January 14, 2013
World:
¶ The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) has its third annual conference underway in Abu Dhabi, and has provided a Global Renewable Energy Atlas [gulfnews.com]
¶ An important focus of Irena is to bring energy to all people. Renewable resources are making this goal reachable, where electric grid power did not. [The Guatemala Times]
¶ China has announced it is joining Irena. [The National]
¶ The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership will fund 28 new projects for renewable energy and energy efficient solutions in Africa and Asia. [ESI Africa]
¶ The Scots, after long feeling they were taking a back seat to the English, are taking pride in environmental leadership, as they work toward 100% electrical energy independence in 2020. [The National]
¶ Renewable power is seen as a major investment opportunity in Myanmar. Solar costs about half as much as diesel in Southeast Asia, and produces no emissions. [CleanTechnica]
US:
¶ So far, Google’s investment in renewable power comes to over $1 billion. [Techi]
¶ Muons, Inc. and ADNA Corp. are proposing using an accelerator-driven subcritical reactor for heat for production of synthetic fuels and chemicals. The reactor could use spent nuclear fuel. [Green Car Congress]
Posted in nuclear power, renewable power | 2 Comments »
Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, renewable 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 7, 2013
Opinion:
¶ Rupert Murdoch says the fact that forest mass is increasing indicates that CO2 is good for the environment, and we should stop wasting money on renewable power when there are so many great opportunities to build infrastructure for non-renewable technology. [Daily Star Online]
Japan:
¶ Local governments are having difficulty preparing disaster plans. Nearly half say they do not know whether they can meet a March 18 deadline to prepare a plan, and 11% say they will not be able to do so. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ In Japan, the problem of dealing with waste without a storage facility leads the government to want to extract plutonium. The problem is what to do with the plutonium. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The Chinese have started construction of a new reactor at a large nuclear facility in Shandong. [South China Morning Post]
¶ Indian scientists say they have found a way to remove actinides, the most problematical components, from nuclear waste, leaving the remainder of the waste much less dangerous. [Deccan Herald]
¶ In 2011, Scotland had 36.3% of its electricity generated from renewable sources. For the first three quarters of 2012, the amount was increased by 15.2%. The Scots say they are on track to produce 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. [John O’Groat Journal]
¶ Nicaragua, the second poorest country in Latin America, is moving to renewable power. It had got 70% of its power from oil in the past. The hope is to have 94% from renewable sources by 2017. The article includes a nice list of 45 countries getting more than 60%, and 13 getting more than 95%, of their power from renewable sources. [IBTimes.co.uk]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, renewable 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 5, 2013
Economics:
¶ The microgrid is being developed, both technologically and economically, as a model for electric generation and distribution. [energybiz]
World:
¶ Emerging economies are expected to triple their renewable energy output within the remainder of this decade. [FuelFix]
¶ Germany’s environment minister, Peter Altmaier, has rejected a newspaper report suggesting the country was considering sending its nuclear waste to other countries. [Deutsche Welle]
US:
¶ MidAmerican Solar, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Renewables, is investing over $2 billion in solar power generation in California. [Businessandleadership.com]
¶ There are no big federal legislative issues for renewable energy being considered for the next year, but a number of small issues could advance renewables a good deal. [Inside Climate News]
¶ A federal working group will address air pollution and employment concerns relating to the Navajo Generating Station, the largest coal-fired power plant in the western United States. The plant is on an Indian reservation near the Grand Canyon. [Reuters UK]
¶ The haggling over the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump is continuing, with a lack of funds even to investigate the idea central to the issue. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]
¶ A plan for an interim storage facility in Utah for spent nuclear fuel is officially dead, as the owner has asked the NRC to cancel its license. According to the owner, this was because of obstruction by the Interior Department. This leaves the US with no interim storage option. [World Nuclear News]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar 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 3, 2013
Opinion:
¶ The renewable industry has to use better tactics in its fight against NIMBYism. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
Japan:
¶ Japanese companies are looking at oceanic resources to develop fossil fuels. Methane hydrate production is seen as a possibility. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The renewable energy industry is expected to create 400,000 jobs in the UK by 2020. Most of these will be in northern areas. [The Finance Pages]
¶ The Kudankulam nuclear plant is to be commissioned within the next two weeks, according officials at the Indian Atomic Energy Commission. [India West]
¶ Planners have decided on a recommendation on whether the UK’s Hinkley C reactor should be built, but the decision will be secret until the government decides what to do. [Power Engineering Magazine]
US:
¶ The solar industry is set to lead job growth in the US this year. [Virtual-Strategy Magazine]
¶ A new report from the World Wildlife Fund says eight of the eleven US energy companies on the Fortune 100 have not set greenhouse gas reduction or renewable energy goals. [Inside Climate News]
¶ Florida lawmakers are moving to repeal a law that makes customers pay now for a nuclear plant that might be built in the future. [Bay News 9]
¶ The Vermont Public Service Board continues to take the position that Vermont Yankee is in violation of agreements Entergy made when the plant was purchased. [Brattleboro Reformer]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, renewable power
January 2, 2013
Science:
¶ A single, massive electromagnetic pulse, which could come from a solar storm, a high-altitude nuclear bomb, or a “pulse gun,” could take out all electronic devices in a broad area. The area could be as big as the continental US, and the effects could last for years. [Market Daily News]
Japan:
¶ Japan has no place to store the nuclear waste it has created on the long term. It also has no way to use it, though it intends to process it. It could be used to make nuclear bombs. [Chem.Info]
¶ Despite the current government’s desire to reestablish nuclear power, there is a good deal of opposition against the reestablishment of a “nuclear village.” [Deutsche Welle]
World:
¶ A writer doing research in the New Zealand Defense Department archives discovered documents saying that the governments of that country and the US developed technology for using explosives to create tsunamis with 33 foot waves. [Telegraph.co.uk] (Though the article does not make the point, this would make any coastal nuclear facility vulnerable.)
