Saturday, November 3, 2018

Judge rules in favor of Trump administration in California federal lands case - POLITICO

Judge rules in favor of Trump administration in California federal lands case - POLITICO: The lawsuit is the latest in a legal back and forth between the Trump administration and deep-blue California.

What General Electric Is Doing to Dodge the Question: “When Will GE File for Bankruptcy?” | naked capitalism

What General Electric Is Doing to Dodge the Question: “When Will GE File for Bankruptcy?” | naked capitalism: A detailed look at GE's fall from financial grace.

Wind Farm Victims Vindicated: WHO Declares Turbine Noise ‘Serious Health Hazard’ – STOP THESE THINGS

Wind Farm Victims Vindicated: WHO Declares Turbine Noise ‘Serious Health Hazard’ – STOP THESE THINGS: The World Health Organization’s declaration that wind turbine noise is a serious health hazard, is a liability bombshell for developers and governments, alike. No longer can wind power outfits and …

PJM Ready for Future Grid Challenges, but Delivery Disruptions, Plant Retirements hurt Resiliency - Power Engineering

PJM Ready for Future Grid Challenges, but Delivery Disruptions, Plant Retirements hurt Resiliency - Power Engineering: Federal officials such as President Trump and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have brought up fuel security as a key issue for the nation’s power grid, though perhaps for political reasons.

Grid operator study shows Trump bailout of coal and nuclear plants is unnecessary – ThinkProgress

In careful moves, Japan’s nuclear industry makes a comeback：The Asahi Shimbun

In careful moves, Japan’s nuclear industry makes a comeback：The Asahi Shimbun: IKATA, Ehime Prefecture--On a side street near a darkened shopping arcade full of abandoned storefro

Valve problem resurfaces at Pilgrim nuclear plant - News - Wicked Local - Boston, MA

Valve problem resurfaces at Pilgrim nuclear plant - News - Wicked Local - Boston, MA: PLYMOUTH — The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station was operating at just 35 percent power on Friday after valve problems plagued the plant for the second time in the last month.The Pilgrim Station has been operating at 100 percent for the last 17 days, but issues with valve that controls water flow into the reactor had forced an unplanned automatic shutdown from Oct. 5 to Oct. 12. It operated at between 44 and 97 percent capacity from Oct. 13 to 15, and had been back at 100 percent until

The Tennessee Valley Authority holds the power over Bellefonte nuclear plant deal, with Nuclear Development - Memphis Business Journal

Hackers obtain nuclear power plant plans in France | News | DW | 02.11.2018

Hackers obtain nuclear power plant plans in France | News | DW | 02.11.2018: Hackers have accessed confidential documents about nuclear plants and prisons in a cyberattack on a French firm, media reported. Some of the data was found on a rented server in Germany, according to the reports.

Nuclear Power Will Not Save Us From Climate Change by M.V. Ramana and Robert Jensen — YES! Magazine

DOE Releases EIS for Advanced Nuclear Fuels Work at INL | Neutron Bytes

DOE Releases EIS for Advanced Nuclear Fuels Work at INL | Neutron Bytes: The Department of Energy (DOE) has taken the next step in a daisy chain of policy and administrative actions needed to support efforts by U.S. companies to develop and deploy new reactor technologi…

U.S. Federal Regulatory Bodies in the Energy Sector

https://oilmanmagazine.com/article/u-s-federal-regulatory-bodies-in-the-energy-sector/

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Fukushima Update 11/1/2018

Fukushima Update 11/1/2018 –

Ikata unit #3 has resumed operation… Estranged Futaba refugees recall memories of F. Daiichi and voice hope for eventual return… Masao Uchibori won a second four-year term as Fukushima’s Governor… Tokyo rejects the United Nation’s most antinuclear body’s call to halt the return of women and children to communities where evacuation orders have been lifted… Tepco’s 2011 chairman says the massive tsunami could not have been predicted… A cabling pit fire occurred at Tepco’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa station.

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

County official seeks to prevent radioactive waste dumping - AdVantageNEWS.com

County official seeks to prevent radioactive waste dumping - AdVantageNEWS.com: East Alton representative expresses concern about Roxana landfill.

