Saturday, March 22, 2014

What's really behind this MOX cutoff?

Ill-advised feds' decision to scrap SRS project should alarm us all

http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/editorials/2014-03-20/whats-really-behind-mox-cutoff?v=1395355109

Fukushima Solutions World Conference

The Fukushima Solutions World Conference will be held in Austin Texas, March 22-23, 2014. The itinerary includes most of the more infamous antinuclear voices in the world. The concept of "balance" seems to be listing former NRC chair and current Japanese consultant of Fukushima, Dr. Dale Klein, as a speaker.

http://www.fukushimasolutions.com/

Israel no longer worried about its water supply, thanks to desalination plants Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/20/221880/israel-no-longer-worried-about.html#storylink=cpy

Israel no longer worried about its water supply, thanks to desalination plants

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/20/221880/israel-no-longer-worried-about.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/03/20/221880/israel-no-longer-worried-about.html

Pipe Manufacturing and Installation of Shidaowan NPP to be Undertaken by Chinese Companies

Arnaud Lefevre-Baril Chief Executive Officer at Dynatom International GmbH Top Contributor

A cold bending technology of large diameter pipe researched and developed by Yueyangzhu Pipeline Valve Co., Ltd has been recognized by Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University recently. Both sides signed a strategic cooperation agreement in which Yueyangzhu Pipe will provide all manufacturing and installation services for the fourth generation nuclear power technology of “high temperature gas cooled reactor demonstration power plant project.”
The “high temperature gas cooled reactor demonstration plant” is one of China’s 16 medium and long term project. After six months of research and investigation, Tsinghua Universtity finally chose Yueyangzhu Piping as its partner. This company is the only one that can meet the requirements of the project and provide technical service in China .
Yueyangzhu Piping will mainly provide the bending technology on helium fan experimental shunt of large diameter pipe and undertake the manufacturing and installation of all pipes and valves. After the success of the experiment, the company will provide technical service for Shidaowan NPP and will become an important partner of the fourth generation nuclear technology.

Source: http://www.cnnc.com.cn/publish/portal0/tab664/info80622.htm

Zhejiang Province Invests RMB 7.01 Billion on Three Nuclear Power Projects in 2014

Arnaud Lefevre-Baril Chief Executive Officer at Dynatom International GmbH

General office of Zhejiang Provincial Government issued Zhejiang 2014 implementation plan on expanding effective investment of “ 411” major project recently, in which clear goals and objectives are made for major programs including nuclear power.
According to the plan, three nuclear power plants are involved in this investment. They are Qinshan NPP Phase 1 expansion project (Fangjiashan NPP) and Sanmen NPP Phase 1 & Phase 2.
At present, total investment of these three projects has reached 105.1 billion RMB among which 70.1 billion RMB will be invested in 2014. A total of two billion RMB will be invested to Fangjiashan project (total investment of 26 billion RMB with construction period from 2010 to 2015) for the main body construction; 4.3 billion RMB to Sanmen phase 1 (total investment of 40.8 billion RMB with construction period from 2009 to 2016) to push forward the cold test of unit 1 and the steam turbine cylinder and pipe welding of the unit 2; 800 million RMB to Sanmen NPP Phase 2 (total investment of 38.3 billion RMB).

Source: http://news.bjx.com.cn/html/20140312/496222.shtml

浙江今年推进三个核电项目总投资达70.1亿元 news.bjx.com.cn

北极星核电网讯:浙江省政府办公厅日前印发《浙江省扩大有效投资“411”重大项目建设行动计划2014年实施计划》(浙政办发[2014]12号)，对包括核电项目在内的重大项目实施做了明确的目标要求。记者在《2014年浙江省扩大有效投资“411”重大项目表》中看到，该省今年投资涉及的核电项目共三项，即秦山核电一期扩建工程( 方家山核电项目)、三门核电一期建设项目以及三门核电二期项目。...

