SCIENTIFIC IMAGE: Changing the face of the nuclear engineer

SCIENTIFIC IMAGE: Changing the face of the nuclear engineer
http://tech.mit.edu/V133/N19/ansconference.html

Improved nuclear fuel-rod cladding might prevent future Fukushimas

A substitute for traditional zircaloy could greatly reduce the danger of hydrogen explosions.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/better-cladding-for-nuclear-reactors-0726.html

Southern Company: Project Cost, Completion Timing Issues Continue To Take Toll On The Stock

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1776442-southern-company-project-cost-completion-timing-issues-continue-to-take-toll-on-the-stock?source=email_rt_article_readmore

Nuclear professionals can, and should get emotional

http://atomicinsights.com/nuclear-professionals-can-get-emotional/

Legislative glitch could doom rules for existing power plants

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059989360

The 50 Greatest Breakthroughs Since the Wheel

Why did it take so long to invent the wheelbarrow? Have we hit peak innovation? What our list reveals about imagination, optimism, and the nature of progress.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/11/innovations-list/309536/#list

AREVA forms a joint venture to develop its mining activities in Mongolia

AREVA/MONGOLIA

http://www.areva.com/EN/news-10018/areva-forms-a-joint-venture-to-develop-its-mining-activities-in-mongolia.html

An unlikely pastime: in pursuit of alternative nuclear power

http://wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/unlikely-pastime-pursuit-alternative-nuclear-power

NRC oversight preserves safety at Columbia Generating Station: Guest opinion

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/10/nrc_oversight_preserves_safety.html

The green movement should embrace nuclear

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2013/10/the-green-movement-should-embrace-nuclear/

James Hansen: How We Can Stop Big Oil in its Tracks and Keep Dirty Energy in the Ground

Here's a way to stop the global reach of Big Oil, hasten the transition to clean energy, and keep coal and tar sands deposits where they belong – in the ground.

http://www.alternet.org/environment/james-hansen-how-we-can-stop-big-oil-its-tracks-and-keep-dirty-energy-ground

Tour of Fukushima Daiichi as of September 2013 [VIDEO]

http://theenergycollective.com/rodadams/291176/video-tour-fukushima-daiichi-september-2013

Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Much of the Planet’s Fossil Fuels Need to be Left in the Ground’ By Jared Anderson

Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Much of the Planet’s Fossil Fuels Need to be Left in the Ground’

By Jared Anderson
http://breakingenergy.com/2013/10/25/energy-quote-of-the-day-much-of-the-planets-fossil-fuels-need-to-be-left-in-the-ground/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=62d95ab013-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-62d95ab013-407304281

Opinion: Google Buys Wind Energy, Cost to Taxpayers Could Top $350 MM By Glenn Schleede

Opinion: Google Buys Wind Energy, Cost to Taxpayers Could Top $350 MM

By Glenn Schleede
http://breakingenergy.com/2013/10/25/opinion-google-buys-wind-energy-cost-to-taxpayers-could-top-350-mm/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=62d95ab013-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-62d95ab013-407304281

TEPCO Photos and Videos Library

Collapse on south slope at Okuma street due to influence of typhoon No.26

http://photo.tepco.co.jp/en/date/2013/201310-e/131025-01e.html

Energy alliance for better future

Updated: 2013-10-25 07:04 By Dmitri Trenin
 Dmitri Medvedev's first visit to China as Russia's prime minister will further cement Beijing-Moscow energy relationship. This alliance rests on a simple formula: substantial Chinese credits for long-term Russian energy supplies. Thus, cash-rich China buys a measure of energy security, and Russia gets much-needed cash for its budget. In the current geopolitical setting, however, this essentially pragmatic relationship acquires features of an energy alliance.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2013-10/25/content_17057215.htm

Burned out: Obama’s first land auction for solar goes bust

  Burned out: Obama’s first land auction for solar goes bust  
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/25/obamas-first-land-auction-solar-goes-bust-colorado/?utm_source=feedly

Nuclear News Round Up (21st – 25th Oct 13)