Warren presses NRC after latest unplanned Pilgrim shutdown - News - Wicked Local Plymouth - Plymouth, MA

National Nuclear Science Week 2018 Kicks Off | ANS Nuclear Cafe

Nuclear Technology in Space – National Nuclear Science Week 2018 | ANS Nuclear Cafe

Friday Matinee: Building Yankee Rowe

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2018/10/26/friday-matinee-building-yankee-rowe/#sthash.eOoCLzd3.dpbs

Romanian, Canadian organizations extend memorandum to continue nuclear power cooperation - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Saudi Arabia makes progress with small nuclear reactor plans | MEED

GOP Senators want to Pause Nuclear Energy deal with Saudis - Power Engineering

Khashoggi Killing Spurs Senate Fury Over Nuclear-Power Talks

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-31/nuclear-talks-with-saudis-should-be-suspended-republicans-say

ANS Nuclear Policy Wire November 1, 2018

November 1, 2018

ICYMI: News Roundup

Capitol Hill may be quiet as Congress is out campaigning before Election Day, but it's been a big week for nuclear in the media. Here's a roundup of the most important stories:

Google issued a report about moving to 100% carbon-free electricity for its data centers that specifically mentions nuclear as an important piece of that puzzle, particularly in North Carolina, Finland, and Taiwan.
Several Senators called on the administration to halt talks with Saudi Arabia regarding a potential civil nuclear export agreement in the wake of journalist Jamal Kashoggi's murder.
Secretary of Energy Rick Perry clarified that the White House still supports the Yucca Mountain project after Trump suggested he is considering withdrawing support last weekend. Perry stated, "I'm going to follow the law. And the law says, 'here are the things you're going to do.' Those have to be funded."

IAEA reviews long-term safety of Argentinean plant - World Nuclear News

IAEA reviews long-term safety of Argentinean plant - World Nuclear News: An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts yesterday completed a review of long-term operational safety at Argentina's Atucha I nuclear power plant. The team reviewed the plant's preparedness, organisation and programmes related to long-term operation against IAEA safety standards.

France presents vitrification process for Fukushima - World Nuclear News

France presents vitrification process for Fukushima - World Nuclear News: A project to demonstrate the use of innovative radioactive waste vitrification technology, developed in France, at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan has been under way for the past six months.

Decommissioning milestone for space fuel plant - World Nuclear News

Decommissioning milestone for space fuel plant - World Nuclear News: Equipment contaminated with plutonium from the manufacturing of fuel for deep space missions has been removed from the 235-F building at the US Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, marking a milestone in reducing risk at the South Carolina facility.

Upton Says It's Past Time To Get Spent Nuclear Fuel To Yucca Mountain | News/Talk 94.9 WSJM

China nuclear power generation up 13 pct from Jan-Sept - assn | Energy & Oil | Reuters

China nuclear power generation up 13 pct from Jan-Sept - assn | Energy & Oil | Reuters: China's 40 commercially operating nuclear reactors delivered a total of 193.77 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power to the grid in the first nine months of the year, up 13.3 percent from a year earlier, an industry group said.

Mattis: No diplomatic solution on Russia arms treaty yet | TheHill

Nuclear company readies $130 million investment in Northeast Ohio

Nuclear Reactor Safety Panel To Discuss Seabrook Concrete Degradation | New Hampshire Public Radio

Nuclear Reactor Safety Panel To Discuss Seabrook Concrete Degradation | New Hampshire Public Radio: A scientific panel will discuss cracks spreading in the concrete at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant during a meeting Wednesday . The independent committee

Chatterjee, changed: FERC watchers see a more focused, less political chairman | Utility Dive

Chatterjee, changed: FERC watchers see a more focused, less political chairman | Utility Dive: Utility industry news, voices and jobs for energy industry professionals. Optimized for your mobile phone.

Reports: Trump Administration Supports GE Over Siemens in $15B Iraq Deal

DOE Sank Billions of Fossil Energy R&D Dollars in CCS Projects. Most Failed.

