Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Japan's nuclear shutdown continues to cost 35 billion us dollars per year.

Japan's nuclear shutdown continues to cost 35 billion us dollars per year.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/08/japans-nuclear-shutdown-contineus-to.html

TEPCO: Fukushima Was Much, Much Worse Than We Said

TEPCO: Fukushima Was Much, Much Worse Than We Said

TEPCO's new appraisal of the Fukushima No. 3 reactor building shows that all – or nearly all – of the fuel rods contained inside melted onto the floor of the containment vessel. 

http://linkis.com/crooksandliars.com/2/HkxAK

The Daily Startup: Venture Investors Back Nuclear Energy After a Lull

The Daily Startup: Venture Investors Back Nuclear Energy After a Lull


http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2014/08/15/the-daily-startup-venture-investors-back-nuclear-energy-after-a-lull/

Missouri utility still interested in nuclear

Missouri utility still interested in nuclear


http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/aug/15/missouri-utility-still-interested-in-nuclear/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

S/Africa seals nuclear power deal with France’s Areva


S/Africa seals nuclear power deal with France’s Areva


http://en.starafrica.com/news/safrica-seals-nuclear-power-deal-with-frances-areva.html

Common Misunderstandings about Nuclear Energy

Common Misunderstandings about Nuclear Energy
An exchange on social media prompted a more lengthy consideration of common misunderstandings about modern nuclear energy. As with any complex topic, tapping into science-based, peer-reviewed expert resources is a good way to foster reasonable open discussion and develop a better understanding of the issues.

http://us.arevablog.com/2014/08/06/common-misunderstandings-about-nuclear-energy/

USEC Maintains Involvement in Centrifuge Project

USEC Maintains Involvement in Centrifuge Project


http://blogs.rollcall.com/energy-xtra/usec-maintains-involvement-in-centrifuge-project/

African Energy Outlook



African Energy Outlook
http://www.platts.com/news-feature/2014/oil/africa-oil-gas-energy-outlook/index?sf4135478=1

Russia to Provide IAEA Inspectors Full Access to Nuclear Facilities in Crimea

Russia to Provide IAEA Inspectors Full Access to Nuclear Facilities in Crimea

http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140816/192070512/Russia-to-Provide-IAEA-Inspectors-Full-Access-to-Nuclear.html

Delays for SC Nuclear Plant Pressure Industry

Delays for SC Nuclear Plant Pressure Industry


http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/delays-sc-nuclear-plant-pressure-industry-25007261

Wind Farms Need 700 Times More Land to Produce Same Energy as Fracking


Wind Farms Need 700 Times More Land to Produce Same Energy as Fracking


http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/08/15/Wind-Farms-Need-700-Times-More-Land-to-Produce-Same-Energy-as-Fracking

Tesla Trumps Toyota Part II: The Big Problem With Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Tesla Trumps Toyota Part II: The Big Problem With Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles



http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/462826/tesla-trumps-toyota-part-ii-big-problem-hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Russia, China Reach Agreement to Develop Floating Nuclear Plants


Russia, China Reach Agreement to Develop Floating Nuclear Plants


http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2014/07/31/russia_2c00_-china-reach-agreement-to-develop-floating-nuclear-plants-073101.aspx#.U--T3Rm5I7A

Moscow, Astana Drafting Joint Project to Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Plant

Moscow, Astana Drafting Joint Project to Build Kazakhstan’s First Nuclear Plant


http://en.ria.ru/world/20140806/191779485/Moscow-Astana-Drafting-Joint-Project-to-Build-Kazakhstans-First.html

India ‘committed’ to growing nuclear share - WNA


India ‘committed’ to growing nuclear share - WNA


http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2014/08/india-committed-to-growing-nuclear-share-wna.html

DAE Plans to Triple N-power by 2022

DAE Plans to Triple N-power by 2022


http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/DAE-Plans-to-Triple-N-power-by-2022/2014/08/09/article2370755.ece

