Nuclear Energy Insider Newsletter 11/12

Please see below this week’s version of the Nuclear Energy Insider newsletter: Industry Insight Hinkley Point C verdict clears the way for new UK nuclear; opens possibilities in Europe The prospects for new nuclear plants in the UK have been given a boost with a European Commission approval of the Contract for Difference funding mechanism. While there are some organisations against the project, the CfD mechanism could open the door to new-build projects in Europe. Procurement trends and challenges: nuclear contracts to face greater scrutiny As more nuclear power plants are being planned and proposed, at the behest of  governments looking to ensure that there is competitively priced carbon free energy available, the contractual process of building a nuclear plant is certain to face more scrutiny. News Republican control of US Congress may boost nuclear power and waste decisions Resolving where the nation sends nuclear waste may be an issue that brings Democrats and Republicans together after US President Obama and Harry Reid, the Nevada senator and until January majority leader, blocked funding for the proposed nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.  Areva, Siemens supplier consortium find TVO allegations unfounded; arbitration could continue for years In the frame of the ongoing ICC arbitration proceedings related to the construction of the OL3 nuclear power plant, the Supplier Consortium AREVA & Siemens updated on October 23, 2014 its claim against Finnish utility TVO to reflect refinements in the substantiation and account for interest accrued up to this point. Areva installs spent fuel pool systems at Spain plant Areva has completed the installation of two Spent Fuel Pool Level Instrumentation (SFPLI) systems at the Santa María de Garoña nuclear power plant in Spain. These systems allow operators to ensure that the required level of water is maintained in the used fuel pools, even in adverse conditions. National Audit Office commercial contract investigation for Hinkely Point C in progress The financial watchdog, which scrutinises public spending on behalf of parliament, said it would be checking whether the guaranteed prices of £92 a megawatt hour – reportedly double the current cost of electricity – represented “value for money”, according to media reports. L-3 MAPPS wins St. Lucie Plant contract  L-3 MAPPS has received another order from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to replace the input/output (I/O) system on the St. Lucie Plant full scope simulator. USW: Contractor-installed equipment linked to suspected leak at Honeywell Plant The United Steelworkers (USW) union is calling for an investigation after photos and videos taken showed suspected hazardous gas escaping the Honeywell uranium conversion facility in Metropolis, Illinois. National Audit Office investigation must be expedited quickly says energy worker union GMB, the UK union for energy workers, has called for the National Audit Office investigation over Hinkley Point C pricing to be expedited quickly, for the sake of Hinkley Point and billions of pounds of investment in new nuclear across the country including West Cumbria, Wylfa and Oldbury. DoE provides $13m for advanced reactor research Five R&D projects supporting advanced reactor technologies have been selected to receive $13m of cost-share funding from the US Department of Energy (DoE). All of the research is being carried out by public-private partnerships. Best wishes, Eileen Eileen Donaghey Marketing Manager Nuclear Energy Insider t: 020 7375 7528 edonaghey@nuclearenerginsider.com