Posts Tagged ‘renewable power’

June 16 Energy News

June 16, 2012

Technology:

LCD makers may begin to switch to manufacturing solar cells. The result could be a price reduction to 30¢ per watt. [Article in Bloomberg]

Japan:

Prime Minister Noda says he wants to reduce Japan’s dependence on nuclear power. [Article in euronews]

Prime Minister Noda has ordered the restart of two Ohi Reactors. [Article in the New York Times]

Ruiko Muto lives a Thoreau-like life in a rural setting in Fukushima Prefecture.  She is a bit of a hermit, making grass tea and acorn curry, and reading by an oil lantern.  Now she is an important voice of the Fukushima protest movement. [Article in Asahi Shimbun]

World:

Geothermal energy could provide all the domestic heat and about 20% of the electricity for the United Kingdom. [Article in Electric Light and Power]

The British Energy Secretary says the U.K. is committed to its renewable power goals. [Article in iStockAnalyst]

The Natural Resources Defense Council has released a scorecard ranking G20 nations and their commitment to clean energy development.  We refrain from comment on how the US does. [Article in EnergyBoom]

US:

The U.S. military wants to get 3 gigawatts of renewable generating capacity, and is willing to deal creatively to get it. [Article at AOL Energy]

Entergy has postponed an emergency drill at Pilgrim.  Striking members of the plant’s union say this is an indication of Entergy’s valuing profits above safety of workers and the community. [Article in the Boston Globe]

June 14 Energy News

June 14, 2012

Technology:

A new catalyst may lead to artificial photosynthesis and solar manufacture of fuels. [Article in Scientific American]

A new report indicates offshore wind costs may be reduced by a third by 2020. [Article in REneweconomy]

Japan:

The new Japanese nuclear regulatory body will review the 40 year operating limit. [Article in Power Engineering]

As the last of local politicians agree to the restart, Japanese media says restarting of the Ohi reactors may begin this weekend. [Article in the Washington Post]

World:

World nuclear production of electricity fell by 4.3% in 2011. [Article at Utilities-ME]

US:

Part of Seabrook’s administrative building had to be evacuated because of an ammonia spill. [Article in the Boston Globe]

An agreement among senators of both parties backs both nominees to the NRC board. [Article in the Wall Street Journal]

Davis-Besse is running again after refueling and maintenance. [Article in the Toledo Blade]

Nine states have joined with the New England Coalition and other advocacy groups to support Vermont in its appeal of Judge Murtha’s decision. [Article in Power Engineering]

June 13 Energy News

June 13, 2012

Technology:

Scientists at the University of Utah believe they have found a way to protect electronic devices in highly radioactive areas. [Article in e! Science News]

Japan:

Experts warn of more pending disaster at Fukushima.  [Article in the Hindu]

It will take at least five weeks to restart the Ohi reactors, which means the period of summer heat will be half over by the time they are online. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]

The sea walls at Ohi may be too short. [Article at Wall Street Journal Japan Realtime]

World:

Nuclear power is more costly than renewables. [Article from xinhuanet]

German utilities are suing the government for billions of Euros over the decision to abandon nuclear power. [Article in The Local]

US:

The senate will begin a hearing on nominations of Allison Macfarlane to chair, and Kristine Svinicki to serve on, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [Article in the Hill News Alerts]

The Palisades nuclear plant has gone offline for a small leak in the plant’s safety injection and refueling water tank. [Report from WSJM]

An NRC report indicates seven problems need to be addressed for Seabrook to be relicensed. [Article in the Newburyport Daily News]

Citizens of two small communities in Iowa pooled their resources and are now generating more electricity from wind than they consume. [Article in R&D]

June 12 Energy News

June 12, 2012

Japan:

Prime Minister Noda is telling the people the Oi reactors need to be restarted, and others as well.  He wants the ones that can’t be restarted to be replaced with new nuclear reactors. [Article at theenergycollective]

Fifteen months after the disaster, the Wall Street Journal’s Japan Realtime is starting a column called “Fukushima Watch,” which it says is intended to better served those who are “obsessed” by the matter. [Article in the WSJ’s Japan Realtime]

World:

According to some pundits, now is the time to invest in nuclear power, because investors fled after Fukushima, driving down stock prices. They say the future of nuclear is the brightest of any form of energy. [Article in Wall Street Daily]

Worldwide investment in renewable energy was $257 billion in 2011. [Article in Fuel Fix]

The International Energy Agency is calling for $23.9 trillion in spending on clean energy by 2020, and $140 trillion by 2050.  [Article in AlertNet]

Is it possible to raise enough money to meet the demand?