IAEA: International Status and Prospects for Nuclear Power 2014


Board of Governors
General Conference
GOV
/INF/2014/13-
GC
(58)/INF/6
Date: 4 August 2014
General Distribution
Original: English
For official use only
Item 16 of the Conference's provisional agenda
(GC(58)/1, Add.1 and Add.2)
International Status and Prospects for Nuclear
Power 2014

http://www.iaea.org/About/Policy/GC/GC58/GC58InfDocuments/English/gc58inf-6_en.pdf

Indian nuclear must grow 15 times for clean future


Indian nuclear must grow 15 times for clean future

04 August 2014
India has to hugely expand nuclear power along with its entire power system to bring electricity to 300 million people and move away from coal, according to a study by the International Energy Agency (IEA).


http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-Indian-nuclear-must-grow-15-times-for-clean-future-0408141.html

Fukushima Accident Updates

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

STUK supports the establishment of a radiation and nuclear safety authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


STUK supports the establishment of a radiation and nuclear safety authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


http://www.stuk.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/en_GB/news_900/?t=2014-7-14-7-35

Billionaire Investor Peter Thiel Now Wants To Disrupt The Nuclear Energy Industry

Billionaire Investor Peter Thiel Now Wants To Disrupt The Nuclear Energy Industry



http://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-nuclear-energy-industry-2014-8

Russia and China forge new nuclear power partnership

Russia and China forge new nuclear power partnership

Russia and China forge new nuclear power partnership

Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, has been invited to build two nuclear power plant units in China.

http://www.globalconreview.com/sectors/russia-and-china-forge-new-nuclear-power8362653535/

Keystone XL Opponents Running Out of New Ideas


Keystone XL Opponents Running Out of New Ideas

By Energy Tomorrow Blog
President Obama Speaks At Southern Site Of The Keystone Oil Pipeline
Ever since the Keystone XL pipeline first started clearing environmental reviews by the U.S. State Department, opponents basically have been left with arguing that State missed one thing or another in an effort to drag out the federal review. Of course, the credibility of the tactic has suffered evaporation with each successful State review, now

Top New York-based Energy Startup Companies – Part 4

Top New York-based Energy Startup Companies – Part 4

By Jared Anderson
2011 US Open - Day 13
Breaking Energy featured the Top 10 New York Energy Entrepreneurs back in June as part of an extremely popular top 10 series that ran during New York Energy Week. The entrepreneurs were chosen by their energy industry peers via an open nomination process that returned a robust list of candidates. Whittling the impressive list of

Nuclear Construction: Never On Time, Or Budget

Nuclear Construction: Never On Time, Or Budget

By EEnergy Informer
Anniversary Of Nuclear Disaster At Three Mile Island Marked Near The Site
It seems to be a recurring trend  After years where nobody was building any, 4 new reactors are under construction in the US, supported by all manner of support, subsidies, government loan guarantees and you name it. Much rests on how these 4 reactors will turn out in terms of getting built on schedule and
Keep reading →v

What Ever Happened to These Promising Energy Technologies? -

 What Ever Happened to These Promising Energy Technologies? -
What Ever Happened to These Promising Energy Technologies? - See more at: http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/what-ever-happened-to-these-promising-energy-technologies/#sthash.zqNeqSoO.dpuf

http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/what-ever-happened-to-these-promising-energy-technologies/

Book Review: Critical Masses

 

Book Review (Part 1 of 2): Critical Masses


http://atoms4ca.tumblr.com/post/93940226103/book-review-part-1-of-2-critical-masses