21st Oct 2013

• UK nuclear power plant gets go-ahead

24th Oct 2013

• Strike price deal for Hinkley Point C
  
• Principal Mechanical Engineer, Suffolk

25th Oct 2013

• Grangemouth petrochemical plant saved from closure

IEA ups wind power target for global electricity by 2050

IEA ups wind power target for global electricity by 2050
(Phys.org) —The new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) is out with a forecast that wind may generate 18 percent of world electricity by 2050, which is a target higher than the 12 percent estimate posted in its earlier roadmap report in 2009. Wind power currently generates 2.6 percent of the world's electricity. The new report that came out earlier this month titled Technology Roadmap: Wind Energy - 2013 edition, details the advances in technology that make the rise from the current 2.6 percent possible. In this 2050 scenario, it is offshore wind that will drive much of the growth, with lower costs, down 45 percent, helping to boost offshore's share of wind power from about 2 percent now to 6 percent in 2020 and 25 percent in 2050. The report carries a number of key findings, some of which are as follows: http://phys.org/news/2013-10-iea-ups-power-global-electricity.html#nwlt

Loss and damage from climate change

Loss and damage from climate change
An open access special issue of the International Journal of Global Warming brings together, for the first time, empirical evidence of loss and damage from the perspective of affected people in nine vulnerable countries. The articles in this special issue show how climatic stressors affect communities, what measures households take to prevent loss and damage, and what the consequences are when they are unable to adjust sufficiently. The guest-editors, Kees van der Geest and Koko Warner of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn, Germany, introduce the special issue with an overview of key findings from the nine research papers, all of which are available online free of charge. http://phys.org/news/2013-10-loss-climate.html#nwlt

Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant undamaged after quake

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/25/us-japan-quake-tsunami-idUSBRE99O0TR20131025

Nuclear commission issues license to Army for depleted uranium at Hawaii training areas

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/726f58fbe3b047a0aa13d085b513f54c/HI--Depleted-Uranium

Earthquake and Tsunami Information for Japan from Japan Meteorological Agency

 Earthquake and Tsunami Information for Japan from Japan Meteorological Agency

Earthquake Information

 

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/ 

 

Tsunami Information (Tsunami Observations)

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/tsunami/observation_03_20131026033440.html

7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Japan near Fukushima

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/25/21150222-73-magnitude-earthquake-hits-japan-near-fukushima?lite

Japan Hit By 7.3-Magnitude Earthquake Off Fukushima Prefecture Coast, Tsunami Advisory Issued

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/25/japan-earthquake-fukushima-prefecture_n_4164181.html

Related articles

• Fukushima: Tsunami Warning for Fukushima Prefecture After Earthquake in Japan
• 7.3 Earthquake Hits Near Fukushima Off Honshu Coast, Tsunami Advisory Issued

Pentagon pushes for billions to refurbish nuclear bombs

http://thebulletin.org/pentagon-pushes-billions-refurbish-nuclear-bombs

Coal and gas are far more harmful than nuclear power

Coal and gas are far more harmful than nuclear powerhttp://climate.nasa.gov/news/903

 

 

April 22, 2013

By Pushker Kharecha and James Hansen,
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Human-caused climate change and air pollution remain major global-scale problems and are both due mostly to fossil fuel burning. Mitigation efforts for both of these problems should be undertaken concurrently in order to maximize effectiveness. Such efforts can be accomplished largely with currently available low-carbon and carbon-free alternative energy sources like nuclear power and renewables, as well as energy efficiency improvements.

Figure 1. Cumulative net deaths prevented assuming nuclear power replaces fossil fuels. The top panel (a) shows results for the historical period in our study (1971-2009), with mean values (labeled) and ranges for the baseline historical scenario. The middle (b) and bottom (c) panels show results for the high-end and low-end projections, respectively, of nuclear power supply estimated by the IAEA (ref. 4) for the period 2010-2050. Error bars reflect the ranges for the fossil fuel mortality factors listed in Table 1 of our paper. The larger columns in panels (b) and (c) reflect the all-coal case and are labeled with their mean values, while the smaller columns reflect the all-gas case; values for the latter are not shown because they are all simply a factor of about 10 lower (reflecting the order-of-magnitude difference between the mortality factors for coal and gas). Countries/regions are arranged in descending order of CO2 emissions in recent years. FSU15=15 countries of the Former Soviet Union and OECD=Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

In a recently published paper (ref. 1), we provide an objective, long-term, quantitative analysis of the effects of nuclear power on human health (mortality) and the environment (climate). Several previous scientific papers have quantified global-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions avoided by nuclear power, but to our knowledge, ours is the first to quantify avoided human deaths as well as avoided GHG emissions on global, regional, and national scales. The paper demonstrates that without nuclear power, it will be even harder to mitigate human-caused climate change and air pollution. This is fundamentally because historical energy production data reveal that if nuclear power never existed, the energy it supplied almost certainly would have been supplied by fossil fuels instead (overwhelmingly coal), which cause much higher air pollution-related mortality and GHG emissions per unit energy produced (ref. 2).