DOE Sank Billions of Fossil Energy R&D Dollars in CCS Projects. Most Failed.: Nearly half of the $2.66 billion spent by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) since 2010 to develop advanced fossil energy technologies was dedicated to nine carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects—but only three were active at the end of 2017, and only one was at a power plant.

We should move toward nuclear reprocessing – The Daily Evergreen

We should move toward nuclear reprocessing – The Daily Evergreen: When the word nuclear comes up in conversation, it has a variety of connotations. Some only describe it in a scientific perspective, while to others it becomes a threat of mass destruction to the world. In its most optimistic terms, it is attributed to renewable energy. This optimism is somewhat rare in the U.S. While...

Big Gains for Tiny Nuclear Reactors

https://www.powermag.com/big-gains-for-tiny-nuclear-reactors/

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Viewpoint: The advantages of Small Modular Reactors - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: The advantages of Small Modular Reactors - World Nuclear News: The size of a small modular reactor gives it several advantages over large conventional nuclear power plant designs. Here, Vincent Zabielski, senior lawyer at Pillsbury Shaw Pittman, looks at what the future might hold for SMRs.

Nuclear Plant Continues To Invest In Alternative Energy | RealClearEnergy

Nuclear Plant Continues To Invest In Alternative Energy | RealClearEnergy: Nuclear Plant Continues To Invest In Alternative Energy | RealClearEnergy

Japan's nuclear industry growing, but slower than government hoped

http://www.topix.com/forum/energy/nuclear-energy/TRDP1OGR96L9ASKGV/japans-nuclear-industry-growing-but-slower-than-go

Protesters try to stop building of high-level radioactive waste facility in Andrews

Protesters try to stop building of high-level radioactive waste facility in Andrews: They’re hoping to get signatures on a petition and have set up outside La Mexicana restaurant.

SCANA to merge with Dominion Energy

SCANA to merge with Dominion Energy: As early as the end of the year, some Lowcountry residents could have a new power company. SCANA, the parent company of SCE&G, has announced a plan to

Nuclear Reactor Safety Panel To Discuss Seabrook Concrete Degradation | New Hampshire Public Radio

Tricks or Treats? Here Are Washington's 174 Biggest Rules And Regulations In The Pipeline

Tricks or Treats? Here Are Washington's 174 Biggest Rules And Regulations In The Pipeline: Federal agencies have new rules on tap; but they still have to offset them two for one. Here are the ones that are regulatory as well as deregulatory at this point in time.

France leaves door open for new nuclear if cost-competitive | S&P Global Platts

France leaves door open for new nuclear if cost-competitive | S&P Global Platts: France may keep the door open for new nuclear reactors in the 2020s if they prove to be cost competitive, with a leaked government document setting a Eur60 70/MWh average cost range for the second gen

Billionaires Chase ‘SpaceX Moment’ for the Holy Grail of Energy - Bloomberg

Billionaires Chase ‘SpaceX Moment’ for the Holy Grail of Energy - Bloomberg: Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Peter Thiel are funneling cash into nuclear fusion projects.

Steam release from Hanford radioactive waste tunnel no emergency, says feds | Tri-City Herald

Steam release from Hanford radioactive waste tunnel no emergency, says feds | Tri-City Herald: Hanford nuclear reservation officials say the release of steam from a tunnel storing radioactive waste was not an emergency, but issued a take cover alert as a precaution.

As Trump wavers on Yucca Mountain, nuclear waste, costs mount | Local News | madison.com

Editorial: SCANA can afford to give back to ratepayers | Editorials | postandcourier.com

Editorial: SCANA can afford to give back to ratepayers | Editorials | postandcourier.com: Little of what we learned from the recent deposition of Ken Browne, who helped oversee work on the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project, could be considered new information. That doesn’t

Dominion says it's willing to run parts of SC's Santee Cooper utility — without buying it | Business | postandcourier.com

US FERC member takes aim at DOE coal, nuclear efforts | S&P Global Platts

US FERC member takes aim at DOE coal, nuclear efforts | S&P Global Platts: Glick questions DOE national security resilience rationale Citing pipe security, Glick says resilience fix should fit problem A US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Tuesday questioned the mo

YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Perry: 'I'm going to follow the law' on repository -- Monday, October 29, 2018 -- www.eenews.net E&E News -- Start a free trial

YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Perry: 'I'm going to follow the law' on repository -- Monday, October 29, 2018 -- www.eenews.net E&E News -- Start a free trial: Energy Secretary Rick Perry says the Trump administration is still backing the stalled Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada — even though President Trump recently shared he's "inclined" to oppose it.

Canadian, Romanian industry groups extend cooperation - World Nuclear News

Canadian, Romanian industry groups extend cooperation - World Nuclear News: The Organisation of Canadian Nuclear Industries and the Romanian Atomic Forum have signed a memorandum of understanding renewing their cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.

Russian, French firms seek cooperation in additive technologies - World Nuclear News

Russian, French firms seek cooperation in additive technologies - World Nuclear News: Russian and French nuclear power companies discussed new business opportunities in additive technologies at a seminar in Moscow this week. The event was coordinated by Rusatom - Additive Technologies (RusAT).

Climate goal demands huge boost in Chinese nuclear - World Nuclear News

Climate goal demands huge boost in Chinese nuclear - World Nuclear News: China's nuclear generating capacity must increase to 554 GWe by 2050 if the country is to fulfill its part in meeting a proposed target of limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C, according to a study by the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Research Institute.

Game Changers: Changing the world’s future by advancing nuclear energy | Commentary | idahostatejournal.com

Game Changers: Changing the world’s future by advancing nuclear energy | Commentary | idahostatejournal.com: Idaho National Laboratory is a unique and diverse place. Not only is INL the nation’s lead nuclear energy research and development laboratory, but it also is a world leader in

Poland needs nuclear power, explains energy minister - World Nuclear News

Poland needs nuclear power, explains energy minister - World Nuclear News: Polish Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchórzewski has made the case for the country to adopt nuclear power in an opinion piece published in online magazine Wszystko Co Najważniejsze.

Nuclear Reactor Safety Panel To Discuss Seabrook Concrete Degradation | New Hampshire Public Radio

Khashoggi Killing Spurs Senate Fury Over Nuclear-Power Talks - Bloomberg

Khashoggi Killing Spurs Senate Fury Over Nuclear-Power Talks - Bloomberg: A group of Republican senators is urging a halt to talks on selling U.S. nuclear power equipment to Saudi Arabia in response to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding to doubts about the stalled deal.

Puerto Rico mayor explores nuclear energy solutions – Caribbean Business

Puerto Rico mayor explores nuclear energy solutions – Caribbean Business: Stateside energy execs meet with San Sebastián's Jiménez

DOE Cancels MOX Facility Contracts - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

DOE Cancels MOX Facility Contracts - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

DOE Extends Global Nuclear Fuel Contract - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

DOE Extends Global Nuclear Fuel Contract - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

Study Shows France's Possible Spent Fuel Storage Future - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Study Shows France's Possible Spent Fuel Storage Future - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

AECOM Waste Management Contract Extended At Hanford Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

AECOM Waste Management Contract Extended At Hanford Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

Kaiga Unit 1 Run Breaks World Record For Reactor Type - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Kaiga Unit 1 Run Breaks World Record For Reactor Type - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

Waste Management Discussion Emphasizes Cooperation - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Waste Management Discussion Emphasizes Cooperation - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.

AECOM Waste Management Contract Extended At Hanford Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Virginia nuclear operator applies for 80-year lifespans; Hitachi signs up three engineering groups for UK new build

https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.com/virginia-nuclear-operator-applies-80-year-lifespans-hitachi-signs-three-engineering-groups-uk-new?utm_campaign=NEI%2031OCT18%20Newsletter%20Version%20A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=0858b100d89e435caa2c358a9d36d262&elq=b6dd8bd99d9b4ec89d7d38ff5537de61&elqaid=40560&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=22296

Robotic spent fuel inspection trials bring commercial use closer

https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.com/robotic-spent-fuel-inspection-trials-bring-commercial-use-closer?utm_campaign=NEI%2031OCT18%20Newsletter%20Version%20A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=b5975ae38c0542e0a7ff294cbe3b89ba&elq=b6dd8bd99d9b4ec89d7d38ff5537de61&elqaid=40560&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=22296