Book Review (Part 2 of 2): Critical Masses

http://atoms4ca.tumblr.com/post/94513900168/critical-masses-2

_____________________________________________________________________________

Critical Masses was written by Thomas Raymond Wellock, who is currently serving as the Chief Historian of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The book was published in 1998; he wrote it as his dissertation in satisfaction of the requirements for a Ph.D. in history from the University of California at Berkeley (“Cal”). Previously, he had received an M.A. in history at the University of Toledo and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport. According to his introductory NRC blog post, Dr. Wellock was first a nuclear engineer before the dramatic career change of becoming a historian:
After receiving my B.S. in mechanical engineering, I tested nuclear reactors on submarines for General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, and worked as an engineer at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station near Toledo, Ohio.
In the acknowledgements, Wellock discusses how he personally interviewed dozens of activists who were at the forefront of California’s anti-nuclear movement. His effort clearly paid off, as demonstrated by the astonishing degree of candor that he was able to extract from his subjects with respect to the things they said to each other outside of the public eye. My main objective with this post is to publicize Wellock’s findings, which clearly show beyond a shadow of a doubt that California’s anti-nuclear opposition has been founded (for the most part) on falsehoods, baseless fear-mongering, myopic lack of perspective, and an anti-growth ideology that most voters would reject if only they knew that it was the bedrock of anti-nuclear opposition.

Atomic Show #220 – Atoms for California





Atomic Show #220 – Atoms for California


Andrew Benson from Atoms For California contacted me last week to find out if I was interested in having a conversation about the history of nuclear energy in California, with a special focus on the history of the antinuclear movement in that trend-setting state. It sounded like a great idea for an Atomic Show so I jumped at the chance.

I hope you all enjoy the show.
Here are links to publications discussed during the show.
Critical Masses (part 1): http://atoms4ca.tumblr.com/post/93940226103/book-review-part-1-of-2-critical-masses
Critical Masses (Part 2): http://atoms4ca.tumblr.com/post/94513900168/critical-masses-2
Just some assorted links about the challenges to a renewables only approach: http://atoms4ca.tumblr.com/post/94608672208/assorted-graphs-renewables-only-challenges


http://atomicinsights.com/atomic-show-220-atoms-california/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AtomicInsights+%28Atomic+Insights%29

INPO


[PDF]

Lessons Learned from the Nuclear Accident at the ... - WANO

www.wano.info/Documents/Less...
World Association of Nuclear Operators
document, or that the use of any information, apparatus, method, or process .... experience and best practices, including addressing lessons learned from core- ...http://www.wano.info/Documents/Lessons%20Learned.pdf

Tsunami Assessment Method for Nuclear Power Plants in Japan

Tsunami Assessment Method for Nuclear Power Plants in ...

www.jsce.or.jp/committee/ceofnp/Tsunami/eng/JSCE_Tsunami_060519....
May 19, 2006 - February 2002. The Tsunami Evaluation Subcommittee,. The Nuclear Civil Engineering Committee,. JSCE (Japan Society of Civil Engineers) ...http://www.jsce.or.jp/committee/ceofnp/Tsunami/eng/JSCE_Tsunami_060519.pdf

Fukushima Follow-Up

Quentin Baudard
Quentin
Projet de Fin d'Etudes d'Ingénieur chez EDF

As you may imagine, many analysis reports on the accident have been made since then, both from Japanese (TEPCO, regulatory authorities, parliament, …) and foreign institutions (INPO, ANS, …). Unfortunately, no analysis from any of those sources is entirely reliable: Japanese may lack objectivity, other may lack accuracy on data or information.

Amongst all of those documents, I would advise:

* TEPCO’s report on the accident for the technical point of view and the theoretical organization of the crisis management teams within the company (Let's insist on theoretical). Probably not objective but well documented

http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tepco.co.jp%2Fen%2Fpress%2Fcorp-com%2Frelease%2Fbetu12_e%2Fimages%2F120620e0104.pdf&ei=ZGTjU8eMMcLwOu3QgZAE&usg=AFQjCNEEyhggCxfwurHKw0dyyssfnvSWZw&sig2=emqFHsSQT078Nv0NH15Qog&bvm=bv.72676100,d.ZWU&cad=rja

* INPO’s report adds more information on the measures taken by TEPCO after the "Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Act"

http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcryptome.org%2F0005%2Fdaiichi-inpo.pdf&ei=02TjU5p2wo07k9qBkAQ&usg=AFQjCNGGgRqUqqKYaG9ZCYpwu380zmt5LA&sig2=QzMN09ejFizxxUUn-91nFA&bvm=bv.72676100,d.ZWU