Figure 2. Mean net deaths prevented annually by nuclear power between 1971-2009 for various countries/regions. Ranges not shown but are a factor of ~4 higher and lower than the mean values.

Using historical electricity production data and mortality and emission factors from the peer-reviewed scientific literature, we found that despite the three major nuclear accidents the world has experienced, nuclear power prevented an average of over 1.8 million net deaths worldwide between 1971-2009 (see Fig. 1). This amounts to at least hundreds and more likely thousands of times more deaths than it caused. An average of 76,000 deaths per year were avoided annually between 2000-2009 (see Fig. 2), with a range of 19,000-300,000 per year. Likewise, we calculated that nuclear power prevented an average of 64 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent (GtCO₂-eq) net GHG emissions globally between 1971-2009 (see Fig. 3). This is about 15 times more emissions than it caused. It is equivalent to the past 35 years of CO₂ emissions from coal burning in the U.S. or 17 years in China (ref. 3) — i.e., historical nuclear energy production has prevented the building of hundreds of large coal-fired power plants.
To compute potential future effects, we started with the projected nuclear energy supply for 2010-2050 from an assessment made by the UN International Atomic Energy Agency that takes into account the effects of the Fukushima accident (ref. 4). We assume that the projected nuclear energy is canceled and replaced entirely by energy from either coal or natural gas. We calculate that this nuclear phaseout scenario leads to an average of 420,000-7 million deaths and 80-240 GtCO₂-eq emissions globally (the high-end values reflect the all coal case; see Figs. 1 and 3). This emissions range corresponds to 16-48% of the "allowable" cumulative CO₂ emissions between 2012-2050 if the world chooses to aim for a target atmospheric CO₂ concentration of 350 ppm by around the end of this century (ref. 5). In other words, projected nuclear power could reduce the CO₂ mitigation burden for meeting this target by as much as 16-48%.

Figure 3. Cumulative net GHG emissions prevented assuming nuclear power replaces fossil fuels. The three panels are ordered the same as in Fig. 1, except that mean values for both the all coal and all gas cases are labeled. Error bars reflect the ranges for the fossil fuel emission factors listed in Table 1 of our paper.

The largest uncertainties and limitations of our analysis stem from the assumed values for impacts per unit electric energy produced. However, we emphasize that our results for both prevented mortality and prevented GHG emissions could be substantial underestimates. This is because (among other reasons) our mortality and emission factors are based on analysis of Europe and the US (respectively), and thus neglect the fact that fatal air pollution and GHG emissions from power plants in developing countries are on average substantially higher per unit energy produced than in developed countries. Our findings also have important implications for large-scale "fuel switching" to natural gas from coal or from nuclear. Although natural gas burning emits less fatal pollutants and GHGs than coal burning, it is far deadlier than nuclear power, causing about 40 times more deaths per unit electric energy produced (ref. 2).
Also, such fuel switching is practically guaranteed to worsen the climate problem for several reasons. First, carbon capture and storage is an immature technology and is therefore unlikely to constrain the resulting GHG emissions in the necessary time frame. Second, electricity infrastructure generally has a long lifetime (e.g., fossil fuel power plants typically operate for up to ~50 years). Third, potentially usable natural gas resources (especially unconventional ones like shale gas) are enormous, containing many hundreds to thousands of gigatonnes of carbon (based on ref. 6). For perspective, the atmosphere currently contains ~830 GtC, of which ~200 GtC are from industrial-era fossil fuel burning.
We conclude that nuclear energy — despite posing several challenges, as do all energy sources (ref. 7) — needs to be retained and significantly expanded in order to avoid or minimize the devastating impacts of unabated climate change and air pollution caused by fossil fuel burning.

References

1. Kharecha, P.A., and J.E. Hansen, 2013: Prevented mortality and greenhouse gas emissions from historical and projected nuclear power. Environ. Sci. Technol., in press, doi:10.1021/es3051197.
2. Markandya, A., and P. Wilkinson, 2007: Electricity generation and health. Lancet, 370, 979-990, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61253-7.
3. Boden, T. A., G. Marland, R.J. Andres, 2012: Global, Regional, and National Fossil-Fuel CO₂ Emissions. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.A., doi:10.3334/CDIAC/00001_V2012.
4. International Atomic Energy Agency, 2011: Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050: 2011 Edition. IAEA Reference Data Series 1/31. Available at http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/RDS1_31.pdf
5. Hansen, J., P. Kharecha, Mki. Sato, V. Masson-Delmotte, et al., 2013: Scientific prescription to avoid dangerous climate change to protect young people, future generations, and nature. PLOS One, submitted.
6. GEA, 2012: Global Energy Assessment — Toward a Sustainable Future. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria. Available at http://www.globalenergyassessment.org.
7. Kharecha, P.A., C.F. Kutscher, J.E. Hansen, and E. Mazria, 2010: Options for near-term phaseout of CO₂ emissions from coal use in the United States. Environ. Sci. Technol., 44, 4050-4062, doi:10.1021/es903884a.

