Saturday, January 31, 2015

EDF to Sign Investment Agreement with CNNC and CGN

Arnaud Lefevre-Baril Chief Executive Officer at Dynatom International GmbH

EDF will sign the investment agreement with CGN and CNNC on Hinkley Point C at the end of the first quarter. C site was selected at Somerset in the UK with total cost of 16 billion pounds (about RMB 150.2 billion), and it starts to be construct in 2016. EDF will finance 40% to 50%, CNNC and CGN are expected to hold at most 40% stake of the project.

Source: http://np.chinapower.com.cn/201501/29/0044118.html

C站协议注动力中国核电出海加速 np.chinapower.com.cn

　　法国电力公司EDF能源将于一季度末与中核集团及中广核签订欣克利角C 核电站（Hinckley Point C）的投资协议。C站选址于英国萨默塞特郡，工程总耗资预计将达160亿英镑（约合1502亿元人民币），计划2016年初动工。EDF能源将出资40% 至50%，中核集团及中广核预计可最多持有C站40%股份。目前，英国政府为支持向低碳经济转型并保障未来电力供应安全，已提出在2030年前新建8座核电站，C站为第一个项目。欣克利角C核电站的投资协议将为英国近20年来首座新核电站的建设铺平道路。....

Super Bowl XLIX – A Huge Energy Source For America

Super Bowl XLIX – A Huge Energy Source For America

Americans will consume a lot of food and beer during this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots - 3 billion bottles of beer, 70 million pounds of avocados, 30 million pounds of chips, 6 million pizzas, 5 million pounds of pretzels, 4 million pounds of popcorn, 3 million pounds of nuts, and 50 million pounds of “other”. The amount of chemical energy that will be released by passage of this mass of foodstuffs through a hundred and ten million intestinal tracks will equal to the total output of America’s 100 nuclear power plants during the game.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/01/30/super-bowl-xlix-a-huge-energy-source-for-america/

Not improving nuclear power for low carbon electricity is taking a lottery ticket strategy to climate change

To achieve the goal of limiting global temperature increases to just 2 degrees Celsius (°C) by the end of the century, a halving of global energy-related emissions by 2050 will be needed. A wide range of low-carbon energy technologies will be needed to support this transition, including nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy is a mature technology that the current largest source of low carbon electricity in the OECD countries. Why do nothing to improve and extend the leading low carbon electricity solution and only work on hockey stick ramping of wind and solar ? This is the equivalent of not working on getting promotions at your job and developing your career but exclusively depending upon lottery tickets. At the very least it is like starting a new startup company. In which case you should start it on the side while still having your career. Then switch to the startup when it has totally replaced your regular wages.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/01/not-improving-nuclear-power-for-low.html

Powering Africa: Summit, 28-30th January 2015

Powering Africa: Summit, 28-30th January 2015

http://www.energynet.co.uk/event/powering-africa-summit-2015

Shutdown during storm spurs NRC review of Pilgrim

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/01/30/nrc-conduct-inspection-pilgrim-plant-after-shutdown/OwYrPPWyKvRxG8SJBtRdoM/story.html

New Poll Shows Overwhelming Majority of Americans Want Lawmakers to Take Action on Climate

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/30/new-poll-shows-overwhelming-majority-americans-want-lawmakers-take-action-climate

Friday, January 30, 2015

New Poll Shows Overwhelming Majority of Americans Want Lawmakers to Take Action on Climate

'The American people seem far more unified than our political leadership on the need to address climate change'http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/30/new-poll-shows-overwhelming-majority-americans-want-lawmakers-take-action-climate

Friday, January 30, 2015

Russia says nuclear arms to keep military edge over NATO, United States

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-says-nuclear-arms-keep-military-edge-over-104446272.html

Russian Next-Gen 100-Ton Nuclear Missile Could Be Test-Fired By 2017, Says Russian News Wire

http://www.ibtimes.com/russian-next-gen-100-ton-nuclear-missile-could-be-test-fired-2017-says-russian-news-1799970

Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) Declines on Vogtle Project Delays; Deutsche Bank Comments

http://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+Comments/Chicago+Bridge+%26+Iron+%28CBI%29+Declines+on+Vogtle+Project+Delays%3B+Deutsche+Bank+Comments/10211194.html

Running in reverse: the world's 'nuclear power renaissance'

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2732640/running_in_reverse_the_worlds_nuclear_power_renaissance.html

Global Report on Nuclear Energy Market - Industry Segment and Global Forecast Up to 2019

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2453002

Safety, advanced reactors and policies to drive nuclear in 2015

http://www.power-eng.com/blogs/nuclear-matters/2015/january/safety-advanced-reactors-and-policies-to-drive-nuclear-in-2015/2015/01/safety_advanced_rea.html

IEA: Taking a fresh look at the future of nuclear power

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/01/iea-taking-a-fresh-look-at-the-future-of-nuclear-power.html

IEA And NEA Map Out Nuclear Future

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/01/30/iea-and-nea-map-out-nuclear-future-013001.aspx#.VMvIksaKI-8

IEA: The World Needs to Double Yearly Construction of Nuclear Power Plants

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/iea-the-world-needs-to-double-nuclear-capacity

Nuclear power additions 'need to quadruple' to hit climate goals, IEA says

http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/01/nuclear-power-additions-need-to-quadruple-to-hit-climate-goals,-iea-says/

Nuclear Power Needs to Double to Curb Global Warming

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nuclear-power-needs-to-double-to-curb-global-warming/

Russia to create water decontamination station for Fukushima-1

Russia to create water decontamination station for Fukushima-1
Washington DC (Sputnik) Jan 30, 2015 - Experts from the Russian national nuclear corporation Rosatom will create a demo water decontamination station this autumn to be used at the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant, the project head of the subsidiary RosRAO, that deals with radioactive materials, Sergei Florya, told RIA Novosti Wednesday. "It is planned that the demo station will be created in the beginning of autumn-2015. It wil ... morehttp://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Russian_Corporation_to_Create_Water_Decontamination_Station_for_Fukushima_1_999.html

UPDATE 2-EDF says first Taishan nuclear plant to be ready end 2015

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N0V86A320150129

The Perils of an Energy Panacea in New England

http://www.neinuclearnotes.blogspot.in/2015/01/the-perils-of-energy-panacea-in-new.html

NEI: Obama and Modi Claim Nuclear Cooperation ‘Breakthrough’

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/Obama-and-Modi-Claim-Nuclear-Cooperation-Breakthro

Roadmap to nuclear future

29 January 2015

Nuclear power is one of the most important technologies that can help the world to limit global warming to 2ºC, said OECD agencies in a Technology Roadmap for nuclear that spells out some steps to ensure this happens.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Roadmap-to-nuclear-future-2901151.html

Power Engineering's Top Stories 1/30

Top Stories

American wind power rebounds in 2014, but stable policy still needed
The fourth quarter 2014 wind energy industry report released yesterday by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) shows that the U.S. wind industry rebounded last year. The year saw four times more new wind energy come online than in the previous 12 months.
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Siemens to maintain California natural gas-fired power plant
Siemens (NYSE: SI) was awarded a long-term service agreement for the 507-MW Blythe Energy Center, a natural gas-fired power plant in California.
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EPA permit paves way for $500M power plant in South Texas
Federal regulators have issued a permit that paves the way for construction of a $500 million power plant in South Texas.
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Nuclear capacity must double to 1200 GW by 2050, report says
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) jointly released a roadmap saying nuclear needs to more than double by 2050 in order to slow the rise in global temperature.
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The Week's Most Read Articles

KCP&L to stop burning coal at six generating units
Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) said it will stop burning coal at three of its coal-fired power plants.
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WPS seeks approval to build $517Mn gas-fired generating unit
Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) has requested to build a $517 million, 400-MW natural gas-fired generating unit at its Fox Energy Center in Wrightstown. Currently, the site is home to two units that have an output capacity of 593-MW.
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GRDA Breaks Ground on Western Hemisphere’s First 501 J Series Gas Turbine
What will likely be the first Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems 501 J combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) in the Western Hemisphere to be connected to the grid is one step closer to becoming a reality. On Jan. 23, the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) broke ground for the new plant at its Grand River Energy Center near Chouteau, Okla.
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EPC Firms: Are they Meeting the Needs of Power Generators?
In partnership with Power Engineering magazine, Flaspöhler Research Group of Kansas City performed an eye-opening survey of 64 key power generation executives to measure the utilization, performance and perceptions of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms serving the power generation industry. Thirty two EPC firms were evaluated.
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More Headlines
• US nuclear reactor shuts down during snowstorm
• W.Va. bill requires lawmakers to OK state carbon plan
• India nuke deals still thorny for US despite 'breakthrough'
• Vattenfall may end plans for new nuclear power at Ringhals
• Inslee's cap-and-trade plan makes polluters pay
• Clyde Bergemann to supply emissions control to Polish cogeneration power plant
• Wärtsilä to deliver natural gas engines to Montana-Dakota Utilities
• Iran bill would scrap nuclear deal over new sanctions
• Pattern grows wind and solar developments in Japan with GPI deal
• Heysham 1 nuclear reactor shut down for leak
• FirstEnergy announces several leadership changes

Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Warehouse Cleanup Finished, Work Continues on Clearing Soil Contamination

http://wkms.org/post/paducah-gaseous-diffusion-warehouse-cleanup-finished-work-continues-clearing-soil-contamination

Solar Outlook 2015: Still Growing, But No Longer Energy’s Young Kid

The question for 2015 is not IF the booming solar PV will grow but just how much more marketshare it can gain.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/01/solar-outlook-2015-still-growing-but-no-longer-energys-young-kid?cmpid=WNL-Friday-January30-2015

Brazil’s Drought Brings Water Supply to Near Zero Capacity at Hydroelectric Facilities

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/01/brazils-drought-brings-water-supply-to-near-zero-capacity-at-hydroelectric-facilities?cmpid=WNL-Friday-January30-2015

Japan Atomic Power, reeling from nuke shutdown, eyes major restructuring

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/01/28/business/corporate-business/japan-atomic-power-reeling-from-nuke-shutdown-eyes-major-restructuring/#.VMuV2caKI--

Home> Technology Poll Shows Giant Gap Between What Public, Scientists Think

Poll Shows Giant Gap Between What Public, Scientists Think

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/poll-shows-giant-gap-public-scientists-28583862

Reid Statement On Yucca Mountain

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement regarding the latest evaluation report of Yucca Mountain released by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
“The final volumes of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Safety Evaluation Report reiterate what we have known for years – Yucca Mountain is inherently flawed. It is flawed because the Department of Energy lacks the required land and water rights and has no reason to expect that it will obtain them in the future. Therefore the NRC staff does not recommend authorizing construction of Yucca Mountain. This project will never see the light of day and everyone should accept that and move on.”

http://www.reid.senate.gov/press_releases/2015-29-1-reid-statement-on-the-nuclear-regulatory-commissions-final-evaluation-report-of-yucca-mountain

Builder Projects 18-Month Delay for Nuclear Plant in Georgia

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/builder-projects-18-month-delay-nuclear-plant-georgia-28594816

The Future of Electricity: High Level of Investment Needed Across the Board

By Roman Kilisek

Hot Weather Puts California Power Grid On Alert

The electricity sector and its incumbent electricity companies are undergoing an unprecedented, challenging but nevertheless critical transformation – a transition towards a more climate-resilient, less carbon-intensive power system which ends up “closer to the customer”. The widespread penetration of renewable energy sources into the electricity supply mix along with a constant push for more innovative

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/29/the-future-of-electricity-high-level-of-investment-needed-across-the-board/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=a9fb5b38c4-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-a9fb5b38c4-407304281

Severe Accident Phenomenology… Milestones of Nuclear Safety: 2011 Fukushima Accident

Dr. Ing. Mazzini, Ph.D. Nuclear & Industrial Safety (pdf): Severe Accident Phenomenology… Milestones of Nuclear Safety: 2011 Fukushima Accident (1st for an External Event)