* the American Nuclear Society analysis, concerning countermeasures to be considered (hardware and software). Most of them have already been stated in the discussion before.

http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffukushima.ans.org%2Freport%2FFukushima_report.pdf&ei=nWXjU-iUEeOV0QXx2IDgBg&usg=AFQjCNE9_laNGjm34Ab5Jn1pERZqNFymlw&sig2=0KAT4x_gVkcV_-JQnEf_eQ&bvm=bv.72676100,d.d2k

* The commission mandated by the Japanese parliament (Diet) drew quite a sharp criticism of the organization of the crisis management teams, either on site, at TEPCO’s headquarters or even at the government level. More interesting, they managed to conduct a survey of workers on site and neighboring residents about their perception of crisis preparation.

https://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nirs.org%2Ffukushima%2Fnaiic_report.pdf&ei=02XjU8bEF8Ok0QWHmoD4Ag&usg=AFQjCNEN3Pi3Adxm1SQ5j0J-2tNBGwjg-A&sig2=MgI7TWTd1P2d4v2zAeJrbg&bvm=bv.72676100,d.d2k&cad=rja

Technical Lessons Learned from Fukushima and Possible Corrective Actions for Nuclear Industry: An Initial Evaluation


SYSTEMS
ENHANCED
PERFORMANCE
PROGRAM
Technical Lessons
Learned from the
Fukushima
-
Daichii
Accident and Possible
Corrective Actions for the
Nuclear Industry
:
An Initial Evaluation


http://mitnse.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/fukushima-lessons-learned-mit-nsp-025_rev1.pdf

Friday, August 15, 2014

Nuclear’s Reliability Vital for Industrial Users


Nuclear’s Reliability Vital for Industrial Users

  • Power interruptions to manufacturers are costly
  • Chemicals, metal refining and computer industries among largest users
  • Reliable U.S. grid attractive to manufacturers returning from overseas
By Chris Charles

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/Nuclear-s-Reliability-Vital-for-Industrial-Users

Saudi Arabia To Cooperate With China On Nuclear


Saudi Arabia To Cooperate With China On Nuclear



http://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2014/08/15/saudi-arabia-to-cooperate-with-china-on-nuclear

The U.S. Gulf Coast at Night

The U.S. Gulf Coast at Night
ISS040-E-090540 (9 Aug. 2014) --- One of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the International Space Station photographed this nighttime image showing city lights in at least half a dozen southern states from some 225 miles above the home planet. Lights from areas in the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as some of the states that border them on the north, are visible.
Image Credit: NASA

http://www.nasa.gov/content/the-us-gulf-coast-at-night/#.U-6QzEhH1FU

Nuclear at a Crossroads

Wind, nuclear, and gas resources must work together – not at cross-purposes.
- See more at: http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2014/07/nuclear-crossroads#sthash.lutD44bw.dpuf
Wind, nuclear, and gas resources must work together – not at cross-purposes.
- See more at: http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2014/07/nuclear-crossroads#sthash.lutD44bw.dpuf


http://www.fortnightly.com/fortnightly/2014/07/nuclear-crossroads

Molten salt nuclear reactor that eats radioactive waste gets funded


Molten salt nuclear reactor that eats radioactive waste gets funded

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/187917-startup-gets-funding-for-its-molten-salt-nuclear-reactor-that-eats-radioactive-waste

Is the West Risking Financial Blowback From Sanctions on Russia?



http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/08/is-the-west-risking-financial-blowback-from-sanctions-on-russia.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capitalism%29

Fitch Revises SCG and SCE&G Rating Outlook to Negative


Fitch Revises SCG and SCE&G Rating Outlook to Negative

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-revises-scg-and-sceg-rating-outlook-to-negative-2014-08-15

When healthy fear becomes unhealthy - Nuclear Waste

When healthy fear becomes unhealthy - Nuclear Waste


https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140814212335-37235184-when-healthy-fear-becomes-unhealthy-nuclear-waste