US:
¶ A Shell oil rig loaded with 150,000 gallons of diesel has run aground on the coast of Alaska. Stormy weather is making access very difficult. There is a potential for environmental damage, but none has appeared yet. [Juneau Empire]
¶ Court fights over Vermont Yankee are happening in both the federal appeals court in New York and the Vermont Supreme Court this month. [Rutland Herald]
¶ The fiscal cliff deal struck in Washington is providing a one year tax credit extension to renewable energy. [Innovation Trail]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, nuclear waste, renewable 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 29, 2012
Japan:
¶ The NRA is beginning a second survey at Ohi to determine whether there is an active fault beneath the plant, or whether indications of a possible fault were, in fact caused by a landslide instead. Ohi is the only operating nuclear plant in Japan. [The Japan Times]
¶ Toshiba, which owns 87% of Westinghouse, is interested in reducing its share to just over 50% as a way of decreasing its exposure to problems connected to nuclear power. [marketdailynews.com]
¶ While touring Fukushima Daiichi, the new Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, said, “The massive work toward decommissioning is an unprecedented challenge in human history.” [Jagran Post]
World:
¶ Renewable electricity met 36.3% of Scottish electricity consumption in 2011, and the country will probably meet both the 2015 target of 50% and the 2020 target of 100%. [Nzweek]
¶ The UK energy minister announced a 40% rise in Britain’s green
power capacity, taking total renewable generation to more than 10% of the
UK’s energy mix for the first time. [The Courier]
US:
¶ Forty-five members of congress have signed a letter asking for a $100 billion reduction of support for nuclear programs as a way of avoiding the “fiscal cliff.” [Patch.com]
¶ The city of Seattle is divesting from fossil fuel investments. [SustainableBusiness.com]
¶ The Vermont Electric Co-op board of directors is calling for a two-year moratorium on new renewable energy mandates from the state. [vtdigger.org]
¶ The owners of San Onofre want to operate one unit at 70% power for a time, to show it is safe to operate at full power. A problem is that unless they can show it is safe at full power, their license to operate is invalid for operation at any level. [eNews Park Forest]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, 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 22, 2012
Japan:
¶ Anti-nuclear protests continue to take place each Friday near the prime minister’s office in opposition to nuclear power. December 21 marked the 36th such demonstration, according to the organizer, Metropolitan Coalition Against Nukes. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ More than 500 villages in Pakistan will get their first electricity from solar photovoltaics. [Associated Press of Pakistan]
¶ The Australian Climate Change Authority has recommended that the key elements of their Renewable Energy Target remain unchanged. This provides a continuation of support for renewable energy projects. [JD Supra]
US:
¶ A new report from the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory says that concentrated solar with thermal storage can make utilities more profitable. [Phys.Org]
¶ The governor of Oregon released a 10-year action guide the state’s energy future through intentional investment and development. [SustainableBusiness.com]
¶ The same fossil fuel interests that reap huge subsidies from the federal government get them from the states. Among other benefits, they avoid taxes through exemptions. [SustainableBusiness.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 21, 2012
Japan:
¶ For the first time, TEPCO has admitted a wrongful death happened as a result of its actions that brought on the Fukushima Disaster. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ Twenty-one months after the Fukushima Disaster, TEPCO is ready to start removing debris from Unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi. [Asahi Shimbun]
¶ Chubu Electric is adding four meters to the height of the seawall under construction at the Hamaoka plant. It will be 22 meters (72 feet) tall instead of the 18 meters (59 feet) previously planned. It is 1.6 km (1 mile) long. [Asahi Shimbun]
World:
¶ Scotland, with a goal of 100% renewable electric production by 2020, had hoped to achieve 31% in 2011. They surpassed that goal and achieved 36%. [BBC News]
¶ Output for renewable power production for the UK as a whole increased by 25% in the third quarter of 2012, over 2011. [Greenwise Business]
¶ A nuclear plant in Sweden had to shut down because of a sea water infiltration. [The Local.se]
US:
¶ Steven Chu called on Congress to approve legislation to let investors use master limited partnerships for renewable energy, which he said would spur development by giving investors in renewable projects a tax structure currently used by fossil fuel companies. [The Hill]