Energy News Roundup: Gazprom Undercutting ‘Expensive’ LNG and Pipeline Gas

By Jared Anderson

Russian Gas Supplies Through Ukraine Turned Off

Skip down about halfway through this article if you’ve been following coverage of the Ukraine situation’s impact on European gas markets. The interesting stuff is towards the end where analysts discuss Gazprom’s gas pricing strategy aimed to undercut competition post-2020. It’s funny that the piece basically debunks its own headline. [Financial Times] US natural gas

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/03/21/energy-news-roundup-gazprom-undercutting-expensive-lng-and-pipeline-gas/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=36eba389ee-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-36eba389ee-407304281

Gulf Lease Auction Points to our Offshore Potential

By Energy Tomorrow Blog

As Drilling At Relief Well Continues, Gulf Coast Toils Over Spill Recovery

This week’s central Gulf of Mexico lease auction, which saw oil and natural gas companies pledge more than $850 million in winning amounts, certainly helps support the United States’ status as an energy superpower. Developing more of our own oil and natural gas – and this week’s auction is a big step toward production – makes our

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/03/21/gulf-lease-auction-points-to-our-offshore-potential/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=36eba389ee-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-36eba389ee-407304281

Photo of the Week: The CAVE at LANL

By US Department of Energy

Over the past several years, Los Alamos National Laboratory has invested in providing state-of-the-art tools to help scientists understand and explore their data. In this photo, researchers are investigating the details of an astronomical simulation in the CAVE (cave automatic virtual environment) — a cube-shaped room with high-resolution projections on all six surfaces. Using 3D

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/03/21/photo-of-the-week-the-cave-at-lanl/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=36eba389ee-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-36eba389ee-407304281

Will the US Choose the Right Road to a New Energy Future?

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/03/will-the-us-choose-the-right-road-to-a-new-energy-future?cmpid=SolarNL-Saturday-March22-2014

EU moves to reduce energy dependency on Russia

Leaders agree to accelerate quest for more secure energy supplies as Ukraine tensions continue

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/energy-and-resources/eu-moves-to-reduce-energy-dependency-on-russia-1.1733830

Mexico's Oil Belongs to Its Citizens, Not the Global 1%:

Mexico's Oil Belongs to Its Citizens, Not the Global 1%:

On the anniversary of Mexico's 1938 oil nationalization, artist Yoshua Okón argues that the "energy reform" currently underway in his country will deprive citizens of income directed toward education, health care and anti-poverty programs.

http://creativetimereports.org/2014/03/18/mexico-oil-belongs-to-its-citizens-not-the-one-percent/

Two Sendai nuclear reactors placed on priority screening list for reactor restarts in Japan

http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/03/two-sendai-nuclear-reactors-placed-on.html

hina targets new molten salt thorium nuclear reactors by 2024 with war-like pressure to accelerate solution to killer air pollution

China targets new molten salt thorium nuclear reactors by 2024 with war-like pressure to accelerate solution to killer air pollution

A team of scientists in Shanghai had originally been given 25 years to
try to develop the world's first nuclear plant using the radioactive
element thorium as fuel rather than uranium, but they have now been
told they have 10, the researchers said.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/03/china-targets-new-molten-salt-thorium.html

Friday, March 21, 2014

Germany's Energy Policy Is Failing the Poor, While Being a Poor Way to Help the Climate

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140321133218-322580126-german-energy-policy-is-failing-the-poor-while-being-a-poor-way-to-help-the-climate

IAEA: Learning to Manage a Severe Nuclear Accident

Learning to Manage a Severe Nuclear Accident

IAEA Experts' Meeting on Severe Accident Management After Fukushima Concludes

Members of the IAEA fact-finding team in Japan visit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on 27 May 2011 to examine the devastation wrought by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. (Photo: G. Webb/IAEA)