Installed generation lagging far behind 2012 New capacity down 3,500 MW from first nine months of last year

Installed generation lagging far behind 2012

New capacity down 3,500 MW from first nine months of last year

http://generationhub.com/2013/10/21/installed-generation-lagging-far-behind-2012

Report: The world has more energy resources now than ever before

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/10/report-the-world-has-more-energy-resources-now-than-ever-before.html

B&W delivers replacement nuclear steam generators

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/10/b-w-delivers-replacement-nuclear-steam-generators.html

EPA: Emissions from power plants have decreased 10 percent over past two years

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/10/epa-emissions-from-power-plants-have-decreased-10-percent-over-past-two-years.html

Duke Energy focusing on natural gas over next 15 years

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/10/duke-energy-focusing-on-natural-gas-over-next-15-years.html

PennEnergy's Research: Steam Generators: Reports and Market Analysis

Steam Generators: Reports and Market Analysis

Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) Market in Asia-Pacific Region - Market Size, Pricing Analysis, Equipment Market Share and Competitive Landscape Analysis to 2020

Summary
The Asia Pacific HRSG equipment market has an intense level of competition, driven by the high number of players, especially in China. The market in China and India is quite fragmented compared to Australia and the Republic of Korea. The key countries of the Asia-Pacific region, India and China, dominate the revenue share in the Asia Pacific, receiving an estimated 35% and 25%, respectively, of the total revenues from the HRSG market in the Asia Pacific region at present. The rise in population and living standards has made electricity an important commodity for many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The electricity consumer base is having a sound growth and there is a high demand in this region despite the recent financial crisis.

Scope

• Data on the revenue generated from HRSG sales for the key countries in the Asia Pacific region like Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam
• Data on the pricing and volume (unit sales) analysis for HRSG for key countries in the Asia Pacific region
• Detailed market share analysis of top market participants such as Alstom SA, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, AE&E Australia Pvt Ltd. and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd
• HRSG technology overview
• Data sourced from proprietary databases and primary interviews with key participants across the value chain

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Steam Condensers for Thermal Power Plants - Market Size, Average Pricing and Key Regulations to 2020

Summary
This report gives detailed information on the steam condenser market for thermal power plants, focusing both on global and key steam condenser markets. Drivers, restraints, revenue forecast and volume sales are covered for the global market. The report covers seven key countries for the steam condenser market. Revenue forecast, average pricing, volume sales analysis, key regulations and thermal power scenario are covered at the country level. The seven countries covered include the US, Canada, the UK, China, India, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Scope

• The report covers steam condenser market analysis for thermal power plants only
• Data on steam condenser sales revenue, sales volume, thermal power scenario and market drivers and restraints at global level
• Data on steam condenser sales revenue, sales volume, average pricing, key regulations and thermal power scenario for seven countries - the US, Canada, Australia, India, China, the UK and Saudi Arabia

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Steam Turbines for Thermal Power - Global Market Size, Average Pricing, Equipment Market Share and Competitive Landscape Analysis to 2020

Summary
This report analyzes the global steam turbine market in terms of steam turbine units sold, steam turbine revenues and market share of companies in terms of revenues. It also discusses the key drivers and restraints impacting the market. The report provides an in depth analysis of key global steam turbine markets- China, India, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, Germany, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the US. It provides data and analysis related to the market size, revenues, market share, average price and the regulations in each of these countries. The report also provides SWOT analysis of four key steam turbine manufacturing companies in the world.