New decommissioning giant seeks further sites under ‘dominant’ transfer model

https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.com/new-decommissioning-giant-seeks-further-sites-under-dominant-transfer-model?utm_campaign=NEI%2031OCT18%20Newsletter%20Version%20A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=7647aff848204d66af14de664fe1c1d8&elq=b6dd8bd99d9b4ec89d7d38ff5537de61&elqaid=40560&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=22296

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Tomgram: Michael Klare, On the Road to World War III? | TomDispatch

Tomgram: Michael Klare, On the Road to World War III? | TomDispatch: null

Tomgram: Michael Klare, On the Road to World War III? | TomDispatch

Tomgram: Michael Klare, On the Road to World War III? | TomDispatch: null

International organisations bolster cooperation on waste - World Nuclear News

International organisations bolster cooperation on waste - World Nuclear News: The International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Association for Environmentally Safe Disposal of Radioactive Materials have pledged to strengthen cooperation and coordination on the development of "safe, effective and secure solutions" for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel.

Poland needs nuclear power, explains energy minister - World Nuclear News

Vanadium drives uranium project developments - World Nuclear News

Vanadium drives uranium project developments - World Nuclear News: As vanadium prices increase, uranium miners in the USA and elsewhere are looking to capitalise on the vanadium that is co-present with uranium in certain deposits to add value to their operations.

Does nuclear power have a place in a low-carbon world?

Does nuclear power have a place in a low-carbon world?: Nuclear energy growth is critical to achieving climate change objectives, according to Agneta Rising of World Nuclear Association.

Saudi Arabia is paving a nuclear path - NEWS, POWER - Utilities Middle East

Saudi Arabia is paving a nuclear path - NEWS, POWER - Utilities Middle East: With electricity demand in Saudi Arabia growing by 8 to 10 percent annually, the Kingdom is turning to nuclear to meet a twin challenge, how to diversify its electricity-generating mix while reducing reliance on fossil fuels

Clean Energy to Power a Brighter Future

Clean Energy to Power a Brighter Future: Led by Oregon State University College of Engineering professor emeritus Jose Reyes, NuScale Power intends to become the first company to introduce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology to the world. NuScale's unconventional SMR design is unlike anything status quo. SMRs are economic, factory built, shippable, scalable, and they are capable of providing power to areas with limited infrastructure or access to water. Most importantly, they provide something we must have -- a reactor that cannot melt down.

Top Climate Scientists Warn Governments Of 'Blatant Anti-Nuclear Bias' In Latest IPCC Climate Report

Top Climate Scientists Warn Governments Of 'Blatant Anti-Nuclear Bias' In Latest IPCC Climate Report: Some of the scientists most often cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have taken the unusual step of warning leaders of G-20 nations that a recent IPCC report uses a double standard when it comes to its treatment of nuclear as compared to renewables.

UPDATE 1-Minister: Czechs may delay plan to boost nuclear power capacity -Bloomberg | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

UPDATE 1-Minister: Czechs may delay plan to boost nuclear power capacity -Bloomberg | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters: * Industry minister: state may delay nuclear power expansion

Perry forum will focus on group's efforts to save Ohio's nuclear power plants | Lake County | news-herald.com

Perry forum will focus on group's efforts to save Ohio's nuclear power plants | Lake County | news-herald.com: A public forum will be held on Jan. 14 in Perry Village to highlight the efforts a statewide group that's working to keep Ohio's two nuclear power plants open.

Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan shut down for refueling

Nuclear agency to hold a virtual webinar about San Onofre incident - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Nuclear agency to hold a virtual webinar about San Onofre incident - The San Diego Union-Tribune: Officials with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will take questions from the public for three hours on Nov. 8 about an incident that happened earlier this year at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

State refuses Oct. 31 Vermont Yankee deadline | The Brattleboro Reformer | Brattleboro Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic

SCE&G’s rates, Dominion buyout: 'Pivotal' hearing over utilities set

SCE&G’s rates, Dominion buyout: 'Pivotal' hearing over utilities set: The hearing is expected to be one of the lengthiest and most complicated the South CarolinaPublic Service Commission ever has seen.

