Posts Tagged ‘nuclear’

July 13 Energy News

July 13, 2012

Japan:

¶   A set of 1198 census evaluations of animal populations compares the Fukushima Disaster to Chernobyl. The idea that nuclear disaster creates a sort of wildlife refuge where things can grow in abundance is a myth. [New York Times]

¶   Evacuees from Fukushima are dying of fatigue and stress. [The Japan Daily Press]

¶   Jobs lost when nuclear plants close may be more than replaced by jobs in the renewable electric sector. A combination of reports indicates that for every job lost in the japanese nuclear industry, renewable power might create ten. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   Some scientists have revised the estimates on Fukushima radiation doses from high to safe. [Asahi Shimbun]

World:

¶   In the UK, prices are going up for both nuclear plants and the electricity nuclear plants generate. [Bloomberg]

US:

¶   The NRC has released a detailed report on the steam generator tubes at San Onofre. Reports differ on the meaning of the report, and I am sure there will be updates on this.  The Associated Press report indicates 3420 tubes in one generator need to be replaced, nearly five times the maximum at which the generator needs to be retired. [Associated Press]
… Another take on the same data is that things are bad, but no worse than had been previously acknowledged. [Orange County Register]

¶   US anti-nuclear groups are warning that the mindset that underlay the Fukushima Disaster also characterize the NRC. [Environment News Service]

¶   Solar Power works in the rain forest of southeastern Alaska. [Juneau Empire]

July 12 Energy News

July 12, 2012

Technology:

¶   New amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells can capture power both as heat and electricity. [Ecoseed]

Japan:

¶   A doctor who has specialized in health of A-bomb victims is concerned about the symptoms he is seeing in Fukushima residents. [The Japan Times]

¶   The Ohi Unit 4 reactor will be restarted on July 19. [Kuwait News Agency]

¶   TEPCO says the debris in Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 have been removed. [Power Engineering]

World:

¶   Australian group Beyond Zero Emissions has a plan to make that country 100% renewable in ten years. [REVE]

¶   Ireland plans to get 40% of its electric power from renewables by 2020. [Environmental Expert]

US:

¶   Former New York City mayor Ed Koch wants Indian Point closed. [Metrofocus]

¶   A report from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board calls for prompt action because of deficiencies in safety and safety culture. [Huffington Post]

¶   The Palisades nuclear plant is producing power again after an unplanned shutdown to fix a leak in the safety injection refueling water tank. [Nuclear Street]

¶   Honeywell is evaluating safety upgrades at its Metropolis Works nuclear conversion facility. Completion of upgrades will take 12 to 15 months, during which time staff will be at 50%. [NASDAQ]

July 11 Energy News

July 11, 2012

Japan:

¶   Fuel rod containers were found to be broken at the Onagawa nuclear plant. [NHK]

¶   There is no prospect for restarting additional reactors after those at Ohi. The stress tests found only one of the 48 remaining reactors capable of withstanding a major catastrophe, and the new regulatory agency has to decide what to do about the rest. [The Daily Yomiuri]

World:

¶   According to the IEA, solar power will provide for 17% of heating and cooling by 2050. [EcoSeed]

US:

¶   Vermont Yankee presented its post-Fukushima safety and emergency plans. [VTDigger]

¶   Construction costs for US nuclear power plants continue to increase. [Associated Press]

July 10 Energy News

July 10, 2012

Japan:

¶   Japanese power conservation efforts have been achieving their goals, reducing power demand by over 15% from two years ago. [Asahi Shimbun]

¶   The anti-nuclear movement is getting increasing support among Japanese Buddhists. [The Japan Daily Press]

US:

¶   Workers at San Onofre are not protected by California whistle-blower laws, because the state laws are preempted by Federal statute. [Sacramento Bee]

¶   The merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy puts the future of Crystal River in doubt. [Tampa Bay Business Journal]

¶   As more electric power is being produced by renewable resources in California, utilities are looking into power storage system. [EETimes]

July 9 Energy News

July 9, 2012

Japan:

¶   Power saving usage cuts are being relaxed in western Japan. [Reuters]

¶   Ohi Unit 3 is back to full power. [Power Engineering]

¶   The Japanese Atomic Energy Commission held undocumented closed-door meetings for over a decade. [The Japan Times]

World:

¶   Alkali-silica reaction is creating problems for Canadian nuclear plants. [National Post]

¶   The government of the UK is considering ways to clarify the risks of nuclear power to the public.  Based on this article, I cannot tell whether this means the risks should be better investigated, or the public should receive better crafted assurance that nuclear power is safe. [businessGreen]

US:

¶   Union workers at Pilgrim have approved a new contract, ending the lockout. [boston.com]

¶   The State of California is considering having an independent review panel for San Onofre.  It already has one, the only one in the nation, for Diablo Canyon. [inside climate news]

¶   US Solar installations are up 85% from the same quarter last year.  Prices are down 17%.  The business is changing rapidly. [Solar Novus Today]

July 8 Energy News

July 8, 2012

Opinion:

¶   In a regime of captive regulation of nuclear power, safety engineering is insufficient to prevent 99.5% of failures resulting in core damage. [Essay: The design basis and collusion]

Japan:

¶   More details from the parliamentary report on the Fukushima Disaster say that the TEPCO report was merely “an attempt to avoid responsibility.” [BBC News]

US:

¶   Where your utility payments go: a $44 million severance deal after three days on the job, an act The Wall Street Journal calls “an incredible act of bad faith.” [Wall Street Journal]

July 7 Energy News

July 7, 2012

Opinion:

Was the Fukushima Disaster preventable? Not by human regulators.