The Indian parliament has never debated nuclear power, and so the issue is entirely dependent on the prime minister, who is directly in control of the Department of Atomic Energy.  [Article at CounterCurrents]

US:

In a 2007 interview, Allison Macfarlane said the nuclear industry could not grow without subsidies.  Now she is nominated to Chair the NRC. [Article in Business Week]

Industry leaders are backing away from coal. [Article in FierceEnergy]

The National Conference of State Legislatures is filing papers in support of Vermont’s appeal of the ruling by Judge Murtha of the U.S. District Court in Brattleboro. [Article at CBSNews]

Duke Energy and Sumitomo have announced completion of a 131 MW wind farm in Kansas. [Article in REVE]

The appeals court ruling saying the government could not grant licenses until waste management has been cleared up could give the state a basis for refusing the Certificate of Public Good to Vermont Yankee. [Article in VTDigger]

June 11 Energy News

June 11, 2012

Technology:

Alta Devices has provided details on new solar film technology allowing for flexible, highly efficient photovoltaic cells. [Article in Compound Semiconductor]

Japan:

Inpex, the largest oil and gas company in Japan, is increasing its purchases of overseas assets. [Article in Financial Times]

The Japanese government expects that 18% of Fukushima evacuees will be unable to return home for at least another ten years. [Article in the Japan Times.]

A group of 1800 people have filed a criminal complaint against 33 TEPCO executives, saying they should be held responsible for the Fukushima Disaster. [Article in the Japan Daily Press]

A panel of scientists appointed by the governor of Fukui Provence has approved restart of the Oi reactors. [Article in the Business Week]

World:

Cuban officials say they will increase the share of renewable power in their electric production from 3.8% to 16.5% within the next eight years. [Article in Fox News Latino]

GE will be investing $900 million in wind generators in Turkey, over the next three years. [Article in REVE]

US:

Workers at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, who have been locked out during labor negotiations, say the plant is not safely run by people temporarily assigned to replace them. [Article at socialistworker.org]

June 10 News

June 10, 2012

US:

A Duke Energy wind farm will soon house a 36 MW storage battery. [Article in OA Online]

Opinion:

Johnny Johnson, Prairie Island tribal council president, spoke to the press about a decision made by an appeals court on Friday.  The decision instructed the NRC to review its practice of allowing in situ long-term nuclear waste storage.  He said, “Today’s court decision is a strong signal to the federal government that rather than avoiding its responsibility and looking for ways to legalize long-term radioactive storage at temporary sites, the federal government needs to comply with the law to build a permanent repository and remove nuclear waste from Prairie Island.”  The Federal Government needs to obey the law! Wow! The Federal Government needs to accept its responsibilities! Bravo!

The quote appears in an article in the Post-Bulletin, of Rochester, Minnesota.

Here, in New England, we have a lot of groups of people working to bring some sanity to the use of nuclear power.  The New England Coalition (NEC) puts efforts into legal and legislative battles, and is among those who represent science based sanity before public boards and the NRC.  The NEC has also provided legal and technical support to the states of Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York and New Jersey, including support helping produce Friday’s court decision.  Pilgrim Watch has worked tirelessly in court and before the NRC to close the Pilgrim nuclear plant.  Many other groups, such as the Citizens Awareness Network, and Safe and Green, have worked to increase awareness among the public of the dangers they face for the sake of the profits of corporate owners and managers.

Johnny Johnson has eloquently reminded me once again that we are all in this together.  Vermont Yankee, Pilgrim, and Indian Point take up much of my attention.  Fukushima gives me bad dreams.  But there are groups fighting the same fight in Minnesota, and, indeed, all over the world.  Johnny Johnson has reminded me of the eternal and cosmopolitan nature of valuing responsibility and lawfulness, which our government and corporate leaders seem to have forgotten.

June 9 News

June 9, 2012

Japan:

TEPCO has put a 60-ton cover on the spent fuel pool of Unit 4 at Fukushima Daiichi. [News release from TEPCO]

World:

German solar power farms supplied 10% of the electricity used in Germany in May. [Article from Federal News Radio]

A 9000 GWh per year solar farm is being planned for Tunisia to sell electricity to Europe. [Article at Tunisialive]

US:

A federal appeals court ordered the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to redo environmental analysis that allows nuclear waste to be stored at plant sites for 60 years after the plant closes.  The order says that the NRC may not depend on an underground waste storage facility, like the one proposed for Yucca Mountain, because it might not happen. [Article at the Wall Street Journal]

Even if Yucca Mountain opened tomorrow, it would not solve the problem. [Article in the New York Times]

The NRC may not issue new licenses or renew old ones until the storage is worked out.  [New York AG Press Release]