¶ After entering into out-of-court settlements with the Sierra Club and Audubon Society, Southwestern Electric Power Co. began generating power at a new 600 MW coal-fired plant in southwest Arkansas. [KRQE]
¶ Two nuclear engineers have asked for a senatorial review of dangers at Indian Point and Oconee. [Huffington Post]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 20, 2012
Japan:
¶ It remains to be seen how the change in government in Japan will change energy policy, but it appears support for renewables will remain. [Recharge]
… The LDP, which won the election, has agreed with the New Komeito party to reduce reliance on nuclear power. New Komeito’s stand was that it wanted a complete elimination of nuclear power. [MarketWatch]
¶ The head of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority says it will not be influenced by the change in government. [The Japan Times]
¶ The NRA says the Higashidori nuclear plant is sitting on an active fault. [Businessweek]
World:
¶ The Australian Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics forecasts that most of the country’s electric power will be solar by 2050. [Big Rigs]
¶ A new Indian liability law makes the builder of nuclear power plants potentially liable for any costs associated with an accident at the plant. Russian told Indian to expect the costs of new reactors to double if the law applies to reactors they are building. [Indian Express]
¶ A national museum of coal mining in Wales will get its electrical power from solar panels on the roof. [Energy Matters]
US:
¶ The NRC will examine further what might need to be done to deal with potential problems from solar storms. The storms could shut down the electric grid and destroy computers, leaving nuclear plants potentially without power. [PennEnergy]
… Preparation for solar storms could include a two-year power backup supply. [Nuclear Street]
¶ Kentucky Power announced it will retire the 800 MW Big Sandy coal-burning power plant in 2015. [Platts]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 19, 2012
Japan:
¶ The municipal assembly of the city of Hakodate, Hokkaido, has approved a budget for court actions to prevent construction of a nearby nuclear plant in Aomori Prefecture. [The Japan Times]
¶ The only nuclear reprocessing plant in Japan is sitting on top of a fault. Experts disagree on whether the fault is active or not. [AsiaOne]
World:
¶ Official estimates are that renewables will have contributed 23% of Germany’s electrical power for 2012, up from 20% in 2011. [Recharge]
¶ The UK’s government is setting support for solar power at a higher level than anticipated. It is putting a cap on new biomass plants. [Businessweek]
¶ A report by EurObserv’ER says the EU is on track to achieve a goal of having 20% of its power generation from renewables by 2020. [EcoSeed]
¶ The IEA is expecting a large increase in the use of coal for generating electrical power over the next five years, mostly because of increases in India and China. [Huffington Post]
US:
¶ A consultant for the Public Service Commission in Georgia says that as delays happen and costs increase for two new reactors, the potential benefits decline. The plant is now expected to produce $3.5 billion in benefits, a 30% decline. It is expected to cost over $14 billion. [Atlanta Journal Constitution]
¶ Nuclear power is too expensive to compete, and that is why Kewaunee is closing and others may follow. [AOL Energy]
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 17, 2012
Japan:
¶ With a change in government, the plan to phase out nuclear power in Japan is seen to be in jeopardy. TEPCO shares have risen 33% on news of the Japanese election results. [Businessweek]
¶ The large increase in the demand for PVs has produced a shortage of skilled workers to install solar them. [The Daily Yomiuri]
¶ The ministerial safety conference has begun in Fukushima. [UPI.com]
World:
¶ British regulators have approved the design of the EPR, a nuclear reactor designed by Areva. Meanwhile, there is some question about whether the reactor will be built, as cost overruns are plaguing it elsewhere. [UPI.com]
¶ The Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance says the lost oil revenue the country has already experienced would have paid for 70 nuclear power plants. [Trend.az]
¶ The Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority will offer 7 622 square kilometers (2900 square miles) of land for energy development projects by the private sector. [Daily News Egypt]
¶ The Bulgarian Greens Party has been banned from campaigning against nuclear power in an upcoming referendum. They intend to file a case with the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg against the ban. [Novinite.com]
… The president of Bulgaria will vote against nuclear power in the referendum, because the cost of construction the plant was unacceptably high. [Standart News]
US:
¶ Susquehanna Unit 2 shut down unexpectedly on Sunday during a routine test of a valve in the main turbine system. The cause of the problem is unknown as yet. [Scranton Times-Tribune]