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After four days of discussion, the IAEA's International Experts' Meeting (IEM) on Severe Accident Management in the Light of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant concluded its deliberations on 20 March 2014 noting that while much progress has been made there is still more that needs to be done to strengthen the nuclear industry's ability to significantly reduce the impact of a nuclear accident.
Summarizing the IEM's proceedings, Chairman Mohammad Anwar Habib of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Agency, highlighted a number of key areas requiring attention, including a need for "robust" training that takes a "practical approach using realistic training aids."
He highlighted the need for strengthened regulation. "Regulatory authorities should review severe accident management programmes developed by the licensee and strengthen inspection and oversight activities of severe accident management measures."
The issue of instruments installed and used at nuclear facilities was also discussed extensively. Instruments that give nuclear operators information about what's happening inside the reactor - such as pressure, temperature, and reactivity - are crucial during an emergency. The more than 160 participants, representing 48 IAEA Member States and four international organizations, discussed about the different advantages to be gained from using special purpose instruments just for emergencies, over the instruments in regular use during the normal running of the nuclear facility.
Deliberations on the need for effective communication between organizations involved in the response to a nuclear accident also took place. Chairman Habib's summary said, "What is clear from this discussion is that emergency planning needs to allow for organizations to effectively communicate with each other so that a common picture emerges in which every organization has a good understanding of the progression of the events."
And to ensure continuity during an emergency response even if key personnel are unavailable for any reason, it was recommended that "emergency plans and severe accident management strategies explicitly recognize that risk and make provisions to ensure the resilience of the response. For example, this could be achieved in part through cross training and the need for key actions to be confirmed by more than one position."
The IEM discussed how best to address the mitigation of nuclear emergencies and provide necessary assistance, as well as to review lessons learned from past accidents.
The presentations were given by nuclear industry professionals, regulatory representatives, emergency management organizations and technical support organizations from the Member States to provide a broad global view of severe accident management and emergency response in light of the Fukushima Daiichi accident.

- By Sasha Henriques, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication

Fukushima’s Shameful Cleanup

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/opinion/fukushimas-shameful-cleanup.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=0

Fossil Fuel Giants Guzzling World's Water as Poor Go Thirsty: UN

Fossil Fuel Giants Guzzling World's Water as Poor Go Thirsty: UN
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/03/21-2

Fukushima Commentary 3/21

Fukushima Commentary –

Fukushima Third Anniversary: International Press

The International Press has commemorated the third anniversary of the Fukushima accident with its usual negativity and appeal to uncertainty and doubt. We’ll first look at some important items that have been neglected or overlooked by the Japanese third anniversary Press, followed by common negative threads that run through the international reports, and finish with reports on former Japanese Prime Ministers who follow the antinuclear persuasion. http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-commentary.html

Most read on The Energy Collective

Advancing Small Modular Reactors: How We're Supporting Next-Gen Nuclear Energy Technology

http://energy.gov/articles/advancing-small-modular-reactors-how-were-supporting-next-gen-nuclear-energy-technology

FERC Approves License for Cutting-edge Tidal Energy Project

This 700-kW project will be located in Washington state.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/03/ferc-approves-license-for-cutting-edge-tidal-energy-project?cmpid=rss

ExxonMobil Acknowledges Climate Change to Shareholders

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2014/03/exxonmobil-acknowledges-climate-change-to-shareholders?cmpid=rss

The Peak Oil Crisis: Our Harsh Winter Continues

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-03-20/the-peak-oil-crisis-our-harsh-winter-continues

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2014/03/21/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-plant-weekly-review-032102.aspx#.UyxzzYXwqAg

Researchers model spent nuclear fuels for potential energy

http://www.rdmag.com/news/2014/03/researchers-model-spent-nuclear-fuels-potential-energy

Thorium: The Artisanal Nuclear Energy

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2014/03/thorium-artisanal-nuclear-energy.html

Cancer study around nuclear facilities to move forward

http://www.beyondnuclear.org/children-health/2012/11/2/cancer-study-around-nuclear-facilities-to-move-forward.html

A Transistor that Stands Up to Blistering Nuclear Reactor Temperatures

http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/semiconductors/devices/a-transistor-for-blistering-nuclear-reactor-temperatures

Will ‘Guns, Guards and Gates’ Really Terror-Proof the Grid?