Transport of spent fuel after dry storage


Transport of spent fuel after dry storage


It now appears that spent fuel may be stored in interim dry stores for longer than was expected. The safety analysis requires knowledge of the characteristics and behaviour of materials under these storage conditions. Despite much R&D, questions about material properties remain open. Two key issues are residual water after drying and subsequent radiolytic generation, and the possibility of cladding embrittlement caused by thermal transients during the cask drying process and its impact on the cooling of stored fuel. By Maurice Dallongeville, Hervé Issard, Elisa Leoni and Aravinda Zeachandirin

 

http://www.neimagazine.com/features/featuretransport-of-spent-fuel-after-dry-storage-4341258/

An open letter to the ABC about Catalyst’s latest Fukushima piece

An open letter to the ABC about Catalyst’s latest Fukushima piece


http://bravenewclimate.com/2014/08/15/an-open-letter-to-the-abc-about-catalysts-latest-fukushima-piece/

Greenjacked! The derailing of environmental action on climate change

Greenjacked! The derailing of environmental action on climate change


http://bravenewclimate.com/2014/08/15/greenjacked/

Power Engineering's Top Stories 8/15

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Video Highlights

Top Stories
Video: TVA begins systems testing at Watts Bar 2 nuclear plant
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) says its project at the Watts Bar 2 nuclear reactor in Tennessee continues to meet targets for safety, cost and schedule.
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SHOVL
Ground broken on combined-cycle natural gas-fired project in Pennsylvania
Gemma Power Systems LLC, Panda Power Funds, Siemens Energy (NYSE: SI) and others celebrated the groundbreaking of an 829-MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle project in Pennsylvania.
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Video: Black & Veatch Publishes its 2014 Strategic Directions: U.S. Electric Industry Report
Black & Veatch today published its 2014 Strategic Directions: U.S. Electric Industry. The annual report represents a compilation of data and analysis from a survey of qualified professionals within the electric generation industry.
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NRC wants public comment on Sequoyah nuclear plant’s license renewal
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comment on a draft environmental impact study for the license renewal of the Sequoyah nuclear power plant in Tennessee.
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The Week's Most Read Articles
Sargent & Lundy receives engineering contract for Petra Nova Carbon Capture Project
Sargent & Lundy LLC has been awarded an Owner's Engineering contract by Petra Nova to continue providing engineering services for the Petra Nova Carbon Capture Project.
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Vogtle nuclear Unit 1 automatically shuts down
Unit 1 at Plant Vogtle in Georgia automatically shut down July 27th during testing.
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Duke Energy announces executive leadership changes
In order to support its long-term strategy, Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is realigning its organizational structure:
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Hitachi-GE nuclear reactor gains initial approval for UK project
Plans for a nuclear reactor at the Wylfa nuclear power plant in Anglesey have been provisionally approved.
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More Headlines
Energy secretary to visit troubled nuke dump
Last of Japan’s nuclear power plant operators applies for safety checks
Geenex, ET Solar to develop 20 MW solar project in North Carolina
Turkey Point 3 nuclear reactor automatically shuts down
Clean Power Plan open for public comment
Groups want Indianapolis Power & Light to test water
Construction underway at Iowa's Red Rock hydro plant
Iberdrola begins construction on the Pier II wind energy farm in Mexico
Capstone awarded contract for 25 microturbines for E-Finity Distributed Generation
NRG Yield completes purchase of California wind energy project
University of Maryland saves with BGE’s new combined heat and power plant
Juhl Energy completes acquisition of Iowa wind farms
Kellogg wants suppliers to report carbon emissions
NRC increases oversight at Duke Energy nuclear power plant
EIA: US steam coal sees dramatic decrease in imports
GE to supply Jenbacher gas engines for distributed power generation projects in Pennsylvania
V.C. Summer nuclear power plant new builds delayed a year
Renewables, natural gas use to increase in 2015 as coal retirements begin

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