On November 22, Vietnam took the historic decision to scrap its nuclear power program, after many decades of nuclear preparations, up to a ground-breaking ceremony at the first proposed nuclear site in the country in 2014. Jim Green, editor of Nuclear Monitor, published by WISE (World Information Service on Energy), tells the amazing story of nuclear power in Vietnam – and discusses what the Vietnamese decision means for the prospects of nuclear … [Read more...]
Why the future belongs to decentralised renewables, not centralised hydrogen and giga-scale nuclear
What the future of our energy system will look like continues to be a subject of heated debate. According to one well-established tradition, writes Professor John Mathews of Macquarie University in Australia, the route to decarbonisation will run via massive nuclear power systems to the hydrogen economy. But China and to some extent India are emerging as the principal practitioners of an alternative vision of energy growth, underpinning their … [Read more...]
Trump may be a nightmare for nuclear power
Donald Trump’s opposition to climate policy and the Clean Power Plan should be a huge worry to the already troubled US nuclear industry, writes Washington-based energy reporter Dennis Wamsted on his blog Wamsted on Energy. … [Read more...]
For China 2016 has not been the Year of Nuclear Power
For China’s nuclear industry, 2016 has been a frustrating year. So far, construction has started on only one new plant, and its target of bringing 58 gigawatts of nuclear capacity in service by 2020 seems impossible to meet, writes Steve Thomas, professor of Energy Policy at the University of Greenwich in London. Article courtesy of China Dialogue. … [Read more...]
The slow death of fast reactors
Generation IV 'fast breeder' reactors have long been promoted by nuclear enthusiasts, writes Jim Green, editor of Nuclear Monitor, but Japan's decision in September to abandon the Monju fast reactor is another nail in the coffin for this failed technology. According to Green, fast reactors aren’t becoming mainstream, despite the claims of nuclear lobbyists. … [Read more...]
Payment day for nuclear addiction in France
French year ahead power prices have risen sharply over the last few weeks amid worries over the reliability of EDF’s nuclear output in the coming winter. The situation in France demonstrates that nuclear power is neither as cheap nor as reliable as its proponents claim, writes Benedict de Meulemeester, Managing Director of Brussels-based E&C Consultants. According to De Meulemeester, the French market model, based on centralized power … [Read more...]
The collective effort behind Finland’s new nuclear power plant
Five years after announcing that it had chosen Pyhäjoki, in northern Finland, as the site for a new Russian-designed 1200 MW nuclear reactor, Finnish company Fennovoima is within sight of a 2018 construction start date. No, this is not the notorious Olkiluoto-3 EPR being builty by Areva– this is Hanhikivi 1, to be built by Rosatom. Journalist Eric Marx travelled to Finland to find out why Fennovoima is succeeding where other new nuclear projects … [Read more...]
Interview Jean-Bernard Lévy, CEO EDF: “Our future lies in combination nuclear and renewables”
EDF, one of the largest electricity producers in the world, has embarked on a “2030” strategy focused on renewable energy and customer solutions in addition to its large nuclear business. According to CEO Jean-Bernard LĂ©vy, "EDF’s future lies in a generation mix that combines nuclear and renewable energies.” LĂ©vy says EDF will tackle the problems with its EPR nuclear reactor design by introducing a "New Model"  EPR that will be cheaper. He also … [Read more...]
Hinkley C must be the first of many new nuclear plants
The debate around Hinkley Point C has mainly focused on the price EDF will get for electricity generated, but this is not out of line with what may be expected given the urgent need for more sustainable power, writes Simon Hogg, Executive Director of Durham Energy Institute. What is more important, according to Hogg, is that Hinkley C should be followed by the construction of more and different new nuclear power stations, as part of an overall UK … [Read more...]
Hinkley Point C explained – UK’s attachment to nuclear submarines drives bias towards nuclear power
Why is the UK government so committed to building new nuclear power stations, despite the high costs and many attractive alternatives? Research published by the Science Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex shows that it is the Government’s attachment to nuclear submarines which is an important factor in the pro-nuclear bias in UK energy policy. … [Read more...]
The economic and moral bankruptcy of UK energy policy
With its choice for Hinkley Point C - a ÂŁ100 billion boondoggle – its enthusiastic support for expensive and environmentally harmful fracking, and its relentless attack on renewable energy, the UK government’s energy policy is both morally and economically bankrupt, write Peter Strachan, Professor of Energy Policy at the Robert Gordon University, and Alex Russell, Professor and Chair of the Oil Industry Finance Committee. Westminster must … [Read more...]
South Africa’s rapid energy transition derails its giant nuclear and coal projects
South Africa shows how quick an energy transition can be. In four years, the country’s renewable energy program has mushroomed, while the building of coal power stations and the planning of a $50-$100 billion nuclear power project have come to a grinding halt. Recent events, however, have raised some uncertainty for renewables, writes South African based science writer Leonie Joubert. Article courtesy of the Energy Transition blog. … [Read more...]
UK government approves Hinkley Point C
The UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced this morning that the government goes ahead with the Hinkley Point C nuclear power project. This is a very important decision for the nuclear energy sector in Europe, especially EDF, and energy policy in general. … [Read more...]
Nuclear power deserves a level playing field
Today we offer two expert perspectives on subsidizing nuclear power. Here’s the argument for ongoing support by Arthur T. Motta, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Pennsylvania State University. Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
Compete or suckle: should troubled nuclear reactors be subsidized?
Today we offer two expert perspectives on subsidizing nuclear power. Here’s the argument against providing economic support by Peter Bradford, Adjunct Professor Vermont Law School.  Courtesy The Conversation. … [Read more...]
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