying forests. [Scoop.co.nz]
World:
¶ Sir Ian Wilmut, known for successfully cloning a sheep for the first time, says wind turbines are vital to reducing the carbon emissions causing global warming and destruction of crops. His basic message is that without wind farms, we will not be able to produce enough food. [Scotsman]
¶ The last remaining coal generating plants in Ontario are scheduled to close. [Huffington Post Canada]
US:
¶ The 265 MW Ocotillo Wind project in Southern California began commercial operation in December and is transmitting energy to the grid, according to its owners. [Today’s Energy Solutions]
¶ The US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has created an energy analysis tool to help those who wish to experiment with energy use options and carbon emissions. The tool is called Buildings, Industry, Transportation, Electricity, and Transportation Scenarios (BITES). [Nanowerk LLC]
¶ The DOE is also putting up $120 million for research into sustainable ways to produce more rare earth elements. The US is dependent on foreign sources for these elements, which are important for production of PVs, LEDs, and computer chips, among other things. [IVCPOST]
¶ Nuclear watchdog groups are accusing the NRC of rushing its report on nuclear waste. [Rutland Herald]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
January 12, 2013
Science and Technology:
¶ The US National Science Foundation has awarded a grant for research in sustainable energy systems that integrate waste stream management with renewable power generation, starting on the scale of a single-family residence. One main focus of the research will be optimization of algae-based biofuel systems. [Biomass Magazine]
World:
¶ Duke Energy is partnering with local developers in Argentina to provide independent microgrids in two towns. The power will come from a combination of wind and hydro. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ Scottish offshore renewable energy projects may face delays as the power grid needs to be improved. [Businessweek]
¶ The Chinese are trying out two new technologies for nuclear power, one of which produces little waste and cannot melt down. [HazardEx] (This article speaks of a photon beam, as do several others in the past few weeks. I am fairly certain they all should be talking about a proton beam, meaning that this is an Accelerator-Driven System)
¶ The Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority has announced a draft of key measures to prevent severe accidents at nuclear power plants. [The Daily Yomiuri]
US:
¶ Market researchers at Frost & Sullivan predict that the US investments in solar power will grow from $1.91 billion in 2011, to $20.44 billion in 2016. [NewsNet]
¶ According to an EPA official, much contaminated land can have its pollutants contained, rather than needing extensive decontamination, if it is to be used for solar farms. [Energy Collective]
¶ The National Climate Assessment Development Advisory Committee, consisting of 240 scientists working a the auspices of the federal government, issued a warning on climate change that is called stronger and clearer than ever. [Huffington Post]
¶ The Fitch rating agency says it believes Duke Energy probably will permanently close the Crystal River nuclear plant. [Tampa Bay Times]
¶ The DOE intends to have an interim storage facility for spent nuclear waste by 2025. [Platts]
… And, a more permanent facility may be ready by 2048. [Mid Columbia Tri City Herald]
¶ There is considerable pessimism in the industry about the addition of new nuclear plants. The four being built might be all for a long time, and others are likely to close. [Tampabay.com]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, renewable power, wind power
January 11, 2013
Opinion:
¶ William S. Becker gives us “The Incontrovertible Business Case for Clean Energy,” in two parts. Huffington Post: [Part 1] [Part 2]
World:
¶ Chile has 3.1 GW of solar energy projects in planning. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ The Irish renewable electric provider, Mainstream Renewable Power, is making progress in its talks with the UK National Grid to export 5000 MW of electricity to Britain. [Irish Times]
¶ RWE’s renewable energy unit said a new law designed to ease grid-connection delays for German wind farms doesn’t go far enough in reducing investment risks. Utilities including RWE AG and EON SE had threatened to halt investments unless the issues are resolved. [Bloomberg]
¶ Restarting reactors in Belgium that had been shut down because of microcracks will be hazardous, according to a study commissioned by the Green Party group in the European Parliament. [EurActiv]
US:
¶ The city council of Carbondale, Illinois, named for local coal mines, has voted to make the city’s electric supply 100% renewable. The package deal provided a 2% cost above non-renewable, and a 22% cost reduction from aggregated buying, so there is substantial saving from going green. [The Southern Illinoisian]
¶ Tucson, Arizona is transitioning to a renewable water supply. [Tucson Citizen]
¶ The NRC still has no timetable for restarts of the Fort Calhoun or Crystal River nuclear plants. [POWER magazine]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 10, 2013
Science and Technology:
¶ Tree Seeds could provide an abundant supply of biofuel. [Newstrack Indiah]
¶ The use of mycorrhiza for increasing fertility for organic farming is becoming more prevalent. [Reuters AlertNet]
World:
¶ China expects to install 18 GW of wind capacity and 10 GW of solar in 2013. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ Japanese regulators say checking all the reactors in the country for safety in three years will be difficult. [The Japan Times]
¶ Iceland is offering geothermal power to provide heat for homes in the UK through a submarine electric cable. The project could be completed by 2020. [Scotsman]
US:
¶ Google is putting $200 million into a Texas wind farm. [GlobalPost]
¶ Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce legislation to move aggressively to reverse global warming. [eNews Park Forest]
¶ The US retired more than 9000 MW of coal generating plants in 2012. [PennEnergy]
¶ Utility computers are increasingly being attacked by unknown hackers. Water, nuclear power and natural gas pipeline systems are especially targeted. [WND.com]
¶ After ruling that the owners of San Onofre could continue collecting money from ratepayers for the idle plant, an administrative judge left the bench and attempted to grab a banner from protesters. [Bay Area Indymedia]
¶ UBS, a Swiss global financial services company, says five US nuclear power plants are likely to be retired early because of economics. The plants are Clinton, FitzPatrick, Ginna, Kewaunee, and Vermont Yankee. [Platts]
Vermont:
¶ Judge Garvan Murtha refused to grant an injunction sought by Entergy to block a Vermont Supreme Court proceeding on Vermont Yankee. The New England Coalition asked the Vermont Supreme Court to order VY to close because it’s operating without a certificate of public good. [Vermont Public Radio]
¶ The Vermont Department of Public Service is asking Entergy to explain the inconsistencies in the positions it has taken on state oversight of Vermont Yankee. [Vermont Public Radio]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 9, 2013
Science and Technology:
¶ Graphene oxides have been discovered to remove some dissolved radioactive materials from water quickly, and can be used in places like Fukushima for decontamination. [HispanicBusiness.com]
Japan’s news is now in the World section.
World:
¶ Some areas of Wales are leading the way in rooftop solar installations. In Wrexham, 5% of homes have PVs supplying their power. [WalesOnline]
¶ Algeria is planning on spending $60 billion developing renewable energy. [ESI Africa]
¶ Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is investing $500-million in a portfolio of wind power farms owned by Chicago-based clean energy developer Invenergy LLC. [National Post]
¶ Cleanup and decontamination at Fukushima are alarmingly slipshod. [Asahi Shimbun]
US:
¶ Ratepayers in southern California are paying $1.1 billion per year in costs relating to the San Onofre nuclear plant while it sits idle because of equipment problems. [Los Angeles Times]
¶ The owners of Fort Calhoun still hope to restart the reactor in the first quarter, despite work that still remains to correct a problem an NRC official called a “significant technical challenge” with the unit’s containment. [Platts]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 8, 2013
Opinion:
¶ Forbes India enumerates five sustainable practices is says must be made mandatory in India. [Forbes India]
World:
¶ In Australia, the cost of solar power from PVs on household roofs has fallen to below half the cost of grid electric power. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Offshore wind is gaining in importance in China, and has become a major power source. [Your Renewable News]
¶ New solar farms in Wales will have sheep grazing between rows of solar PV panels. [Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine]
¶ The government of Uruguay is planning to have 90% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Hydropower will account for 45%, biomass will be 15%, and wind will be 30%. (The country got 62% of its electricity from renewable sources 2008, and the change is mostly the addition of wind.) [Bernama]
US:
¶ California businesses are installing solar power to reduce costs and improve their bottom line. [North Bay Business Journal]
¶ A Circuit Court has ruled that the NRC must explain why they secretly exempted the Indian Point nuclear reactor from fire-safety rules. [Courthouse News Service]
¶ Georgia Power is seeking permission to retire four coal-burning generating plants with a combined output of 2061 MW. The costs of complying with EPA regulations and competition are making the plants uneconomical to run. [Electric Light & Power]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 6, 2013
World:
¶ German solar installations continued to grow at a record pace in 2012. New installations have a capacity of 7.6 GW, and this is far more than the 2.5 to 3.0 GW the government wanted to see added. The resulting reduction in the feed-in tariff appears to be slowing growth down. [Economic Times]
¶ Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka says that country will not start work on nuclear power generation within the next decade, as the technical issues raised by the Fukushima Disaster need to be fully assessed. [Sunday Observer]
¶ The Bulgarian prime minister is instructing supporters of his ruling party to vote not to allow use of nuclear power in that country. [Novinite.com]
¶ Scientific experts have given approval to restart of two Belgian nuclear power plants that were shut down because of micro-cracks in reactor vessels. [Straits Times]
US:
¶ New wind farms are being added in New Hampshire, but opponents are calling for a moratorium on expansion of wind power. [NewHampshire.com]
¶ Twenty-four environmental groups have filed documents with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission saying it will not be possible for the NRC to assess adequately the environmental implications of long-term storage of spent fuel in two years, as planned. [Melodika.net]
¶ The Entergy wholesale nuclear fleet is projected to show poor cash flows until 2016. Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, and Indian Point are members of that group of nuclear plants. [Rutland Herald]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 4, 2013
Japan:
¶ TEPCO will start decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi this year. The process will begin with removal of the fuel rods in the spent fuel pool of Unit 4. [RTT News]
World:
¶ The German Environment Minister said his country would never again return to nuclear energy, in response to a statement by a top EU official who doubted Berlin’s commitment to phase out nuclear power. [FRANCE 24]
¶ The German energy system is oversupplied. Prices of some future deliveries of electricity have fallen to a record low. [Businessweek]
¶ The amount of electricity generated from renewable resources grew by 27% in the UK in 2012. The fastest growth was in offshore wind and solar power. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
¶ A new report on Scotland’s energy future indicates bills will be lower as a result of the change to renewable power sources. [SNP]
US:
¶ The States of New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont have filed comments saying that the NRC is not addressing the deficiencies identified in district court in Washington DC. The court ordered the NRC not to issue any licenses for nuclear plants until the deficiencies are addressed. [Rutland Herald]
¶ A new report on pollution from energy suppliers points a finger at coal plants. The plants are being sued by environmental groups. [Pittsburgh Business Times]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
January 1, 2013
Japan:
¶ In an article on restarting the Japanese economy, the new Japanese trade and industry minster, Toshimitsu Motegi, says the NRA will have to give its approval before any nuclear reactors are restarted, and this process will take at least three years. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ The NRA has found the fire proofing at more than one fifth of the nuclear reactors to be inadequate, according to the Mainichi Shimbun, a major newspaper. The finding could delay their restart by several years in some cases. [Straits Times]
¶ The work of decontamination radioactive fallout on the ground and buildings in the village of Iitate seems endless. [Pollution Solutions]
World:
¶ Former Indian Navy Chief Admiral L. Ramdoss says the nuclear plant at Kudankulam is unsafe and should not be commissioned. Instead, electrical power should be generated by sun and wind. [The Hindu]
¶ Investment in renewable energy is a good bet for the UK’s farmers, according to a rural surveyor at consultant Bidwells. The technology is more widely accepted, and potential lenders more comfortable with it than they had been previously. [FarmersWeekly]
US:
¶ Duke Energy stock is not necessarily safe to own, an analysis suggests. Among the problems are the fact that it has large holdings of nuclear power plants, specifically that it owns Crystal River, and that solar PV rooftop installations are increasingly competitive. [Seeking Alpha]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 31, 2012
Technology:
¶ The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Solar Junction have partnered to produce the world’s most efficient solar cell, at 44% efficiency. [EcoChunk]
Japan:
¶ In his first television address, Prime Minister Abe said he wants to build new nuclear power plants in Japan. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ The geological study to determine whether an active fault lies beneath the Ohi plant will continue until it reaches a conclusion. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ The government of South Korea approved a restart of a nuclear plant that was shut down because it had large numbers of parts that had not been approved for use in nuclear plants. [BBC News]
¶ The owner of the nuclear plant in Fessenheim, France appears to be resisting its closure. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ Renewable power is becoming an economic driver in rural India, as it brings electricity to villages that never had it before. [Reuters AlertNet]
US:
¶ Two new wind projects with a total of 300 MW capacity have been completed by MidAmerican Wind in California. [Your Renewable News]
¶ Vermont’s Middlebury College got some praise from Bill McKibben when it decided to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies. [Barre Montpelier Times Argus]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
December 30, 2012
Japan:
¶ A second look at the geology of the Ohi power plant has left experts split over the question of whether they are seeing an active fault or something else. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Renewable power is beginning to have a positive effect on the overall economy of Pakistan. [Power Engineering Magazine]
¶ The question of control of development of renewable resources is becoming a national political issue in Wales, as Welsh politicians are angry over the slow pace of renewable power in their country, compared to England and Scotland. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ Desertec, a huge renewable energy project in North Africa, could one day supply a large part of Europe’s electricity, but commitments to building it are slow. [The North Africa Post]
US:
¶ More details have emerged in the suit brought by eight sailors who claim TEPCO lied about radiation dangers during the Fukushima Disaster. [CNN]
¶ Supporters of a bill being put before the Vermont Senate to have a three-year moratorium on new wind projects say a majority of senators support it. [Barre Montpelier Times Argus]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 28, 2012
Technology:
¶ The cost trend for solar PVs appears to be a 7% decline per year. If this holds true, power from PVs will cost about half of that from coal by 2030. We can expect electricity from coal and solar to be at parity in 8-10 years [from the beginning of 2011]. [MINING.com]
Japan:
¶ The new Japanese government will review its options on energy policy, basing its decision on technology, and possibly abandoning the earlier decision to phase nuclear power out. [Bloomberg]
¶ The NRA says it will not be possible to meet a deadline of deciding whether to restart reactors within three years. Nevertheless, Japan’s new government says it hopes to stick to a three-year deadline for the decisions. [AsiaOne]
World:
¶ The UK government says it is on track to meet its targets for renewable energy for 2020, despite recent setbacks. [Electric.co.uk]
¶ UK environmentalists are calling for nuclear energy projects to be abandoned in favour of “cheaper, safer and more efficient” renewable technologies. [Coastal Scene]
¶ A Finnish company has asked for government permits to construct a final repository for spent nuclear fuel, planned to be the first site in the world to start burying capsulated nuclear waste. [Climate Spectator]
¶ Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator has chosen three suppliers of regulation service, a grid-balancing function traditionally provided by generators. The service compensates for variability of renewable resources. [Solar Industry]
US:
¶ Two Michigan wind farms, with a combined capacity of 210 MW, have opened. The state’s utilities are pushing hard to meet a 10% renewable requirement for 2015 that was set by law four years ago. [Power Engineering Magazine]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
December 27, 2012
Japan:
¶ Japanese financial markets are being guided by the expectation that restarting nuclear plants will not happen easily. [Businessweek]
¶ After Tohoku Electric tried to make the case that faults under a nuclear reactor Aomori Prefecture are not active, the NRA says it is convinced they are, which implies that the facility’s sole reactor cannot be restarted. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Quebec’s only nuclear reactor, Gentilly-2, is closing today. Part of the reason for the plant’s closing is the current low cost of electricity. Decommissioning costs are estimated to be $6.3 billion. [Seven Days]
¶ A report by the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation says that recent drill showed staff at Sellafield did not have the capability to respond to nuclear emergencies effectively, and errors could have led to “a prolonged release of radioactive material off-site”. [The Guardian]
US:
¶ A 438 MW wind power facility being put online in Kansas is the largest wind farm ever put up in a single construction phase. [Bradenton Herald]
¶ Installations of wind power outpaced those of natural gas in the first eleven months of 2012. [PennEnergy]
¶ NRC officials asked the owners of San Onofre for more analysis on its damaged steam generators, as they consider the question of restarting the reactors. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]
¶ US sailors are suing TEPCO and Japan in a US District Court for lying about the dangers of Fukushima Disaster’s radiation risks. They were exposed to it when they were serving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which provided aid during the disaster. [Businessweek]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, wind power
December 26, 2012
Japan:
¶ The Nuclear Regulation Authority is considering distribution of iodine tablets to households living close to nuclear power plants. The iodine tablets are of value only in situations where nuclear waste or reactor contents are released in quantity. [The Japan Times]
¶ Some Fukushima farmers are returning to their land. [Deutsche Welle]
World:
¶ Russia is having a floating nuclear plant built. The two reactors used on the plant are the same type used in Russian icebreakers. They are each 35 MW. Presumably, the barge on which the plant is built is unsinkable. [Frontline]
¶ The Chinese government will be lifting economic regulations on the coal industry next year. [China Daily]
US:
¶ The State of New York is making $250 million available for renewable energy projects. [EmpireStateNews.net]
¶ Wind power in Maine is moving forward, with 500 MW online and another 2000 MW in the works. The fact that the Production Tax Credit is expiring is holding things up, however. [Seacoastonline.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, renewable power, wind power
December 25, 2012
Japan:
¶ A government report says that children of Fukushima Province are tending to be overweight because they are not allowed to play outdoors for fear of radiation. [RT]
World:
¶ Scientists at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology are planning to build a real-time fog detection and monitoring tool which will enable them to use fog to produce water for the UAE. [EcoChunk]
US:
¶ Pike Research has released results of a poll asking how Americans feel about various forms of energy. Solar and wind power are the most strongly supported. [pikeresearch.com (pdf file)]
¶ John Kerry, nominee to be Secretary of State, has worked a long time to stop global warming, and is expected to continue to do so. [Washington Times]
… Kerry may not be able to influence the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, however. [National Post]
¶ A plan for nuclear waste storage in Utah has been officially abandoned. [Elko Daily Free Press]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 24, 2012
Japan:
¶ The new Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, says he will review the Fukushima Disaster. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ A project in Qatar is growing cucumbers using solar power to drive desalinization. [Green Prophet]
¶ Neste Oil will produce the renewable fuel used in the ITAKA project to support the commercialization and use of renewable aviation fuel in Europe. The project is being supported by the EU. [Equites.com]
¶ Cost cutting by EDF, the French government-owned maker of nuclear reactors, could add long delays to the construction of new reactors in the UK. [This is Money]
US:
¶ Christian Science Monitor has forecasts on the futures of renewable energy, oil, and gas. [Christian Science Monitor]
¶ Minnesota Power has completed 210-megawatt (MW) windpower installations near New Salem, N.D., making them operational. [Equites.com]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
December 23, 2012
Japan:
¶ If Japan developed its geothermal potential, they could use it to replace 25 nuclear power plants, according to their Icelandic ambassador. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ Russia is lagging behind the rest of the world in developing renewable energy. [Russia Beyond The Headlines]
¶ The government of Vietnam will propose changes of electricity purchasing prices for wind farm projects and prioritized support fees for electricity to favor growth of wind power. [VietNamNet Bridge]
¶ The International Renewable Energy Agency, based in Abu Dhabi, says the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, could get a return of $200 billion from renewable energy by 2030. [China.org.cn]
US:
¶ The boom in natural gas brought on by fracking has marginalized coal, but not has not undermined renewables. [Red River Radio]
¶ Policy of the State of Rhode Island is being driven by renewable energy and climate change. [ecoRI news]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, renewable power, wind power
December 13, 2012
Opinion:
¶ David Crane and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ask why we do not push more for solar, as a clean, affordable, safe and inexhaustible source of electricity? [New York Times]
Japan:
¶ Japan Atomic Power Company said the results of a survey showing the Tsuruga nuclear plant was sitting on top of an active fault were “totally unacceptable.” They could be ordered to decommission the facility at if another study confirms the existence of the fault. [Power Engineering International]
World:
¶ The decline in prices for solar PVs is probably over, according to the author of this article. [Business Spectator]
¶ Renewable energy will allow to Ukraine to decrease its dependence on other forms of energy and increase its independence of other countries, according to Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, the President of the European Renewable Energy Federation. [Sacramento Bee]
¶ The Council of the European Union said this week that it would not enforce anti-subsidy tariffs on U.S. ethanol, though anti-dumping procedures continue. [Farm Futures]
¶ Two of the ten nuclear waste storage pools used in Sweden were found to have cracks in them. [The Local.se]
US:
¶ Several conservative groups on Wednesday urged lawmakers in states without renewable electricity targets to oppose extending a wind energy tax incentive. [The Hill]
¶ A study by the Heinz Endowment says wood burning boilers, which are used in a Pennsylvania program to promote renewable energy, are releasing high levels of pollutants. [Milton Daily Standard]
¶ The American Wind Energy Association has released a plan to phase out the Production Tax Credit, an important federal incentive. The proposal would provide wind companies with six years of predictable support. [ThinkProgress]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
December 7, 2012
Technology:
¶ GE says a new blade design could reduce blade costs by 25 to 40 per cent, making wind energy as economical as fossil fuels without government subsidies. The design incorporates fabrics developed by GE and the University of Virginia. [DesignBuild Source]
Japan:
¶ The Japanese government could restart idle reactors next summer. A law requires all reactors to pass safety tests by July. [Japan Daily Press]
¶ A strong earthquake of magnitude 7.3 hit northeastern Japan. There was no indication of damage to the nuclear power plants. [Wall Street Journal]
World:
¶ Australian BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company, admits that climate change is real, and is retrofitting at least one old coal facility at a seaport to withstand worse weather in the future. [Energy Collective]
¶ Investment in the Scottish renewable energy industry exceeded £900 million during the first half of 2012. The figure for the entire year of 2011 was £750 million. [ic Dumfries.co.uk]
¶ EON SE cut its earnings forecasts as an excess of electricity from wind turbines and solar PV’s makes its gas-fired generating plants unprofitable. [Businessweek]
US:
¶ California’s Little Hoover Commission, which has the task of seeing to it that the state is run efficiently, is warning that state agencies need to be reorganized to meet the needs of the rapid increase in renewable power. [Clean Energy Authority]
¶ Next semester, members of Harvard University’s highest governing body will meet with students who advocate for the University to divest its more than $30 billion endowment from fossil fuels. [Harvard Crimson]
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Tags: electric power costs, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
December 6, 2012
Japan:
¶ A potential scandal is brewing as scientists who set radiation exposure limits were having trips to conferences paid for by utilities. [TIME]
¶ Polls show the pro-nuclear Liberal Democratic Party may regain control of parliament in the upcoming election. The Japanese are very dissatisfied with the current state of their economy. [Wall Street Journal]
¶ The established parties have lost appeal, but the newer anti-nuclear parties have not established themselves yet, leaving anti-nuclear voters with a dilemma. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Italian utility Enel has pulled out of the project building the Flamanville reactor in France, which is experiencing cost overruns. According to analysts, this casts doubt on the long-term future of nuclear power in France. [Reuters]
¶ The increases in costs for reactors in France is having a negative effect on nuclear power in India. [The Hindu]
US:
¶ The Hoosac wind project, in northwestern Massachusetts, is expected to be online by the end of the month. [Renew Grid]
¶ Five new members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are strong supporters of fossil fuels industries, which contributed $1.7 million to their election campaigns. [ThinkProgress]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, renewable power, wind power
December 5, 2012
Technology:
¶ A research team at the University of Colorado is receiving $9.2 million from the US DOE to genetically modify E. coli so it makes gasoline. [Phys.Org]
Japan:
¶ A team of researchers say they have developed a way to remove cesium from water inexpensively, potentially making decontamination of soil and water of cesium from the Fukushima Disaster much easier. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Nearly half the cleanup workers at Fukushima were hired illegally. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The UK is providing funding for climate projects in other parts of the world. [E&T magazine]
¶ Rich countries are being accused of using a double standard at Doha, subsidizing fossil fuels at home and pushing climate change on the rest of the world. [India Today]
US:
¶ Nearly half the new generation capacity added in 2012 is from renewable resources. [Electric Light & Power]
¶ The US government is opening two new offshore wind sites on the Atlantic coast. One is off the coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island; the other is off the coast of Virginia. [Energy Efficiency News]
¶ The New England Coalition has asked the Vermont Supreme Court to order Vermont Yankee to shut down. [WCAX] (There is more coverage at the Reformer, but it will require a subscription after December 12. [Brattleboro Reformer])
¶ According to the NRC, Seabrook is safe to run even though concrete in its buildings is degrading. [Reuters]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, renewable power, wind power
November 29, 2012
Japan:
¶ The International Atomic Energy Agency and Fukushima Prefecture will open a base at a prefectural facility to work on such things as decontamination and health management services for local citizens. [The Japan Times]
¶ Fukushima Governor Yuhei Sato told heads of municipalities in the prefecture that his government plans to accept central government surveys for construction of a temporary radioactive waste storage facility, though the actual construction will remain an issue. [The Japan Times]
¶ The Liberal Democratic Party wants all nuclear power plants to be restarted as quickly as possible after confirming they are safe. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ Air Products has been awarded a contract with India’s University of Petroleum and Energy Studies to build the country’s first solar-powered renewable hydrogen refuelling station. The station will be part of a public transit bus refuelling and vehicle demonstration program. [Fuel Cell Today]
¶ India is expected to have 89 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity by 2020. [Livemint]
US:
¶ The State of New York has ordered Consolidated Edison to work with the New York Power Authority to develop a plan to address power needs after the Indian Point nuclear power plant closes. [Poughkeepsie Journal]
¶ The decision on granting a license extension to Seabrook depends to some extent on tests being conducted on concrete that is decomposing in buildings there. The tests will take another year. [The Daily News of Newburyport]
¶ A new report from the US Government Accountability Office says coal will remain a key resource, but its importance will continue to decline. [Charleston Gazette]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 23, 2012
Quote for today:
“Last year every British household had £17 added to their annual energy bill to help build renewable energy infrastructure … which is now delivering 10% of Britain’s total electricity needs.