Japan:

¶   «Asahi Shimbun» is calling for another review of all nuclear power plants because of the Parliamentary Report on the Fukushima Disaster. [Asahi Shimbun]

¶   Protestors in Tokyo are growing in numbers, and becoming increasingly critical of Prime Minister Noda. [Asahi Shimbun]

World:

¶   I am not sure how this is done.  On the same day, «Power Engineering» reports:
… (1) world nuclear production fell 4.3% because of the Fukushima Disaster [Power Engineering]
… (2) world nuclear production is at record levels, despite the Fukushima Disaster [Power Engineering]

US:

¶   Union representatives at Pilgrim agreed to bring the new Entergy contract offer back to the membership for a vote. [Boston Globe]

¶   This article, by a lawyer who has worked for the nuclear industry, discusses pros and cons of the possible NRC responses to the Appeals Court decision on waste.  It concludes that restarting Yucca Mountain will restore waste confidence and public trust in the NRC. [The Foundry]

¶   Gregory Jaczko argues that the current US program is flawed because many safety improvements are made on a cost-benefit basis which do not factor in the cost of lost real estate and displacements of people. [New York Times]

July 6 Energy News

July 6, 2012

Technology:

¶   Graphene added to photovoltaic cells may improve efficiency by over 50%, and double-sided cells could be 50% more efficient as well. [Home Heating Guide]

¶   A new wind turbine design is being built in the UK.  It is intended to be mastless for urban installation. [Specifinder]
…  The article does not have a picture, but one can be seen at the  McCamley website.

Japan:

¶   This BBC article lists the main points and recommendations of the parliamentary report on the Fukushima Disaster. [BBC]

¶   The report puts safety of the entire Japanese fleet into question, by implying the other reactors are vulnerable. [Atlantic Wire]

World:

¶   Worldwide nuclear electric production dropped by 4.3% in the aftermath of the Fukushima Disaster. [Bloomberg Businessweek]

¶   A report from the Confederation of British Industry says the government can cut its deficit in half by embracing renewable energy. [Solar Power Portal]

¶   The International Energy Agency projects 40% growth in the renewable sector in the next five years, increasing from recent growth of around 20%. [Engineering News]

Palestinians are installing PVs to reduce dependence on Israel. [Al-Monitor]

US:

¶   Departing Chairman Jaczko says the agency may not be able to renew licenses for operating nuclear plants for “a few years” because of a federal court ruling, but the plants may continue to operate anyway. [Platts]

¶   The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still divided and does not know what to do about nuclear safety, according to departing chairman Jaczko. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   We can cut the price of solar power in half by cutting the red tape. [Forbes]

July 5 Energy News

July 5, 2012

Opinion:

¶   Can a nuclear disaster happen here?

Japan:

¶   The Japanese Parliament released its report on the investigation into the Fukushima Disaster.  A one sentence summary: “Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis was a preventable disaster resulting from ‘collusion’ among the government, regulators and the plant operator.”  [Reuters]

¶   Some say TEPCO is repairing the damaged reactors at Fukushima Daini. [Associated Press]
 … Another take on the situation is that they are considering decommissioning the plant. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   Because of ongoing fallout from Fukushima Daiichi, at the Fukushima Daini plant, it is safer inside the reactor buildings than outside. [Wall Street Journal]

World:

¶   The Brazilian national energy agency says electricity from home solar panels is now cheaper than power supplied by many of grid suppliers. [Clean Technica]

US:

¶   Economics may close the San Onofre power plant. [Washington Times]

¶   The Connecticut Attorney General has come out against Indian Point license renewal, based on dangers to human health and safety. [Stamford Advocate]

¶   Californian electric customers have installed over a gigawatt of solar capacity. [PV Magazine]

July 4 Energy News

July 4, 2012

Opinion:

¶   As I see it – the future of electricity generation.

Japan:

¶   The Japanese government will not allow people who have worked in the nuclear industry in the last three years to work for the new regulatory agency. [Power Engineering]

¶   Yusuhara, in Kochi Prefecture, is considered a model in use of renewable power generation. [Power Engineering]

¶   Japan is still struggling to define its energy future. Some experts see the nuclear industry as desperate, commenting, “But basically, there is very little they can do to turn the clock back.” [Reuters]

World:

¶  Grameen Schneider Electric will equip nearly 200,000 households in Bangladesh with home solar systems. [Construction Week]

US:

¶   Dominion, owner of the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant, wants to increase the number of dry casks on site. [The Day]

¶   The Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation found a lot of flotsam from Japan in a survey it conducted in Alaska.  Tests were conducted and nothing was found to be radioactive. [Alaska Dispatch]