Rep. Edward Markey is demanding answers from the NRC about how Pilgrim’s emergency response capability can be maintained while the plant’s full-time staff is off work during a labor dispute. [Article in Power Engineering]

Opinion:

Depending on nuclear power is like depending on narcotics. [geoharvey blog page]

June 8 News

June 8, 2012

Technology:

A new study shows increases of probability of cancer for children who have CT scans.  [Article at CNN]

Japan:

Prime Minister Noda says it is necessary to restart the two reactors at Oi, a decision expected to be confirmed by the cabinet, but opposed by the Governor of Fukui Prefecture, who has some say in the matter. [Article in the Climate Spectator]

A former Japanese ambassador said in an interview on the situation at Fukushima that the situation there is gravely dangerous. [Article at PanOrient News]

The Japanese Prime Minister will have extraordinary authority during any nuclear crisis in the future. [Article at Daily Yomiuri Online]

An executive at Tokyo Gas is predicting a 50% cut in the use of nuclear power for the future. [Article in The Japan Times]

Crews entered the rooms housing the suppression chambers of units 2 and 3 for the first time since the disaster, looking for the sources of leaks, but were unable to find any. [Article in RTT News]

World:

The International Renewable Energy Agency has released two reports, one dealing with the socio-economic impact of renewable energy, and the other dealing with employment prospects of the renewable sector.

US:

Engineers found a coolant leak at Davis-Besse as the reactor was being readied to start up after refuelling. [Article at Cleveland.com]

San Onofre will probably be offline until at least the end of summer. [Article in the Los Angeles Times]

The NRC will hold public meetings on San Onofre. [Article in the Los Angeles Times]

June 7 News

June 7, 2012

Technology:

Costs of renewable energy are falling. [Article in REVE]

Japan:

The japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is saying the Mihama nuclear power plant’s No. 2 reactor is safe to run beyond 40 years, if it is allowed to do so. [Article in The Japan Times]

World:

The future of nuclear power in Europe, including France and the UK, is not bright. [Article in Chinadialogue]

US:

Ray Shadis, consultant for the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, explains why Vermont Yankee is vulnerable to flooding. [Article in the Commons]

Indian Point shut down because of a generator malfunction. [Article at CBS Money Watch]

The House of Representatives is giving Yucca Mountain $10 million to revive its license application. [Article in Platts]

We are seeing a large number of articles on wind projects in different states.  They include a rural 12.6 MW wind farm in Iowa [Article in Power Engineering], a 212.8 MW wind farm in Michigan [Article in Bloomberg Businessweek], and a 235 MW wind farm in Oklahoma [Article in Bloomberg Businesweek].

The fire on the nuclear submarine Miami was caused by a vacuum cleaner. [Article at CNN].

June 6 News

June 6, 2012

Technology:

Scientists at Brookhaven’s National Laboratory  have developed a catalyst to strip hydrogen from water that is 0.1% as expensive as platinum, making use of hydrogen for power much more economical. [Article in The Green Optimistic]

Japan:

In a newly released document from 1992, the Japanese Nuclear Safety Commission asked utilities  to provide documentation indicating no need to prepare for station blackouts lasting longer than 30 minutes. [Article in the Japan Times]

Lawmakers from his own party are sending a petition to Prime Minister Noda, asking that he be more cautious about restarting nuclear reactors. [Article on the Wall Street Journal]

A recent poll indicates anti-nuclear sentiment is growing stronger with time in Japan. [Article in the Washington Post]

A member of a government panel on nuclear policy is calling for an end to the goal of reprocessing all spent nuclear fuel. [Article in the Japan Times]

World:

Chinese officials have intercepted shipments of scrap metals from Japan that were excessively radioactive. [Article in RTTNews]

US:

There are more allegations that federal regulators at Fort Calhoun fear retaliation from supervisors. [Article in the Omaha World-Herald]

Entergy has implemented a contingency staffing plan at Pilgrim. [Article in 4-traders]

GE has taken orders on $3.6 billion for wind generators. [Article in Businessweek]

June 5 News

June 5, 2012

Science:

A new study says global warming will reduce the ability of thermal power plants, including coal and nuclear, to make electricity, making them less efficient and less economical. [Article at CleanTechnica]

Japan:

The governor of Fukui Prefecture is asking Prime Minister Noda to explain why the reactors at Oi need to be restarted.  [Article in Japan Times]

US:

Vermont Attorney General Sorrell argues Judge Murtha got it wrong, and Vermont has the right to shut Vermont Yankee down.  [Article in VT Digger]

The NRC has slowed the process of review of the Seabrook plant.  [Article in Newburyport News]