Scope

• Analysis of steam turbines used in thermal power plants with capacity greater than 70 MW
• Data on steam turbine revenues for key countries: the US, China, India, Russia, South Korea, Germany, Australia, Indonesia, Italy and Saudi Arabia
• Data on the pricing and volume (unit sales) analysis for the aforementioned key countries
• Market share analysis for the top global market participants: Shanghai Electric Group Company Ltd., Dongfang Electric Company Ltd., Harbin Power Equipment Company Ltd. and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
• Power regulations for key steam turbine markets

PennEnergy's Top Oil & Gas News 10/25

Top Oil & Gas News
	India and Russia look to partner on oil and gas exploration Indian state-owned oil company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said it is interested in partnering with Russia to explore for oil and gas in Russia's Arctic waters. Full Article Share:
	PennEnergy Video News Update From the latest on the Trans-Niger Pipeline, to the milestone for Dong Energy, to the promises of Vladivostok LNG, all of the week's biggest headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update. Full Article Share:

This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News
• IEC: Israel needs more gas pipelines
• Shell lifts force majeure on Bonny Light crude oil exports
• CNPC natural gas pipeline now operational
• Gazprom: Vladivostok LNG project very attractive for consumers and investors
• Dong extracting more than 100,000 barrels a day
• Foster Wheeler awarded contract for crude oil production program in Saudi Arabia
• Gas compression system brought onstream as part of Southern Corridor
• Hong Kong branch of Second West-East Gas Pipeline completed and operational
• Petrobras completes drilling offshore oil well in Jupiter area
• Offshore pipeline support contract for Subsea 7 in Brazil
• Noble Energy announces oil exploration acreage exchange in Colorado
• EIA initiates new monthly oil and gas drilling report
• Chevron acquires new offshore exploration acreage in Australia

Energy Insights

All Energy, All the Time: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain… Just in time for Halloween, one of National Geographic’s cable networks is set to premier a new original movie which imagines the story of a national power failure initiated by a cyber-attack. Titled American Blackout, the film’s trailer waxes a bit sensationalist and, I must admit, initially solicited a few eye rolls. But after letting it sit with me a while and visiting the movie’s website, I found myself saddled with a new feeling – frustration. Full Article

Energy News Roundup: Is Natural Gas Climate Friend or Foe?

http://breakingenergy.com/2013/10/24/energy-news-roundup-is-natural-gas-climate-friend-or-foe/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bf77cda5ea-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bf77cda5ea-407304281

Energy Secretary Moniz Discusses US Energy Security Challenges

http://breakingenergy.com/2013/10/24/energy-secretary-moniz-discusses-us-energy-security-challenges/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bf77cda5ea-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bf77cda5ea-407304281

The Reason $90 Crude Oil Could be Coming: Pro

http://breakingenergy.com/2013/10/24/the-reason-90-crude-oil-could-be-coming-pro/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bf77cda5ea-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bf77cda5ea-407304281

Russia spearheads world's effort to develop fast-breeder reactors

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201310240004

Bill Gates visit to Idaho validates innovation role for national laboratories

INL News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 24, 2013
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Amy Lientz, 208-520-7718, amy.lientz@inl.gov
Teri Ehresman, 208-526-7785, teri.ehresman@inl.gov
Bill Gates visit to Idaho validates innovation role for national laboratories
IDAHO FALLS — Privately funded research utilizing government owned facilities validates the important role national laboratories have in advancing innovation. Bill Gates, American business magnate and chair of the nuclear reactor startup company TerraPower, LLC, and his staff toured the Materials and Fuels Complex at Idaho National Laboratory. TerraPower has engaged Idaho National Laboratory to support certain aspects of design for Terrapower's traveling wave reactor, and the visit focused on demonstrating the lab's expertise and capabilities. During his visit on Wednesday of this week, he proclaimed the studies conducted by scientists and engineers as “incredibly important.” 
When addressing employees after his tour Gates said, “Getting to visit INL was really enlightening. It was amazing to see reactor fuel analysis and how it can be conducted safely in a hot cell environment.” 
“Terrapower has many cooperative projects and there are lots of partnerships, but our work with INL is singularly important,” said Gates. TerraPower has gained attention for both its traveling wave reactor design and the financial backing of clean technology investors. Several Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) established over the past few years enable the company to receive technical insight from the nation’s nuclear energy laboratory and use its vast capabilities.
"We enjoyed showing off our experienced researchers and one-of-a-kind capabilities for Mr. Gates," said Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher. "His interest in nuclear energy and INL's contributions helps the industry's future and reinforces the value of DOE's national laboratory complex."
CRADAs and other agreements exemplify how INL helps advance industrial development by sharing its expertise with both start-ups and established energy companies. The formal agreements signed with TerraPower are part of a long DOE tradition to make national lab capabilities available to businesses developing new technologies.
“The lab’s rich history of nuclear energy research has established capabilities and created a wealth of information that will help TerraPower as it moves forward.” said Doug Toomer, INL’s director of industry programs for Nuclear Science and Technology.
One of INL’s primary missions is to help develop nuclear fuels with significantly improved performance. As a result, the lab has extensive expertise in nuclear fuel behavior and design. The CRADAs between INL and TerraPower take advantage of this expertise and cover a number of areas from sharing data and analyses gleaned from operation of the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II, to fabrication and irradiation of advanced nuclear fuel rods followed by post-irradiation examination.
“When a private company, such as TerraPower, shows interest in what INL does and formalizes a partnership to utilize our expertise and unique infrastructure, we know that we are doing a great job and making a meaningful impact on nuclear energy development, “ said Kemal Pasamehmetoglu, INL’s associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science and Technology.
Such INL support is available and used by a number of companies in the nuclear energy industry, including other nuclear start-ups such as NuScale Power, and veteran companies such as Babcock & Wilcox, Westinghouse and General Electric. CRADAs and Work for Others agreements are just two of the mechanisms that enable private industry to access the expertise, facilities and capabilities that exist in the DOE’s national laboratory complex.
TerraPower is a nuclear energy technology company, headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. It is a privately funded company with the mission to advance scalable, sustainable, low-carbon and cost-competitive energy solutions. TerraPower’s traveling wave reactor is a central project that presents new innovation opportunities in the fields of engineering, physics and computer science. Since the company’s inception in 2007, it has grown to nearly 70 full-time professionals who engage diverse technical consultants and partners to responsibly improve options for global access to clean, secure and affordable electricity. Visit TerraPower at www.terrapower.com.
INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE's strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance.
See more news and feature stories at www.inl.gov. Follow @INL on Twitter or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IdahoNationalLaboratory.
—INL-13-024—