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/terror-proofing-the-smart-grid

Environmental Groups Gear Up to Stop US LNG Exports

http://www.energytrendsinsider.com/2014/03/20/environmental-groups-gear-up-to-stop-us-lng-exports/

Why is Radiation Biology Funding Disappearing?

http://atomicinsights.com/radiation-biology-funding-disappearing/

Horizon gears up for expansion

20 March 2014

Horizon Nuclear Power is ramping up its workforce in preparation for constructing two new nuclear power plants in the UK. The company is also building larger headquarters.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Horizon-gears-up-for-expansion-2003144.html

Nuclear waste from New Mexico lab may go to Texas

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/nuclear-waste-from-new-mexico-lab-may-go-to-texas/2014/03/20/66c6b90c-b045-11e3-b8b3-44b1d1cd4c1f_story.html

Legendary Marine General James Mattis: Here's What Happens If Iran Gets A Nuke

http://www.businessinsider.com/mattis-iran-nuke-2014-3?utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1

Power Engineering Top News and Commentary 3/21

Top Stories

Duke may retire coal-fired capacity in response to coal ash spill
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is considering closing units at two coal-fired plants in response to the coal ash spill at Dan River in North Carolina.
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DOE denied review of Nuclear Waste Fund decision
A federal appeals court denied a request from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the original panel and full court to review a decision on nuclear waste fee collection.
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Video: Island Station coal-fired power plant imploded
Demolition crews imploded the Island Station coal-fired power plant on Sunday, near the Mississippi River, in St. Paul, Minn.
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Decline in U.S. coal production predicted to end
Low natural gas prices driving coal-fired power plants to convert to natural gas and CO2 regulation were the biggest factors affecting coal. A new report says these factors are likely to lessen its impact on the coal sector in years to come.
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The Week's Most Read Articles

House launches EPA investigation on coal-fired power plant regulations
The House Energy and Commerce Committee are launching an investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) coal power plants regulations.
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Westinghouse AP1000 core barrel completed for Summer nuclear power plant
Westinghouse Electric Co. announced that Toshiba’s Keihin manufacturing facility in Japan completed manufacturing of the core barrel for the AP1000 reactor at the V.C. Summer Unit 2 in South Carolina.
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Industry witnesses throw cold water on EPA claims about CCS technology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed CO2 rule for new coal-fired power plants, which was published on Jan. 8 and requires partial carbon capture and storage systems (CCS) on these plants, would actually freeze development of CCS technologies.
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B&W sued over faulty coal-fired boiler
The Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) on Feb. 28 filed suit against Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group (B&W, NYSE: BWC) alleging B&W supplied a coal-fired boiler that never met its emissions guarantees.
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Advancements in Wind Turbine Technology: Improving Efficiency and Reducing Cost
Wind power capacity has increased dramatically in the U.S. recently - and accompanying that, the turbines that produce it have become more powerful, more efficient and more affordable for power producers.
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More Headlines
• Kemper coal-fired power plant behind schedule, over budget
• GE appoints new VP
• Susquehanna Unit 2 back online after turbine inspections
• Lockheed Martin awarded contract for tidal turbines
• Duke Energy coal ash pond pumping under investigation
• India nuclear power plant to be fully operational by April
• Texas wants spent nuclear fuel storage facility
• Pakistan will build 3 new nuclear power plants
• Maryland House votes to add restrictions to wind turbines, stalls power project
• Palisades nuclear power plant back online
• Activists arrested for breaking into French nuclear power plant
• HSBC to advise EDF on new nuclear build financing
• PSEG Nuclear extends nuclear O&M contract with Areva
• TEPCO halts radioactive water treatment system at Fukushima
• Kentucky bill over EPA regulations on coal-fired power plants heads to Senate
• Capstone to supply microturbines for oil, gas customers
• South Carolina sues DOE over ending nuclear fuel plant plans
• NRC Commissioner Magwood to leave for position in Paris
• First Solar, GE to develop next-generation PV technology
• FirstEnergy announces retirement of Board of Director

Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire