Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, November 8, 2014

We need to talk about Sellafield, and a nuclear solution that ticks all our boxes

We need to talk about Sellafield, and a nuclear solution that ticks all our boxes



http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/dec/05/sellafield-nuclear-energy-solution

Limited Gas, Closing Plants Squeeze Electricity

Limited Gas, Closing Plants Squeeze Electricity


http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-dube-new-england-electirc-power-1108-20141107-story.html

U.S. is first nuclear power to join conference on impact of atomic arms

U.S. is first nuclear power to join conference on impact of atomic arms


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/08/world/politics-diplomacy-world/u-s-is-first-nuclear-power-to-join-conference-on-impact-of-atomic-arms/#.VF6m-RYhCVo

In focus: A look at the new Canada-China agreements

In focus: A look at the new Canada-China agreements

China-Canada agreements Canada's Minister of International Trade Ed Fast, left, shakes hands with a Chinese official as Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, rear left, and China's Premier Li Keqiang, rear right, clap during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. (AP / Petar Kujundzic, Pool)
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/in-focus-a-look-at-the-new-canada-china-agreements-1.2093157

China's largest uranium mine reports more deposits

China's largest uranium mine reports more deposits


http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20141108000060&cid=1202&MainCatID=12

Contractor-Installed Equipment Involved in Suspected Major Leak at Honeywell Plan

Contractor-Installed Equipment Involved in Suspected Major Leak at Honeywell Plan



http://www.huntingtonnews.net/100494

City to feds: Get nuclear waste out of San Onofre

City to feds: Get nuclear waste out of San Onofre



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nuclear-641326-san-resolution.html

China's new Afghanistan strategy: To reap energy benefits while managing Uighur separatist attacks

  1. http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-china-s-new-afghanistan-strategy-to-reap-energy-benefits-while-managing-uighur-separatist-attacks-2033005

China's new Afghanistan strategy: To reap energy benefits while managing Uighur separatist attacks

Saturday, 8 November 2014
China's camaraderie with Afghanistan is rooted in energy and security concerns

A long journey toward advanced nuclear fuels

A long journey toward advanced nuclear fuels

A nuclear fuel experiment travelled all the way from France for examination at INL's Materials and Fuels Complex. Here, employees have opened the shipping cask so the fuel cask can be lifted into the Hot Fuels Examination Facility hot cell.

A long journey toward advanced nuclear fuels

By Casey O'Donnell, for INL Communications & Governmental Affairs
The samples were transported inside a cask within this shipping container, which was then transferred from the ship to an Idaho-bound truck.
This summer, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory received a long-awaited delivery. 
After years of waiting, a trans-Atlantic voyage and a cross-country trip, a cask containing four experimental irradiated pins of nuclear fuel arrived at INL's Materials and Fuels Complex in late July. With shipping facilitated by AREVA TN, these pins traveled from the Phénix nuclear reactor in France, where INL researchers had shipped them more than eight years ago.
The four pins contained advanced metallic and nitride fuels fabricated by INL and Los Alamos National Laboratory, respectively, in 2006. The fuel within the pins holds the final bits of data from an international experiment called FUTURIX-FTA.
FUTURIX, a collaboration between the U.S. DOE and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), is an important part of INL's research for DOE's Fuel Cycle Research & Development program. The "FTA" in the experiment's name alludes to the French phrase for "Actinide Transmutation Fuels." In a nuclear sense, transmutation, the act of turning one thing into another, involves re-using certain components of used nuclear fuel. This would maximize the energy received from mined uranium. It would also decrease the quantity of hazardous, extremely long-lived radionuclides ultimately destined for nuclear repositories.
 
Upon arriving at INL, the shipping cask was unloaded into the truck lock at INL's Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HEFE).
"One goal of the Transmutation Fuels program is to increase the holding capacity of a nuclear fuel repository without increasing the repository's size," INL nuclear engineer Heather Chichester said. "To do this, we're looking at ways to address limits on holding capacity: volume, heat (produced by radioactive decay) and radiotoxicity of used nuclear fuel." Reusing uranium is one way to drastically reduce the volume of used nuclear fuel, Chichester explained. Currently, only about 5 percent of the uranium loaded into a reactor is actually consumed to produce energy. The remaining uranium goes unused. This is because light water reactors, the type of reactor found most predominantly in the world today, can only fission U235, a less plentiful isotope of uranium.
However, there is a type of reactor that can generate the energy necessary to fission the more abundant U 238 as well as the other transuranic isotopes produced during irradiation of nuclear fuel: a fast reactor. About 20 fast reactors exist in the world today.
"Most of what's left in used light water reactor fuel—the U 238 , Pu 239 and a few minor actinides—can be reused in a fast reactor," Chichester said. "This would use our uranium resources more efficiently and reduce the size and heat of the used fuel that has to be disposed."
The experiment cask is lifted into the HFEF hot cell through a hatch in its floor.
Over the past 10 years, the INL Transmutation Fuels team has tested dozens of different fuel compositions that mimic what recycled used nuclear fuel could look like. They are searching for the fuel composition that offers the best results on both ends: efficient energy production in a fast reactor and reduced waste disposal in a nuclear repository. So where does FUTURIX come in? 
"These fuels are intended for use in a fast reactor, but we don't have a fast reactor available for testing in the U.S.," Chichester explained. "So we've been running experiments under modified conditions in ATR (INL's Advanced Test Reactor). We believe that the modifications we've made reproduce most of the important aspects of the environment inside a fast reactor, but we needed to confirm that."
To validate their ATR experiments, INL researchers sent four FUTURIX-FTA fuel pins to France to be irradiated in the Phénix Fast Reactor. The scientists also irradiated four identical pins under the modified ATR conditions. After irradiation of the FUTURIX-FTA pins in Phénix was completed, the four pins were stored in a hot cell in France for several years before being shipped back to INL in July.
 
Employees used manipulators to place the experiment cask in the hot cell, where the cask will be opened so examination of the fuel samples can begin.
Now that they've returned to INL, researchers will perform detailed examinations of both sets of pins. By comparing the ATR-irradiated pins with those from the French fast reactor, researchers will be able to deduce whether ATR experiments can adequately recreate fast reactor fuel behavior. Researchers hope the conditions experienced by these fuels in the French fast reactor will line up with the conditions created for the identical fuels tested in ATR. This would signify that the ATR experiments accurately recreate fast reactor fuel behavior. If so, INL researchers can continue to use their ATR experiments to study new fuels and advance the goals of the Transmutation Fuels program.
"Hopefully, the FUTURIX-FTA experiment will validate the work we've been doing with ATR for the Transmutation Fuels program," Chichester said. "That's why finally getting a chance to examine these fuel pins is such a big deal."
(Posted Nov. 7, 2014)


https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/257/feature_story_details/1269?featurestory=DA_636035

Cancel the apocalypse – all used fuel is out of F. Daiichi unit #4

Cancel the apocalypse – all used fuel is out of F. Daiichi unit #4
http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-commentary.html

Environmentalists need to decide if science matters or not

Environmentalists need to decide if science matters or not


http://northwestcleanenergy.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/environmentalists-need-to-decide-if-science-matters-or-not/

Infographic: Why Failing to Get An Iran Deal Would Not Be a Success

Infographic: Why Failing to Get An Iran Deal Would Not Be a Success



http://armscontrolcenter.org/publications/factsheets/iran_infographic_eizenstat/

Three More Reasons to Cheer Clean Energy Job Growth in North Carolina

Three More Reasons to Cheer Clean Energy Job Growth in North Carolina

By Environmental Defense Fund Energy Exchange Blog
North Carolina
Business-friendly clean energy policies in North Carolina continue to support the success of clean energy companies – boosting job growth and economic development. In the past 30 days alone, three corporate announcements illustrate the power of the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to expand their use of renewable energy and energy efficiency,http://breakingenergy.com/2014/11/07/three-more-reasons-to-cheer-clean-energy-job-growth-in-north-carolina/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bc2b148cd7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bc2b148cd7-407304281

The Climate Riders

The Climate Riders

By Kate Rosow Chrisman
kate biking4 both the pamirs
Two cyclists might seem unlikely candidates for climate ambassadors, but that’s exactly what Lindsey Fransen and David Kroodsma are doing.  Traversing Asia on roads, big and small, paved and not, the two have come up against some of the harsh realities of climate change and the difficulties in properly communicating its impacts. The ride is
Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2014/11/07/the-climate-riders/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bc2b148cd7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bc2b148cd7-407304281

A Visit to International School of Beijing


http://rideforclimate.com/blog/ 

Energy in the 114th Congress


Energy in the 114th Congress


http://breakingenergy.com/2014/11/07/energy-in-the-114th-congress/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bc2b148cd7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bc2b148cd7-407304281

The Potential Impact of John Podesta’s Exit on the Energy Sector

The Potential Impact of John Podesta’s Exit on the Energy Sector


http://breakingenergy.com/2014/11/07/the-potential-impact-of-john-podestas-exit-on-the-energy-sector/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=bc2b148cd7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-bc2b148cd7-407304281

Hall Talk – Licensing the Integral Fast Reactor design

Hall Talk – Licensing the Integral Fast Reactor design

Our intrepid reporter files another update from the ANS Winter Meeting.
By Dan Yurman
Closing regulatory gaps for sodium fast reactors


http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2011/11/02/hall-talk-licensing-the-integral-fast-reactor-design/

Radon 101 A very light overview of radon, where it comes from, what it does and the EPA action limits.

Radon 101

A very light overview of radon, where it comes from, what it does and the EPA action limits.

http://newsok.com/radon-101/article/5364500

Friday, November 7, 2014

Nuclear Options: What Explains U.S.-China Cooperation on Thorium?


Nuclear Options: What Explains U.S.-China Cooperation on Thorium?


http://gppreview.com/2014/11/06/nuclear-options-explains-u-s-china-cooperation-thorium/

Europe Faces Winter on Edge of the Abyss

http://www.whchronicle.com/?p=2577

Register your seat at Nuclear Power Asia 2015 before 14 November and save $1,160!

Register your seat at Nuclear Power Asia 2015 before 14 November and save $1,160!

Marketing Executive at Clarion Events
Due to the overwhelming response to our Early Bird offer, we have decided to extend the deadline until the end of Friday 14 November. Email us now at info@clarionevents.asia to book your seat and SAVE up to $1,160.
A premier platform for Asian nuclear power stakeholders and key solution providers to explore the potential of nuclear power in the region

Nukes Getting Second to Last Cyber check


http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/223204-nukes-getting-second-to-last-cyber-check

ANS Update: Prompt Action Needed by ANS Members on EPA Clean Power Rule

Prompt Action Needed by ANS Members on EPA Clean Power Rule

By Will Davis on Nov 07, 2014 10:20 am

American Nuclear Society President Michaele Brady Raap has released a letter calling ANS members to action—and by “action,” she means making comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on its Clean Power Rule. According to Brady Raap, “the rule as it is currently structured would … Continue reading
Read in browser »
share on Twitter Like Prompt Action Needed by ANS Members on EPA Clean Power Rule on Facebook

IAEA: Supporting Access to Nuclear Information

Supporting Access to Nuclear Information


More than 3.7 million bibliographic records on the peaceful uses of nuclear technologies
are at users’ palms, thanks to IAEA apps.
(Photo: D.Calma/IAEA)
2014-11-06 | With over 3.7 million bibliographic records, the IAEA hosts of one of the world's largest collections of published information on the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. Continuously working to make this collection easier to access and of greater value to its users, the IAEA’s International Nuclear Information System (INIS) liaison officers met in Vienna to address recent developments and future challenges and opportunities.
“For the last 44 years, INIS has been supporting scientists, researchers and engineers from around the world to share their research results, learn from each other and exchange ideas on better, safer, and more secure uses of nuclear science and technology,” said Alexander Bychkov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. “Nevertheless,” he added, “running a complex system such as INIS requires constant feedback.”
Representatives from over 50 Member States and seven international organizations attended the 37th Consultative Meeting of INIS Liaison Officers, held on 14-15 October. They reviewed INIS activities, its effectiveness and its use since 2012, as well as discussed its future. Speakers from Argentina, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the USA, as well as representatives from organisations such as CERN, presented information on their INIS operations. The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations.
INIS offers free online access to a unique collection of non-conventional literature. Over the past two years, new search features were introduced to leverage the increased use of mobile devices. In August 2013, an innovative free app called NE News was released, giving users quick access to the newsletters, brochures and social media channels of the Department of Nuclear Energy. Initially launched for iPads, the app was made available for iPhone and Android devices in February 2014, with privileged access to the powerful and user-friendly INIS Collection Search (ICS).
“We are striving to ensure that the ICS remains a useful and valuable global resource,” said Dobrica Savic, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Information Section. “Ongoing projects such as entering the entire 3.7 bibliographic records into Google Scholar and Google’s index will help us achieve this goal.”
The success of current efforts to bring this collection of nuclear related publications closer to its global audience is reflected in INIS’ increasing web usage. From January to April 2014, the ICS achieved more than 1 million pageviews. Also, in October alone, over 140 000 users searched the INIS Collection and there were more than 320 000 pageviews.
The 4th International Nuclear Library Network (INLN) Members Meeting also took place on 15 October in Vienna. Participants from 14 member countries and representatives from 6 countries which are not yet members reviewed the activities of the INLN, particularly the flow of Requests for Information between the IAEA Library and INLN members. Discussions focused on the achievements in 2013 of the INLN Web Coordination Group (WCG) and on trends in nuclear information management as evident from the Network’s statistics. The INLN Practical Arrangement and the INLN Directory and Benchmarking Directory, developed by the INLN’s coordinating library, were distributed to members, marking the opening of their consultation period. An INLN roadmap was agreed upon and both documents are expected to be ratified by the end of 2014.
Background:

The International Nuclear Information System (INIS) is a collaborative international information system operated by the IAEA. Maintained in cooperation with over 150 Member States and international organizations, it is the world´s leading information system on the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology. INIS maintains a database of over 3.7 million bibliographic references and a collection of full text documents that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. The information shared on this platform is essential to governments, academic, research and business communities.
The International Nuclear Library Network (INLN) is a global nuclear knowledge management initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation. It has 37 members from 28 countries.

Go Nuclear and Go Now – The Inescapable Message of the IPCC


Go Nuclear and Go Now – The Inescapable Message of the IPCC

http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2014/11/go-nuclear-and-go-now-inescapable.html

Oil Price Slide: No Good Way Out


Oil Price Slide: No Good Way Out


http://theenergycollective.com/gail-tverberg/2153386/oil-price-slide-no-good-way-out?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Barriers to Clean Energy Financing Could Fall with EPA Plan

Barriers to Clean Energy Financing Could Fall with EPA Plan



http://theenergycollective.com/edfenergyex/2149926/barriers-clean-energy-financing-could-fall-epa-plan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Ending the age of steam with Supercritical CO2


http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/11/ending-age-of-steam-with-supercritical.html

First Japanese nuclear power plant since Fukushima to resume operations


First Japanese nuclear power plant since Fukushima to resume operations

Local governor gives final approval to restart two reactors at Sendai under new safety rules despite residents’ concerns

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/07/japanese-nuclear-power-plant-fukushima-restart

Chomsky to RT: US and its NATO intervention force may spark nuclear war

Chomsky to RT: US and its NATO intervention force may spark nuclear war


http://rt.com/news/203055-us-russia-war-chomsky/

Haldeman diary entries provide new details on the Nixon era

Haldeman diary entries provide new details on the Nixon era


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/haldeman-diary-entries-provide-new-details-on-the-nixon-era/2014/11/06/0c656cb2-6619-11e4-9fdc-d43b053ecb4d_story.html

Pakistan’s Sharif Seeks Energy Deals During China Visit

Pakistan’s Sharif Seeks Energy Deals During China Visit


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-06/pakistan-s-sharif-seeks-energy-deals-during-china-visit.html

Iran stalls probe into nuclear weapons research, U.N. report says

 

Iran stalls probe into nuclear weapons research, U.N. report says


http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/07/us-iran-nuclear-iaea-idUSKBN0IR1DJ20141107

OK given to restart nuclear plant in Japan


OK given to restart nuclear plant in Japan

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/japan/2014/11/07/421287/OK-given.htm

S.Africa, China sign nuclear power agreement

S.Africa, China sign nuclear power agreement


http://news.yahoo.com/africa-china-sign-nuclear-power-agreement-153729556.html

NRC ups enforcement of Peach Bottom nuclear plant after violation


NRC ups enforcement of Peach Bottom nuclear plant after violation


http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_26879604/nrc-ups-enforcement-peach-bottom-nuclear-plant-after

Nuclear Energy And The 2014 Mid-Term Elections

Nuclear Energy And The 2014 Mid-Term Elections


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/11/07/nuclear-energy-and-the-2014-mid-term-elections/

Capital Energy: Another Indian Point study

Capital Energy: Another Indian Point study


http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/11/8556266/capital-energy-another-indian-point-study

Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant marks 40 years of safe, reliable operation PR Newswire


Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant marks 40 years of safe, reliable operation
PR Newswire Special event celebrates decades of licensed nuclear operation in Georgia
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/CL60016.htm

Nye County Official: Rep. Hardy Supports Yucca Mountain

Nye County Official: Rep. Hardy Supports Yucca Mountain


http://knprnews.org/post/nye-county-official-rep-hardy-supports-yucca-mountain

Panel At Odds With Entergy On Post-Shutdown Emergency Planning At VY

  Panel At Odds With Entergy On Post-Shutdown Emergency Planning At VY
http://digital.vpr.net/post/panel-odds-entergy-post-shutdown-emergency-planning-vy

NEI Pushes Wyoming To Go For Agreement State Status


NEI Pushes Wyoming To Go For Agreement State Status

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2014/11/07/nei-pushes-wyoming-to-go-for-agreement-state-status-110701.aspx#.VF0yO-e7nlM

The Threat from Saudi Arabia’s Oil Power Play Fiscal Times

The Threat from Saudi Arabia’s Oil Power Play Fiscal Timeshttp://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2014/11/06/Threat-Saudi-Arabia-s-Oil-Power-Play

New North Korean uranium plant in operation: report


New North Korean uranium plant in operation: report
Seoul (AFP) Nov 05, 2014 - Nuclear-armed North Korea has started operating a new plant inside its uranium enrichment complex, boosting its capacity to generate fuel that could be used to make atomic weapons, a report said Wednesday. "Infrared cameras used by South Korean and US intelligence authorities have detected heat that was emitted when gas centrifuges in the new plant began operating," the Joongang Ilbo daily q ... morehttp://www.spacewar.com/reports/New_North_Korean_uranium_plant_in_operation_report_999.html

PennEnergy's Top Oil & Gas News 11/7

Top Oil & Gas News

Oil prices tumble on Saudi discount move

Oil prices slumped to multi-year lows on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia discounted supplies to the U.S., a move that is shaking an already volatile market but will likely give the world economy an unexpected stimulus. …more>>
Facebook  Linkedin  Twitter  

PennEnergy Video News Update

From Statoil's predictions for Johan Sverdrup, to Enbridge's shocking cleanup cost, to new wells on a North Dakota reservation, all of the week's biggest headlines are in the PennEnergy Video News Update. …more>>
Facebook  Linkedin  Twitter  

This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News

Statoil anticipates $200B from Sverdrup oil field

Enbridge: 2010 oil spill cleanup cost $1.21B

North Dakota tribe to drill its own oil wells

Exxon defies low oil prices with refining strength

Lithuania announces completion of first LNG terminal

Israel backs Cyprus' offshore oil and gas search

Texas leads nation in growth in oil and gas production jobs during 2013

Hydraulic fracturing ban passes in 2 of 3 California counties

CNOOC kicks off Golden Eagle oil production

Three California counties voting on fracking bans

Petrobras, PPSA sign PIA for Tartaruga Mestica

Madalena announces new oil and gas discovery in Canada

Plains All American and Enterprise Products announce Eagle Ford gas pipeline expansions

PennEnergy's Top Power Headlines 11/7

Top Power Headlines

French nuclear plants get flybys from mystery drones

French authorities have tallied at least 15 overflights of nuclear power sites in the country by unknown drone aircraft since early October …more>>
Facebook  Linkedin  Twitter  

SCE makes largest utility energy storage purchase in history

Southern California Edison (SCE) signs contracts for 2,221 MM of diverse power resources, including 261 MW of energy storage …more>>
Facebook  Linkedin  Twitter  

Top Power News

DOE invests further in advanced nuclear reactors

Reliability and Resilience of the U.S. Existing Coal Fleet

MIT shedding light on the future of photovoltaics

Coal miners stuck in the middle of Ukraine's war

Machine Learning: Optimizing How WindTurbines Work (Video)

NRC resumes license renewals for nuclear power plants

Guam to build $589MM LNG fueled power plant

ABB delivers inverter solution to 146.4 MWp solar project in Honduras

India moves forward with offshore wind power plan

SunEdison secures $130MM in financing for Chilean solar project

Louis Berger wins $95MM emergency power contract

CEZ set to shutter Bulgarian coal-fired power plant

First ORC on an Electric Arc Furnace begins commercial operation

Technical Conference highlights shared in upcoming webinar