In recent months a series of unusual and suspicious occurrences have taken place in and around nuclear power facilities in Belgium, some of them involving individuals linked to Islamic State (IS), write Robert J Downes and Daniel Salisbury, researchers at the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS), Kingâs College London. According to Downes and Salisbury, there are doubts whether Belgian authorities are taking the threat to their nuclear … [Read more...]
The German conundrum: renewables break records, coal refuses to go away
Last year was undoubtedly historic for the German power sector â for the first time in Germany´s modern history renewables accounted for a third of the country´s electricity consumption and secured their position as the number one power source defeating lignite (but not lignite and coal together). If nothing untoward happens and the Germans stick to their plans, bituminous coal and lignite will never be restored to their former glory, writes … [Read more...]
Dispelling the nuclear baseload myth: nothing renewables can’t do better
The main claim used to justify nuclear is that itâs the only low carbon power source that can supply âreliable, base load electricity. But not only can renewables supply baseload power, they can do something far more valuable: supply power flexibly according to demand, writes Mark Diesendorf, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at UNSW Australia. That, says Diesendorf, makes nuclear power really redundant. (This article … [Read more...]
Delusions or lies? The UK governmentâs five spurious reasons to back Hinkley Point C
The UK's Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) on 12 March published a short list of reasons why the proposed 3.2 GWs of nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point should be built. The publication, 5 Reasons why we are backing Hinkley Point C, is a mix of truth, unprovable assertions and omissions which could also be construed as lies, writes independent energy consultant Mike Parr. … [Read more...]
The looming Nordic energy crisis
Sweden is faced with the possible shutdown of its entire nuclear generating capacity. This could result in grid instability, price hikes and much higher greenhouse gas emissions, writes Rauli Partanen, an independent analyst and author on energy and the environment. Partanen calls on policymakers to take action to avoid a Swedish nuclear phaseout. … [Read more...]
Why the next generation of nuclear energy technology innovation wonât be like the last one
Changes are taking place in the industrial world that will shape the future of the nuclear industry. The US nuclear industry is in many ways still rooted in the past, writes Dan Yurman on his blog Neutron Bytes. He discusses a number of ways in which the industry could connect up to what is called âthe Fourth Industrial Revolutionâ. … [Read more...]
Paris struggles to overcome panic attack about UKâs Hinkley Point nuclear project
French energy group EDF has postponed giving final approval for construction of the twin 1600 MW Areva EPRs for the Hinkley C project in the UK. Dan Yurman, nuclear expert and publisher of the blog NeutronBytes, discusses the implications of this decision. EDFâs board is expected to meet again in mid-February, but ultimately it is the French government that has to cut the knot, writes Yurman. … [Read more...]
EXCLUSIVE: EU paints challenging picture of Europeâs nuclear future
In a leaked draft document obtained by Energy Post, the European Commission outlines the investments in the EU nuclear industry that it believes are needed out to 2050. The document, originally announced for last year, but off the table again for February, paints a challenging picture for the European nuclear industry. âŹ450-550 billion will have to be spent on new plants and lifetime extensions, costs of decommissioning and waste management are … [Read more...]
The UKâs plan to become a global centre for small nuclear reactors: can it succeed?
In addition to its plans for building four huge nuclear power stations, the UK government has also announced it wants to become a global centre for the development and manufacturing of small modular reactors (SMRs). Dan Yurman, nuclear expert and publisher of the blog NeutronBytes, assesses the UKâs plans and concludes that it could succeed, but only if the UK is able to scale up its efforts sufficiently and if the government provides active … [Read more...]
2016: look ahead for nuclear energy
The outlook for nuclear energy globally is better than expected, but in the US it is a time of retrenchment, writes Dan Yurman, of the weblog Neutron Bytes. In this article he provides an overview of expected developments in the global nuclear sector in 2016. … [Read more...]
Kirill Komarov, First Deputy Chief Rosatom:Â âThe future belongs to fast-neutron reactors with closed fuel-cycleâ
"Globally there are no alternatives that can replace nuclear power", but with the growth of renewables, "the demand for very large nuclear reactors will drop". That is the view of Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO of the Russian nuclear giant Rosatom. "Fast-neutron reactors with a closed fuel cycle will secure baseload and low and medium capacity reactors will serve balancing needs", says Rosatom's "number two" man in an exclusive wide-ranging … [Read more...]
The Hinkley Point C boondoggle: a dangerous waste of money
The UK Governmentâs pursuit of a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point C represents not just a colossal waste of money, but could also be real danger to the UKâs national security, write Professors Alex Russell and Peter Strachan of Robert Gordon University. âLet us hope that the Prime Minister and Chancellor's actions do not lead to the radicalisation of unemployed steel workers who are now being joined by unemployed renewable industry personnel.â … [Read more...]
The new IAEA-Kazakhstani nuclear fuel bank: key enabler for global expansion of nuclear power
With all the publicity around the Iran nuclear deal, not much attention has been given to an equally significant nuclear move: Â the agreement between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with Kazakhstan to establish an independent Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Fuel Bank. According to energy expert Alan Riley, this initiative could become a key enabler for the worldwide expansion of nuclear power and indeed a key support for a secure future … [Read more...]
The mixed outlook for new nuclear power plants
Nuclear power has had a makeover. What was once seen as a futuristic source of limitless energy has been reframed as a response to global warming, an ideal solution for countries looking for a continuous source of low-carbon power. Nuclear advocates claim that nuclear power capacity is expanding, but according to Paul Dorfman, Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Energy Institute at University College London, in reality the global picture is … [Read more...]
Experts from World Energy Council highly critical of Energiewende
The German Energiewende cannot serve as a model for other countries. It is a threat to European security of supply, will have a negative impact on German growth prospects in the short term and is too costly. Thatâs the opinion of a majority of experts from 35 member organisations of the World Energy Council from across the world. … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- Next Page »