Why You Should Be Really Afraid of the American Power Grid Going Dark

http://wnpr.org/post/why-you-should-be-really-afraid-american-power-grid-going-dark

How 5 billionaires are betting on electricity

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-5-billionaires-are-betting-on-electricity/185728/

Pakistan starts work on Nuclear plant to be made with Chinese help

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-10-24/news/43365905_1_nuclear-power-plant-work-chinese-help

Drain water radiation level more than doubles at Fukushima plant

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant said Thursday the radiation level of water from a drainage channel near the tank that leaked 300 tons of highly toxic water in August has more than doubled.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131024p2g00m0dm081000c.html

Gov't mulls replacing aging nuclear reactors with new ones

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131024p2a00m0na008000c.html

Wastes removed from another Hanford tank

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/10/24/2854218/wastes-removed-from-another-hanford.html

Related articles

• EPA fines Hanford $115,000
• EPA issues fines against Hanford

Westinghouse signs agreement in South Africa

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/energy/2013/10/westinghouse-signs-agreement-in-south.html

Need for New Nuclear Facilities

http://www.nei.org/Issues-Policy/New-Nuclear-Energy-Facilities/Need-for-New-Nuclear-Facilities

W&J event addresses use of nuclear power, climate change

http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20131024/NEWS01/131029639#.UmqpiBDBOAh

Study: No Long-Term Climate Benefit From Shale Gas Revolution

http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/291141/major-study-projects-no-long-term-climate-benefit-shale-gas-revolution?utm_source=tec_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&inf_contact_key=6eb7b03997a88424df5f994244bbb3643904b40273cabda39aaa8ea8518bf151

Impacts of Shutting Down Most US Coal Power, Part 2

http://theenergycollective.com/jemillerep/290461/impacts-shutting-down-most-us-coal-power-part-2?utm_source=tec_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&inf_contact_key=1d778f2eb4809f6a1e74acf601153d2bae27a88fc962df568415c3f37402456b

Energy Risk: Radiation Superstition

http://theenergycollective.com/roberthargraves/290601/radiation-superstition?utm_source=tec_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&inf_contact_key=56306cc556f2c6c2766bb63b9d020a98bbf10d17fa94811018e6208811f8d87e

Fukushima Update 10/25 Fukushima and the Inevitable Tritium Controversy -

Fukushima Commentary for today –

Fukushima and the Inevitable Tritium Controversy -

Early in 2014, Tepco will begin full-scale operation of ALPS, removing all wastewater isotopes except Tritium. Tritium is one of the weakest beta-emitting isotopes in the universe. 37,000,000 Becquerels per liter doesn't hurt lab mice. Fukushima's highest Tritium level is 630,000 Bq/liter. They should release the ALPS system effluent directly to the sea, but radiophobic outcries in Japan will not allow it.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-commentary.html