“By comparison every household also had £120 added to their energy bill simply due to the rising cost of gas on the global energy markets.
“Unlike the renewable support, that extra £120 didn’t build any extra electricity generation, it just covered the cost of buying ever more expensive fossil fuels.”
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, a UK green energy company [Big Green Smile]
Japan:
¶ Toshiba says the robot it unveiled this week can withstand high radiation in nuclear disasters, and they say it can climb stairs. Reports did not say whether it could do anything to clean up the mess. [Columbus Dispatch]
World:
¶ The International Energy Agency says South Korea needs to rebuild public trust in nuclear power by boosting transparency and improving regulation, after safety scares have closed reactors and threaten to trigger blackouts over winter. [ABC Online]
¶ Frost & Sullivan, specialists in market research and analysis, released a report saying world-wide venture capital funding for renewable energy would triple by 2020. [pv magazine]
¶ A new Indian market in clean energy certificates has crashed as state distribution utilities have failed to honour their purchase obligations. [Power Engineering]
¶ China Daily says the Chinese government is moving to transform the way energy is developed, especially the use of renewable resources. [China Daily]
… OilPrice.com says we should not believe they hype; the Chinese renewable sector is in disarray. [OilPrice.com]
¶ The first commercial full-scale anaerobic digester that pumps renewable gas directly into the local distribution network has been officially opened by the Prince of Wales. [specifinder.com]
¶ The World Bank, which called for urgent action to stop catastrophic global warming, has financed $12 billion worth of fossil fuel projects over the last six years. Desertec says the Earth would be a lot better of if the money went to concentrated solar in the desert. [SmartPlanet.com]
¶ Last April Donald Trump told a Scottish parliamentary committee wind generators were ugly, noisy, and dangerous, adding that they would drive tourists away from Scotland and his golf course. Now, the Scottish Parliament committee has released its report, which states, “No witness provided the Committee with robust, empirical evidence that tourism is negatively affected by the development of renewable projects.” [Click Green]
US:
¶ The old steam generator from San Onofre arrived safely in Utah. It took 15 days to travel the 852 mile distance. [Deseret News]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 19, 2012
World:
¶ Siemens has overcome important problems with expense, weight, and maintenance of offshore wind turbines. A brand new 6.0 MW wind turbine uses 50% fewer parts than rival designs, weighs less, costs less, and is less expensive to install. [Inhabitant]
¶ From Green roofs to rainwater collection, green initiatives are taking off in Canada. [Huffington Post]
¶ The Bank of Georgia is offering special loans for hydroelectric projects of up to 20 MW. [The FINANCIAL]
¶ UK renewable energy supplier Good Energy has announced plans to launch the country’s first local electricity tariff , with local households near its wind farms set to benefit by cost reductions of more than £110 a year. [AOL Money]
¶ The primary task of the annual UN climate negotiations will be to prevent consumption of two-thirds of the worlds proven fossil fuel reserves. The International Energy Agency warned this week that the reserves cannot be used without risking dangerous climate change. [Aljazeera.com]
¶ Greenpeace lodged a formal complaint with the Public Protector and South African Human Rights Commission after the ministry of energy refused to release the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review. Greenpeace claims the review clearly shows South Africa does not have resources to build nuclear power plants. [News24]
¶ The World Bank, the CIA, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers are all calling urgently calling for action on global warming. The predictions are dire. [The Atlantic Wire]
US:
¶ GM and ABB showed off a use for Chevy Volt batteries that have reached the end of their automotive service life. At that point, only 30% of the battery’s life is used. A set of five batteries can provide 25 kWh of household power, or the batteries can be used for grid backup. [PACE Today]
¶ The coal-fired Comanche Power Station is finally at 71% capacity. It had been scheduled to start in 2009, but leaks and a whine heard three miles away delayed it. In 2011, it ran at 52% capacity. Paying for the plant will add $3.73 a month to average residential energy bill. [KREX News Channel]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 17, 2012
Japan:
¶ Japan is having elections, and nuclear power will be clearly a major issue in the election. Shinzo Abe, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the main opposition force, has called the zero-nuclear goal “irresponsible.” [The Japan Times]
… The ruling Democratic Party of Japan released a draft of its election manifesto that strengthens its anti-nuclear stance. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Trout caught near Fukushima Daiichi had levels of radioactive cesium that were over 100 times the official safe limit. [PanARMENIAN.Net]
World:
¶ A new report in the UK says that because of the growth of renewable generation, “By the time any new nuclear plant can be built in the UK, the market for its electricity will be disappearing, regardless of any possible increase in the overall demand for electricity.” [Solar Power Portal]
¶ Chinese solar panels, nearly all of which had previously been installed outside the country, are now being used within the country, propelling the it toward sustainability. [KQED QUEST]
¶ Ontario’s Energy Minister said on Friday the reports of cancellation of a plan to convert a coal-fired generating station in Thunder Bay to natural gas are wrong. [Winnipeg Free Press]
US:
¶ Attorneys representing nine national and regional organizations will argue on Monday that the NRC violated federal law when it issued a license for two proposed new reactors at Vogtle without fully taking into account the potential for a Fukushima-like disaster. [Clean Energy News]
¶ The Los Angeles City Council will vote on a $1.6 billion purchase of solar electric power. [KCET]
¶ The EPA has denied requests to waive the Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires ethanol be added to gasoline. The waver had been sought so grain could be used for food instead of fuel during a period of severe drought. [Farm Futures]
¶ The NAACP is taking on issues of power generation. People living within 3 miles of a coal plant are more likely to inhale pollutants that cause respiratory problems such as asthma, and such people are disproportionately of low-income groups and minorities. [UPI.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
November 16, 2012
Japan:
¶ A criminal complaint against 33 officials of TEPCO and the government was filed by 13,000 people, demanding that the accused be investigated and charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury. This is not the first such complaint. [The Japan Times]
¶ The first offshore wind generator in Japan is being readied for use. [The Denki Shimbun]
World:
¶ The issue of substandard parts in Korean nuclear plants is widening, and includes all 23 of the country’s reactors. They supply 35% of Korean electricity, and replacing the parts will require work done with the reactors offline, but the issue is not something the government can ignore. [OilPrice.com]
¶ For the second time, the Australian government has announced the end of its Solar Credits scheme would be ended earlier than planned. The credit only applies to the first 1.5 KW of a system, but the surprise announcement is being criticized widely. [RenewEconomy]
US:
¶ Google’s investments in renewable energy now approach $1 billion, and there is no indication that they are slowing down. Its latest investment is $75 million in a wind farm in Iowa. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]
¶ Riverkeeper filed a petition with the NRC to close Indian Point. The organization is claiming an accident in the plant could cause a hydrogen explosion, leading to releasing radioactive material that could reach New York City. [Poughkeepsie Journal]
¶ The California Independent System Operator is charging that JPMorgan & Chase Co. is standing in the way of renovations at the San Onofre nuclear power plant. [San Luis Obispo Tribune]
¶ The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, which has been offline for over eighteen months, will not be able to restart until 2013 at the earliest, as new issues have come up. [Nuclear Street – Nuclear Power Portal]
¶ The NRC is investigating the emergency response at Oyster Creek during Hurricane Sandy. [newjerseynewsroom.com]
… The owners of Oyster Creek are considering closing the plant early because of competition from other forms of electrical generation. There is some evidence other plants may be decommissioned as well. [Nuclear Street – Nuclear Power Portal]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 15, 2012
Japan:
¶ Recovery efforts in northern Japan are suffering from a labor shortage. In some places only less than 50% of positions are filled. [The Japan Times]
¶ The study of the fault at Ohi may foreshadow similar problems at other nuclear power plants. One of the government panelists considering the fault maintains it is active, and all others say they believe it could be active. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ German utility RWE has increased its financial outlook. [Irish Times]
¶ The new energy policies that have Germans paying $5 per month more for electricity give the people something for which they are willing to pay more, which is clean energy. [Businessweek]
… In Germany, anybody can be a utility. The system is decentralized and democratic, which is why it is moving so fast toward renewable power. Germans are baffled about why the US is not following the same democratic path. [Truthdig]
¶ Political controversy about onshore wind continues in the UK. [Businessweek]
US:
¶ An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has rejected a contention by the Friends of the Coast and the New England Coalition opposing relicensing at Seabrook. The contention dealt with issues of degradation of concrete, but the board said it was filed too late. [The Union Leader]
¶ Cracks have been found in the head of the reactor at the Summer nuclear plant. The head is being repaired. [Equities.com]
¶ California regulators rejected a proposal by owners of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to map earthquake faults near it by firing air cannons offshore. [KPBS]
¶ The NRC postponed indefinitely a public meeting on restarting a reactor at the San Onofre nuclear plant. [U-T San Diego]
¶ A new US report debunks the idea that fracking can lead to energy security. [PR Watch]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, wind power
November 8, 2012
Opinion:
¶ Nuclear Power and Superstorms Don’t Mix. [Time]
Technology:
¶ ABB, a Swiss engineering company, has designed a new high voltage DC circuit breaker, solving one part of the problem of long distance electricity transmission. [Power Engineering International]
¶ Japanese researchers are proposing solar PV systems that double as sails for ships. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ An old process that turned sugar into acetone for making gunpowder has been revisited for making fuels, with some success. [Economic Times]
Japan:
¶ Geothermal power may have an important place in the energy future of Japan. [The Green Optimistic]
¶ Seven Japanese companies have combined forces to open the largest solar and wind power project in the country to date. The PV capacity is 50 MW and the wind capacity is 6 MW. [PV-Tech]
World:
¶ The UK’s National Audit Office, says an “intolerable risk” is being posed by hazardous waste stored in run-down buildings at Sellafield nuclear plant. It says there is no long-term plan for waste, and costs of plant-decommissioning has also spiraled out of control. [BBC]