Ex-Vessel Accident Phenomena:
-> The molten debris falls into the reactor cavity. This produces boiling off of whatever water is there. If sufficient water is present, the core would be cooled and solidify, and would subsequently re-melt.
-> Steam explosions may also occur at this time as the molten fuel falls onto water in the reactor cavity. This can disperse fuel, create radioactive aerosols, and increase the rate of heat transfer to the containment atmosphere.
-> Molten corium attacks the concrete basement, which proceeds to penetrate, and creates a cauldron that releases aerosols and gases [and] containment pressure rises.

http://download.cvrez.cz/cvrez_mazzini_severe_accident_phenomenology.pdf

The Future of Electricity: High Level of Investment Needed Across the Board

By Roman Kilisek

Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Do not Grow Food or Grass Crops for Ethanol or Diesel or Cut Down Trees for Electricity’

By Edward Dodge

The World Resources Institute, a highly respected environmental think tank issued a new report this week arguing against the widespread use of biofuels. While acknowledging that waste biomass, such as food waste or urban tree trimmings can be efficiently harvested for fuel, the overall quantities would be relatively limited. Biomass crops on the other

Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/29/energy-quote-of-the-day-do-not-grow-food-or-grass-crops-for-ethanol-or-diesel-or-cut-down-trees-for-electricity/?utm_source=Breaking+Energy&utm_campaign=a9fb5b38c4-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f852427a4b-a9fb5b38c4-407304281

FCWMD Award Nominations Due March 1, 2105

Dear FCWMD Members,

We are currently accepting nominations for several awards from our division to publicly recognize the exceptional contributions of our members. These include awards for:

Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Significant Contribution,
Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Lifetime Achievement, and
Distinguished Service on behalf of the Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division.

Please consider nominating deserving colleagues for these awards. Nomination packages are due March 1, 2015 and should be sent to Ruth Weiner ( ruthweiner@aol.com) and Jack Law ( jack.law@inl.gov). Instructions and nomination forms can be found on our own website http://fcwmd.ans.org/awards/. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Jack D. Law, Chair
ANS Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division
(208) 526-3382
(208) 526-2930 (fax)
jack.law@inl.gov

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Nuclear regulators say Yucca disposal site would be safe

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/231192-nuclear-regulators-say-yucca-disposal-site-would-be-safe

Turning Back on American People,' US Senate Votes to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline

Turning Back on American People,' US Senate Votes to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline
by Deirdre Fulton
Marking a major—and likely symbolic—victory for Republicans on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline in a 62-36 vote that will not be sufficient to override President Barack Obama's expected veto.http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/29/turning-back-american-people-us-senate-votes-approve-keystone-xl-pipeline

Winter Storm Exposes Vulnerability of Nuclear Power Plants

http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20150129/winter-storm-exposes-vulnerability-nuclear-power-plants

The Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report: One Step of a Long Journey

The NRC staff has now completed its safety evaluation report (SER) on the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, with the publication of Volume 2 and Volume 5. This is an important milestone – however, completion of the SER neither finishes the review process nor represents a licensing decision.Long Journey

To recap: The NRC closed its review of the application in fiscal year 2011. (The full story is here.) The NRC staff published Volume 1 of its five-volume SER in August 2010. Volume 1 covered general information about the application. The NRC staff subsequently published three technical evaluation reports to capture the work it had already done on volumes 2, 3 and 4, though without any regulatory conclusions.

In August 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered the NRC to resume the licensing process using leftover money appropriated from the Nuclear Waste Fund. So the agency resumed its work on the formal safety evaluation report. We published Volume 3, covering repository safety after permanent closure, in October 2013. Volume 4, on administrative and programmatic requirements, was published in December. Volume 2, repository safety before permanent closure, and Volume 5, license specifications, complete the SER and the technical part of the licensing review.

That technical review concluded DOE’s application meets the safety and regulatory requirements in NRC’s regulations, except for DOE’s failure to secure certain land and water rights needed for construction and operation of the repository. These issues were identified in Volume 4.

