While Germany rushes ahead with its nuclear phase-out and France dithers, Switzerland is following a third way away from nuclear and towards renewables. The Swiss version of the Atomausstieg/Energiewende is slow but steady, with concern for economic as well as environmental consequences. Bern’s policy offers important lessons to Paris, Berlin and others – all the more so because Switzerland is one of the most nuclear-dependent countries in the … [Read more...]
Poles want to be energy independent – with nuclear (and renewables)
Two-thirds of Polish people support the plans to construct a new nuclear power plant in Poland, above all because this would increase Polish energy independence. The Polish public wants their country to be less reliant on Russia and other suppliers and believes renewable energy and nuclear energy are the best options for this. They appear to have less enthusiasm for shale gas and coal. These results appear from a poll conducted by PISM, the … [Read more...]
Why Ukraine’s dependence on Russia in nuclear is worse than in gas – and what to do about it
While discussions around Ukrainian energy dependence on Russia usually focus on gas, the Ukrainian nuclear sector is even more dominated by Russia. And more strategic: it supplies half of the country’s electricity. And whereas Ukraine wants to use less gas, the government intends to expand the country’s nuclear power production significantly. The good news for Ukraine is that it has plenty of its own uranium. With Western support the country … [Read more...]
France announces $13.4 billion energy plan
Tax credits and low-interest loans will be used to generate about €10 billion ($13.4 billion) for a new energy plan in France. About half the money will be loaned by Caisse des Depots et Consignations, a government-owned lender, and some will also come from non-state banks. French President Francois Hollande wants France to reduce its reliance on atomic power from 75% to 50% by 2025. Such an investment is necessary to help with … [Read more...]
The saga of Hinkley Point C: Europe’s key nuclear decision
Will EDF with Chinese backing build a new third-generation nuclear power plant in the U.K., and if so under what conditions? The answer to this question will be vital to the future of the European energy sector. And a great deal will depend on the European Commission, which is expected to decide any moment whether the U.K.’s agreement with EDF will be allowed under EU State Aid rules. In the World Nuclear  Industry Status Report 2014, an annual … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Top 5 Energy – All you need to know for the Italian EU Presidency
In this special briefing, viEUws.eu's leading energy journalist Hughes Belin picks out the top 5 energy issues that will be discussed by the European institutions under the Italian Presidency. Security of supply remains at the top of EU decision makers’ agenda as the crisis between Ukraine and Russia continues. 2030 climate & energy framework: the Italian EU Presidency will have a chance to draw a compromise at the informal Energy and … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Brussels Briefing on Energy: All you need to know for June 2014
In this Brussels Briefing on Energy, viEUws.eu's leading energy journalist Hughes Belin provides an overview of the European Union’s most pressing energy issues: - EU Summit on June 26 & 27: Commission’s strategic plan to enhance the European Union’ssecurity of supply in light of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine - Energy Council on June 13: Commission’s report on the internal energy market & the 2030 climate and energy package - New state … [Read more...]
Owners make final commitment to Fennovoima
Fennovoima’s owners Voimaosakeyhtiö SF and RAOS Voima Oy have today on April 15th made the binding decision to construct and finance Fennovoima’s nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki. According to Fennovoima, the nuclear plant "supports Finland’s competitiveness and the operations of its owner companies. The project increases Finland’s self-sufficiency in electricity generation and strengthens the security of supply. According to the agreed … [Read more...]
The Nuclear Power Imperative
As the world’s richest and most innovative economy and second largest source of carbon emissions, the United States should be leading a grand global innovation challenge encompassing the entire range of low-carbon options, including nuclear, argues Richard Lester, Japan Steel Industry Professor and Head of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. According to Lester, climate policy “is about … [Read more...]
Fennovoima’s Finnish majority ownership confirmed
Fennovoima’s owner Voimaosakeyhtiö SF has in its general meeting, held today on 28th February, made the final decision to participate in Fennovoima nuclear power plant construction. Voimaosakeyhtiö SF commits to own more than half of the power plant. Voimaosakeyhtiö SF aims at increasing the ownership share of Finnish companies in Fennovoima from the now confirmed 50.2 per cent to as close as possible to 66 per cent. Negotiations with … [Read more...]
Fennovoima’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report completed
Fennovoima Ltd has today on February 13th, submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy (coordinating authority) in Finland. The report contains an assessment of the environmental impacts of the 1200 MW nuclear power plant at Pyhäjoki site. Fennovoima and Rusatom Overseas signed a plant supply contract of a pressurized water reactor AES-2006 in December 2013. The EIA report has been … [Read more...]
Interview IEA Director Maria van der Hoeven: “Expansion of gas use no panacea for climate change”
Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that unconventional gas can be produced in an environmentally acceptable way, but warns that an expansion of gas alone “is no panacea for climate change”. In an interview with James Stafford, editor of Oilprice.com, Van der Hoeven discusses a wide range of important energy issues, ranging from the role of gas, renewables and nuclear power to the necessity … [Read more...]
India’s quest for energy: nuclear power & other greener options
India has been among the world's fastest growing economies for the past two decades. The country continues to lead not only in growth but also in energy demand growth. India wants to meet its growing energy demands first of all through expanding its nuclear sector and secondly by the development of other “greener” options. Ritwik Mukherjee, editor of the Indian energy journal Energy Ensemble, discusses the challenges faced by India and the … [Read more...]
EU delivers scathing verdict on UK for state aid to new Hinkley C nuclear reactors
The European Commission (EC) has delivered what can only be called a scathing initial verdict on the UK Government’s deal with French state owned EDF to build the first new nuclear reactors in the UK for a generation, according to a blog post from Greenpeace UK. The Commission announced on 18 December that it would investigate the proposed deal. It has now published a 70-page initial analysis on its website, which suggests that, as Greenpeace … [Read more...]
The French disconnection – How to reduce the nuclear share in France’s energy mix
In a paper  written for the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, David Buchan takes stock of the debate that has been going on in France on the future of nuclear power. He concludes that it makes sense for France to prolong the lives of its existing reactors, but that replacing them at some point in the future will be a huge challenge. He argues that the country will not be able to do this in the same way and the same timeframe that it built … [Read more...]