ANS Update: Nuclear Matinée: Journey of the Flamanville Reactor Pressure Vessel

Nuclear Matinée: Journey of the Flamanville Reactor Pressure Vessel

By ansnuclearcafe on Oct 25, 2013 01:00 am

Today’s ANS Nuclear Cafe Matinée takes faithful viewers through the beautiful waterways and countryside of France, following the route of the massive reactor pressure vessel being delivered to the new 1,650 MWe European Pressurized Reactor under construction at the Flamanville … Continue reading →
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More to read:

We are not Spock: Emotion and Nuclear Power
Nuclear Science Week proclaimed in Washington State
ANS Nuclear Security International Panel focuses on the Middle East and North Africa
Join us for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group’s inaugural topical meeting
Carnival of Nuclear Energy 179

Energy storage database demonstrates project, technology diversity

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/energy-storage-database-demonstrates-project-technology-diversity/2013-10-25?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Nuclear Export Controls Conference January 14-16, 2014

January 14-16, 2014 | Renaissance Dupont Circle Hotel | Washington, DC

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Take your Compliance to the Next Level—and Stay Competitive— in an Increasingly International Nuclear Industry

Get Guidance from the Nation’s Leading Regulators
and Nuclear Industry Experts on:

• What is in the new export control rules and how they affect compliance programs
• How to incorporate both the explicit rules and implicit guidance from the newly revised 10 CFR Part 810 regulations in compliance programs
• How to make the right judgments regarding the jurisdictions that should handle which technologies under new export control rules
• How to reduce the risk of unauthorized “deemed exports”
• Staying compliant under the new Department of Commerce regulations regarding “dual use” technologies without hurting your competitiveness

Even as a surge in international nuclear construction raises the importance of accessing export markets to US-based equipment providers and service suppliers in the nuclear supply chain, increased scrutiny is being placed on nuclear exports. After nearly two years of study, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued another notice of proposed revisions to its nuclear technology export control regulations in 10 CFR Part 810, the first major change since 1986. Furthermore, Department of Commerce export control reforms, effective October 15, 2013, will change the jurisdiction for some items to gain approval for export.
What are the most important changes? What changes is the DOE proposing? What is not fully explained in the rulemaking proposal? How might these changes affect you? Only those equipment manufacturers, service suppliers, fuel suppliers, and nuclear operating utilities with the most up-to-date information will be able to stay compliant—and competitive—in an increasingly international nuclear industry.
Nuclear Export Controls 2014 will bring leading regulators together with experienced nuclear export control compliance managers to provide the knowledge you need to implement an effective compliance control system without overly restraining legitimate trade. They will provide an overview of the complex web of Department of Energy, Department of State, Department of Commerce/BIS and NRC regulations, controls and compliance protocols over the export of nuclear technology and services, and provide guidance on how to best incorporate this into an effective and efficient compliance program. General Counsel, compliance managers, licensing managers and export controls executives—get the latest information from leading regulators and nuclear industry experts.

Nuclear ship takes Olympic flame to North Pole

Nuclear ship takes Olympic flame to North Pole (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/ON-Nuclear_ship_takes_Olympic_flame_to_North_Pole-2510135.html)
The torch relay for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi reached the North Pole with the aid of the world's largest nuclear-powered icebreaker.

Extra experts for Japanese regulator

Extra experts for Japanese regulator (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Extra_experts_for_Japanese_regulator_2510131.html)
The Japanese cabinet today approved the merger of a technical support organisation with the Nuclear Regulation Authority, a move that will significantly boost its manpower.

Greenland drops uranium mining ban

Greenland drops uranium mining ban (http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Greenland_drops_uranium_mining_ban-2510134.html)
Greenland's parliament has voted in favour of lifting the country's long-standing ban on the extraction of radioactive materials, including uranium. The move could enable the Kvanefjeld project to proceed.

Neither Snow, Nor Sleet, Nor Heat, Nor Fallout. . .

The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Cost Study Project was completed in August 1998 and resulted in the book Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940 edited by Stephen I. Schwartz. These project pages should be considered historical.
http://www.brookings.edu/about/projects/archive/nucweapons/box4-2

DOE Awards $60 Million To Support Solar R&D

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/10/doe-awarding-60-million-to-support-solar-r-d?cmpid=WNL-Friday-October25-2013

3 Reasons Germans are Going Renewable 'At All Costs'

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/10/3-reasons-germans-are-going-renewable-at-all-costs?cmpid=WNL-Friday-October25-2013

Toxic Assets: Japan Govt. To Make Fukushima & Nuclear Industry Taxpayer’s Problem As TEPCO Flounders

http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=11624

Fukushima’s Worst-Case Scenarios

 

Much of what you’ve heard about the nuclear accident is wrong.