Bottom line: the SER recommends that the Commission should not issue a construction authorization until DOE secures those land and water rights, and a supplement to DOE’s environmental impact statement (EIS) is completed.
The land DOE still needs to acquire is owned by three federal agencies: DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense. Legislation was introduced in Congress in 2007 to appropriate the land for the repository, but it did not pass. The water rights DOE needs are owned by the state of Nevada, which refused to appropriate the water in 1997. Litigation challenging that refusal is stayed.

When the NRC resumed its licensing review in response to the appeals court, the agency asked DOE to supplement the EIS to cover certain groundwater-related issues. DOE declined to do so. The NRC staff is prepared to develop the supplement if the Commission tells it to.

Even if the EIS is completed, two more steps are needed before a licensing decision can be made. The adjudication of nearly 300 contentions filed by Nevada and other parties challenging the repository was also suspended in 2011. Reviving and completing this hearing will require more funding from Congress. Finally, the Commission must review issues outside of the adjudicatory context. Only then would the Commission decide whether to authorize construction.
So yes, completion of the SER is a major step, but there are many more ahead before the NRC can say yea or nay to Yucca Mountain.

http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov/2015/01/29/the-yucca-mountain-safety-evaluation-report-one-step-of-a-long-journey/

Fukushima Update 1/29/15

Fukushima Update 1/29/15 –

Tokyo will soon begin building two Fukushima rural waste storage facilities… Fukushima fishermen protest against plans to discharge fully-treated wastewater… A Fukushima official is accused of illegal sales of dosimeters… Former government accident investigation chairman Yotaro Hatamura speaks out on nuclear policy… Work slowly resumes at Fukushima Daini… Four utilities resume purchase of electricity from solar providers.

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

Repository work delays Savannah River Site nuclear waste shipments

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2015-01-28/recovery-work-continues-federal-repository-while-savannah-river-site

High Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference - Registration Now Open

International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management

April 12-16, 2015 | Charleston Marriott | Charleston, SC

"Real World Solutions for Integrated Management of Used Fuel and HLW"

The Preliminary Program is now available!

Great topics, speakers, and sessions
plus
big savings if you register NOW!

Conference Registration | Hotel Group Rate Reservations

Hotel Government Rate Reservations | Preliminary Program

California Rains Bring Little Relief From Devastating Drought

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/california_rains_bring_little_relief_from_devastating_drought_20150129

Crude Crumbles To Fresh Lows: $43 Handle

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-29/crude-crumbles-fresh-lows-43-handle

OPEC’s El-Badri: $200 Oil Possible If No One Invests

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-27/opec-s-el-badri-says-200-oil-possible-with-lack-of-investment

The Middle East's Next Nuclear Power?

http://www.realclearenergy.org/2015/01/29/the_middle_east039s_next_nuclear_power_266333.html

How these energy geeks are reimagining an old school utility

Ca. Jan 27 (Reuters) - Welcome to the utility industry's future - or at least that's what Southern California Edison is hoping.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/27/edison-labs-idUSL1N0V50JZ20150127

NRC Board Denies Vermont's Petition To Force Entergy To Maintain ERDS

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/01/29/nrc-board-denies-vermont_2700_s-petition-to-force-entergy-to-maintain-erds-012901.aspx#.VMpYZS5mrmc

Nuclear Hotseat Show "Diablo Canyon Shutdown Special"

Nuclear Hotseat Show "Diablo Canyon Shutdown Special"
A California conference was held to discuss the campaign to close the dangerous Diablo Canyon nuclear plant run by corrupt PG&E. This is an audio of some of the speakers
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2015/01/28/18767687.php

IEA/NEA Roadmap Calls For Nuclear Capacity To Double By 2050

http://nuclearstreet.com/pro_nuclear_power_blogs/b/nucnet-communications/archive/2015/01/29/iea-nea-roadmap-calls-for-nuclear-capacity-to-double-by-2050.aspx

Roadmap to nuclear future

29 January 2015

Nuclear power is one of the most important technologies that can help the world to limit global warming to 2ºC, said OECD agencies in a Technology Roadmap for nuclear that spells out some steps to ensure this happens.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Roadmap-to-nuclear-future-2901151.html