¶ Norwegian energy firm Statkraft will expand its Lower Roessaaga hydro power plant’s capacity by 90 MW. Hydro power already accounts for 95% of the electricity produced in the country. [Reuters Africa]
¶ Spain is signing into the Desertec Sahara Solar Project. [Businessweek]
US:
¶ The Obama victory is likely to extend renewable energy tax credits. [Businessweek]
¶ The NRC will consider a request by Friends of the Earth to keep San Onofre shut down until its licence is formally amended and current safety concerns have been addressed. [KCET]
¶ A new hybrid generating system, based on sun and wind, will be first built in California. [Hydrogen Fuel News]
¶ A study by Clean Power Research shows that solar power in New Jersey and Pennsylvania delivers value to the electric grid that exceeds its cost by a large margin, making it a bargain for energy consumers. [Melodika.net]
¶ Energy efficiency and increasing use of other power sources has cut US dependence on coal for electricity from 50 percent to 34 percent in just five years. Carbon emissions and acid rain have been reduced, air quality and human health have improved, and the cost of electricity has gone down. [Bangor Daily News]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 7, 2012
Technology:
¶ Researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a new, more efficient system for extracting oil from algae. [University of Michigan News]
Japan:
¶ Fukushima residents are not happy about procedures used reporting results of thyroid screening for their children. [The Japan Daily Press]
¶ The costs of cleanup and compensation for the Fukushima Disaster may be $125 billion. [Economic Times]
… TEPCO is seeking more financial aid from the government of Japan. [BBC News]
¶ The Nuclear Regulation Authority has found more errors in the projections it recently announced about the spread of radiation during a potential nuclear crisis. [The Japan Daily Press]
World:
¶ The government of Australia is releasing a policy paper in which it rules out nuclear power. [Ninemsn]
¶ A report from Moody’s says the growth of renewable power in Europe has had a profound negative effect on thermal-based utilities there. Almost 100 gigawatts of renewable power have been installed in the last five years, and the pace of installation is increasing. [Financial Times]
¶ TransCanada Corp. has announced that the Gros-Morne wind farm, the final phase of the 590 MW Cartier Wind Energy project, has been completed. All of the power produced will be sold to Hydro-Quebec. [North American Windpower]
US:
¶ A steam generator from San Onofre is being hauled through California on its way to Utah, giving media a chance to comment and get photos of a vehicle nearly 400 feet long and pulled by up to five tractors. [Press-Enterprise]
¶ The EPA has issued a permit for five years of continued operation for the last coal-fired generating plant in Connecticut. [Waterbury Republican American]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 6, 2012
Japan:
¶ Questions are arising about how the radioactive low-level waste from the Fukushima Disaster is being handled. In some places, it has been being bagged and put in parks, where it was covered over with fresh soil. Now grass grows on the soil, and children play on the grass. [Alaska Dispatch]
¶ The inability of safety experts to agree on whether the fault under the Ohi plant is active raises questions about whether the plant is safe. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ British Prim Minister David Cameron put his weight into an internal government debate over wind farms, saying that the UK needs more wind turbines to power the electric cars of the future. [Telegraph.co.uk]
¶ South Korea is extending a probe into falsification of safety documents for parts at nuclear plants. Two nuclear plants have been shut down so far, and there is already some question about whether sufficient capacity remains to cover demand. [Reuters]
¶ Renewable sources provided 26% of the electric power in Germany in the first nine months of 2012. The share provided by solar PVs went from 4.1% to 6.1%. [Platts]
¶ Jordan is requiring all new residences to have solar hot water. [SBWire]
US:
¶ Extended outages of four nuclear reactors reduced overall output of the nuclear industry for 2012. [The FINANCIAL]
¶ Problems with safety of the nuclear industry were highlighted by Hurricane Sandy. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Campbell’s will be using waste from food processing to generate bio-gas to help power a soup plant. [Toledo Blade]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
November 4, 2012
Japan:
¶ Four of the six members of the new Nuclear Regulation Authority were given ¥3 million to ¥27 million by the nuclear industry in the past four years as grants or donations. [The Japan Times]
¶ The new standards of the Nuclear Regulation Authority say that if a fault has moved in the past 400,000 years, it is considered active. The old standard was 120,000 to 130,000 years. [The Japan Time]
… The fault at the Ohi plant slid about 125,000 years ago. Ohi is the only nuclear plant running in Japan. Experts are disagreeing as to whether the fault is active. [Victoria Times Colonist]
World:
¶ Solar farms are being established in Scotland on a test basis. It is believed they could generate as much as £14,000 per acre per year for farmers. [Scotland on Sunday]
¶ Mexico is in a hurry to increase windpower capacity. The country has increased its wind power capacity by 119% this year. In 2006, it had 6 megawatts of capacity. Last year it had 519. Now it has over 1100. [Pueblo Chieftain]
US:
¶ The contractors building two nuclear reactors at Vogtle, in Georgia, have filed a lawsuit seeking more than $900 million from the plant owners. [Marietta Daily Journal]
¶ Hurricane Sandy showed how vulnerable US nuclear plants are to damage. [Huffington Post]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power, wind power
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