By Paul Blustein

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/09/fukushima_disaster_new_information_about_worst_case_scenarios.html

Don’t Extend the Wind Production Tax Credit. Fix it.

Phasing out the production tax credit, and adding cost and performance requirements, could shorten the path to large-scale renewable energy.

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/520731/dont-extend-the-wind-production-tax-credit-fix-it/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_source=newsletter-daily-all&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20131025

Nuke Iran?

In New York yesterday, Sheldon Adelson, the casino moghul who is the Republican Party’s biggest donor, told a panel at New York’s Yeshiva university that the United States should drop a nuclear bomb on Iran. The audience applauded.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/24/gops-biggest-donor-believes-u-s-should-nuke-iran/

A Guide to 123 Gigawatts of Grid-Scale Energy Storage

A Guide to 123 Gigawatts of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Greentech Media

Certainly California's new energy storage mandate, which is aimed at incorporating intermittent solar and wind energy into the grid, doesn't allow big pumped ...http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/A-Guide-to-123-Gigawatts-of-Grid-Scale-Energy-Storage

British nuclear plant deal seen as spur to more development

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2013/10/23/British-nuclear-plant-deal-seen-as-spur-to-more-development/UPI-82441382500920/#ixzz2ijq5MuvX

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2013/10/23/British-nuclear-plant-deal-seen-as-spur-to-more-development/UPI-82441382500920/

Environmentalist: U.K.’s nuclear intentions good, plan is bad By Mark Halper

Environmentalist: U.K.’s nuclear intentions good, plan is bad

By Mark Halper
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/environmentalist-uks-nuclear-intentions-good-plan-is-bad/32609

F. Daiichi spent fuel movement scare-mongering begins in Japan's Press

 

"Fallout researcher" Christina Consolo says “The worst-case scenario could play out in death to billions of people. A true apocalypse.”

http://japandailypress.com/tepco-prepares-for-critical-removal-of-spent-fuel-from-fukushima-reactor-2438441/

Related articles

• Fuel Removal From Fukushima's Reactor 4 Threatens 'Apocalyptic' Scenario
• Fuel Removal From Fukushima's Reactor 4 Threatens 'Apocalyptic' Scenario
• Fukushima Readies for Dangerous Operation to Remove 400 Tons of Spent Fuel
• UPDATE1: TEPCO eyes fuel removal from Fukushima No. 4 unit starting early Nov.

Fukushima – A Global Threat That Requires a Global Response by Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers

Fukushima – A Global Threat That Requires a Global Response

by Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
http://dissidentvoice.org/2013/10/fukushima-a-global-threat-that-requires-a-global-response/

Groundwater radiation spikes at crippled Fukushima

Groundwater radiation spikes at crippled Fukushimahttp://www.terradaily.com/reports/Groundwater_radiation_spikes_at_crippled_Fukushima_999.html

Restart nuclear reactors to help stem snowballing trade deficit

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000740058

Energy in the U.S. and China

Energy in the U.S. and China
http://www.insidefutures.com/article/1085627/Energy%20in%20the%20U.S.%20and%20China.html

MIT Climate CoLab Conference November 6-8, 2913

Forward

New Speakers Confirmed! Now joining us as panelists are: Marshall Ganz, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard University, who devised the grassroots organizing model for Barack Obama’s winning 2008 presidential campaign. Bina Venkataraman, Senior Advisor on Climate Change Innovation, Executive Office of the President of the United States, who is leading the country's effort to make climate change impact data publicly available. Sergej Mahnovsky, Director, NYC Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, who manages citywide energy policy and oversees the City’s comprehensive sustainability initiative, PlaNYC. Robert Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative, who leads MIT's pioneering source of energy research, policy analysis and education. See the full list of confirmed speakers.     Addressing the Challenge of Climate Change   Conference breakout sessions will feature solutions developed by the online Climate CoLab community, each addressing a challenge we face as we confront climate change: Urban Adaptation: Climate Resilient Cities Shifting Public Perceptions on Climate Change Building Efficiency & Waste Management Geoengineering & Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) ...and eleven more. Days until Crowds & Climate   Can't join in person? All sessions will be live-streamed so you can participate from around the world.  Click for details.     More videos posted:  Climate CoLab winners     Follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter #MITcc Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management MIT Center for Collective Intelligence 5 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142 p: 617-253-1659 e: cci@mit.edu | w: http://cci.mit.edu

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