… (Though the article above does not mention it, both reactors were shut down briefly on Friday. [US Nuclear Power Report])
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Tags: nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 16, 2012
Japan:
¶ According to exit polls, the Liberal Democratic Party, under conservative leadership seen as seen by some as pro-nuclear, has won a landslide election in Japan. [Business Insider]
¶ The election in Japan is not so much a referendum on nuclear power, as it is on Japan’s the status of the Japanese national defense. [The Japan Times]
World:
¶ The oldest nuclear plant in Spain has shut down. [Reuters]
¶ A prominent German doctor has criticized a World Health Organization report on the Fukushima Disaster for underestimating its impact on human health. [Newstrack India]
US:
¶ In a bipartisan action, twenty-nine lawmakers have sent a letter to President Obama calling for leveling the playing field in energy support. The letter says, “Minor changes to the federal tax code could provide the renewable energy industry access to large pools of low-cost private capital.” [PoliticalNews.me]
¶ A large oil spill is polluting the waters of New Jersey and New York City. [The Jersey Journal – NJ.com]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, renewable power
December 15, 2012
Renewable Power and Anger Management:
¶ An ad Donald Trump placed in two Scottish newspapers likens the people who support for onshore wind projects with those responsible for the Lockerbie bombing. [Scotsman]
¶ An employee of the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggested that anyone interested in a “murderous rampage” should start with reporters at a local news organization. [Heritage.org]
Japan:
¶ A conference on nuclear safety will be held by the Japanese ministry to dispel myths about the Fukushima Disaster. (Given the history of admitted collusion and falsehoods, it is difficult to see how they will accomplish anything to support nuclear power in Japan.) [BDlive]
¶ The Nuclear Regulation Agency has released the results of new computer simulations of spread of radiation from nuclear accidents to reflect errors found in earlier simulations. [The Daily Yomiuri]
World:
¶ The UN’s atomic energy agency and the Iranian government are both reporting progress in talks on nuclear power in Iran, including UN inspections. [International Business Times]
… Nevertheless, at least one member of the Iranian negotiating team says he is not optimistic. [Jerusalem Post]
¶ The workers who cleaned up after the Chernobyl Disaster have health problems, such as having 400% the normal cancer rate, but their medical and other needs are underfunded. [Kyiv Post]
¶ In an effort to increase the capacity of solar power, the Indian government is considering changing laws so consumers would be paid for the solar power they generate and feed into the grid. [Livemint]
US:
¶ Construction of two new reactors at Plant Vogtle is running over budget and behind schedule. [The Associated Press]
¶ Bipartisan legislation has been introduced to give renewable energy the same low-cost financing that is currently available for fossil fuel companies. [SustainableBusiness.com]
¶ Covered bonds, which are usually used for mortgages, are being promoted for renewable-energy projects. It is hoped this could raise the $1 trillion a year in new private capital that some estimates say are needed to keep emissions at safe levels. [Businessweek]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, photovoltaic, renewable power, solar power
December 14, 2012
Japan:
¶ TEPCO says it accepts the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into the Fukushima Disaster that accused the company of collusion with industry regulators. It admits culpability for its poor safety culture and bad habits. [The Guardian]
¶ Nuclear power is turning out to be a hot campaign issue for the upcoming elections. [AFP]
¶ Yet another Japanese nuclear plant may be inoperable because it sits too close to an active fault. [Bloomberg]
World:
¶ World nuclear generating has declined 5% since 2006. [Treehugger]
¶ A report by the UK’s Committee on Climate Change shows that generating power from renewable sources will keep British household fuel bills lower than relying on fossil fuels. [Offshore Technology International]
¶ A new low-impact coal plant is starting to generate power in China. It has just 10 percent of a common coal-fired power station’s pollutant emissions and is expected to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions in the future. [Power Engineering Magazine]
US:
¶ The NRC will meet with owners of San Onofre on December 18 to discuss the utility’s proposal to restart Unit 2, but say that the meeting will be part of a long process, with a final decision on a restart months away. [POWER magazine]
¶ In the US, renewable electrical power capacity is now greater than nuclear and oil combined. [Justmeans]
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Tags: Fukushima, nuclear, nuclear power, photovoltaic, renewable power
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