The renewed mandate Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received from voters in the snap election in December will have big implications for the Japanese energy industry. Abe is set on re-starting closed nuclear reactors - and scaling back renewables subsidies. A recent report from the Institute of Energy Economics in Tokyo backs him up, saying that “renewable power generation capacity has increased too rapidly”. But a majority of Japanese are … [Read more...]
IEA: “Nuclear power critical to meet climate goals”
Nuclear power is “a critical element in limiting greenhouse gas emissions”, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a report released on 29 January (co-authored with the Nuclear Energy Agency). According to the report, 72 new reactors are under construction, the highest number in 25 years. … [Read more...]
Want to avoid oil’s gloom? Turn to the sun, says Outsider Nick Hodge
While some celebrated shale oil as a "boom," Nick Hodge, founder and director of investment community the Outsider Club, derided it as a "Ponzi scheme." Today the shale sector quivers before the specter of falling oil prices, and the oil majors that have invested heavily in shale may be humbled. In this interview with The Energy Report, syndicated by Energy Post, Hodge argues that nuclear energy is about to reassert itself, and that solar power … [Read more...]
To cut carbon emissions and keep the lights on, it has got to be nuclear power
Crunch time is here: energy security and affordability concerns are colliding with the need to reduce CO2 emissions, writes Malcolm Grimston of Imperial College London. That's why the UK government is right to want to get new nuclear power plants built, argues Grimston. (See the previous article, by Peter Strachan and Alex Russell of Robert Gordon University. for a different viewpoint.) … [Read more...]
UK nuclear policy takes another step in the wrong direction
In its annual National Infrastructure Plan, published on 2 December, the UK government announced it has signed a cooperation agreement with Toshiba, GDF Suez and NuGen toward the financing of a new 3.4 GW nuclear power plant at Moorside. This is one of three new nuclear megaprojects being planned in the UK, next to Hinkley Point C (3.3GW) and Wylfa Newydd (3GW). The UK plans to spend ÂŁ45 billion on these projects until 2021 and hopes to raise … [Read more...]
Russian-built new nuclear reactor gets go-ahead in Finland
The Finnish Parliament has today on 5 December voted 115 to 74 in favour of Fennovoima’s supplement to the Decision-in-Principle regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki, Finland. In a press release, the Finnish Parliament states: “The Finnish Government, the Commerce Committee of the Parliament and now the plenary session felt that in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Act, Fennovoima's project remains in the overall … [Read more...]
Europe’s nuclear future may hinge on UK’s Hinkley deal
The fate of future nuclear power projects in Europe could hinge on whether government-backed guarantees for Britain’s Hinkley Point C power station survive an expected challenge from Austria in Europe’s highest court. Analysts agree that large nuclear undertakings have become too costly and risky for private investors alone. For this reason many EU countries are backing the UK’s support for nuclear power. Timothy Spence reports from Vienna. … [Read more...]
Don’t get too excited, no one has cracked nuclear fusion yet
Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin’s recent announcement that it could make small-scale nuclear fusion power a reality in the next decade has understandably generated excitement in the media. Physicists, however, aren’t getting their hopes up just yet, writes Matthew Hole, Australia’s representative on the IAEA International Fusion Research Council of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Chair of the Australian ITER Forum. … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for October 2014
For viEUws.eu leading energy journalist Hughes Belin provides an overview of the European Union’s most pressing energy issues: … [Read more...]
Hinkley Point C: the EU energy market will not be the same after this
The European Commission has, to the outrage of many, given a historic green light to an unprecedented ÂŁ34 billion (€43 billion) state aid package for nuclear power in the UK, the first case of its kind in Europe. Energy Post’s Brussels correspondent Sonja van Renssen discusses the case .- and the many questions that it raises about the EU’s energy policy and the internal market. … [Read more...]
Brussels concludes UK measures for Hinkley Point nuclear power plant are compatible with EU rules
The European Commission has found revised UK plans to subsidise the construction and operation of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset to be in line with EU state aid rules. According to the Commission, “during the in-depth investigation (see IP/13/1277), the UK has agreed to significantly modify the terms of the project financing. As a result, the state aid provided will remain proportionate to the objective pursued, avoiding … [Read more...]
How the Russian nuclear plant in Kaliningrad can help Baltic States integrate with EU power grid
The three Baltic States want to move out of the Russian-dominated IPS/UPS area power system and into the EU’s CE system. This will require billions of euros in investment not just in transmission networks but also in new baseload generating capacity. One way to reduce these costs, writes Professor Rudolf Dolzer, is for the Baltic countries to link up with the new nuclear power station currently being constructed in the Russian enclave … [Read more...]
The new face of nuclear energy
The United Arab Emirates will be the first of the Gulf Co-operation Council nations to develop nuclear power – and only the second in the Middle East after Iran. In this exclusive interview, the CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Mohamed Al Hammadi, explains why the UAE has chosen to develop nuclear energy, why he is confident the new reactors will come on stream on time and within budget, and why the nation sees itself as a … [Read more...]
VIDEO: “Three commissioners will replace GĂĽnther Oettinger”
For ViEUws.eu's Hughes Belin discusses the implications of the new Juncker Commission. He concludes that three commissioners will replace Energy Commmissioner GĂĽnther Oettinger and expects that climate and energy deals "will be done behind the closed doors of a single cabinet". No wonder, says Belin, NGO's and MEPs have voiced concerns. … [Read more...]
Finns want Russian-built nuclear plant 60% Finnish owned, reject fourth Olkiluoto reactor
Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori said today he supports the construction of the new Fennovoima nuclear power plant by Russian Rosatom, provided at least 60% will be Finnish owned. At the same time, the Minister does not support a new deadline for a 4th nuclear reactor at Olkiluoto. The 3rd reactor, now being built by French Areva, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. … [Read more...]