SC governor: Another MOX meeting with President Trump will happen | News | aikenstandard.com

Democrats Seize on Trump’s Remarks About Nevada’s Yucca Nuclear Dump - Bloomberg

Democrats Seize on Trump’s Remarks About Nevada’s Yucca Nuclear Dump - Bloomberg: Nevada Democrats are calling on President Donald Trump to follow through on his new-found opposition to the construction of a nuclear waste dump outside of Las Vegas, after his top energy official said the administration still supports the Yucca Mountain project.

Fusion Energy Conference 2018 Reviews Status of Research and Technology to Fusion Power

29 Oct 2018

Matteo Barbarino, IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications

The conference kicked-off with the auspicious lighting of a lamp to illuminate the way to new energy. (From left to right) M. Venkatesh, Director of Physical and Chemical Sciences, IAEA; S. Deshpande, Director of ITER-India; R.B. Grover, Director of Homi Bhabha National Institute; N.K. Prinja, Technology Director of Wood Group; P.A. Child, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission; D. Ridikas, Head of the Physics Section, IAEA; and S.M. Gonzalez de Vicente, Nuclear Fusion Physicist, IAEA.

Over 700 representatives from 39 IAEA Member States and 4 international organizations convened at the 27th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (FEC 2018) in Ahmedabad, India, last week to discuss key physics and technology issues as well as innovative concepts related to nuclear fusion as a future source of energy.
Fusion energy has existed for billions of years in the Sun, but its reproduction on Earth in a controlled and durable manner remains a challenge. Unlike fission, where atoms are split to produce energy, in fusion two lighter nuclei are joined together to make a heavier nucleus, while energy is released.
The over 100 plenary talks and 700 posters by physicists and engineers from around the world reviewed the latest developments in nuclear fusion research and engineering to address some of the challenges, such as the technological feasibility of fusion power plants and economic considerations related to the introduction of fusion energy, and considered these results together with the requirements for a fusion device that can generate net electrical power, called DEMO. The IAEA is coordinating international cooperation in this area.
The complete programme and book of abstracts is available here.

Opening Session

Meera Venkatesh, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, opened the first ever FEC hosted by India, which through the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), is one of the 35 nations contributing to the fabrication of the world’s largest experimental fusion reactor – ITER.
“Innovations and enormous work are doubtlessly needed to bring us closer to realising an industrial nuclear fusion power-plant, and there is an increasingly important role for the IAEA to play as fusion research moves to the technological innovation, testing and prototype stages. We look forward to the day that fusion energy becomes a commercial reality,” she said.
With the progress and experience of ITER, increasing attention needs to be paid to important areas such as nuclear engineering, safety and radiological protection as well as security. “The IAEA is preparing to take the necessary role to support the efforts,” Venkatesh added.
The session continued with highlighting the importance of nuclear energy in India’s energy mix and the impact that mastering fusion energy production could eventually have. “Nuclear energy can be considered near-renewable and the near-renewable factor will increase with fusion thanks to the inexhaustible fuel resource," said R. Chidambaram, former director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
“Considering the environmental sustainability requirements and that the total potential of hydro, solar and wind is only about one-fourth of the projected electricity requirements, nuclear must play a dominant role in India’s energy,” said Ravi B. Grover, Director of the Homi Bhabha National Institute.
The role of fusion research in the European Union, R&D policy and the importance of international collaboration in this field were the focus of a presentation by Patrick A. Child, Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission. “A broad international collaboration is a specific feature of fusion research worldwide and the signature of the ITER project. The European Commission will continue to strongly support ITER and make research efforts to prepare for DEMO. We are open to new international partners in the future to work together to put fusion firmly within the future energy landscape” he said.
Components of future fusion reactors are expected to be designed and manufactured by using advanced simulation technologies and advanced manufacturing methods, said Nawal K. Prinja, Technology Director of the Wood Group, a technology vendor from the United Kingdom. “The costs will be further reduced as there will be increased harmonization of codes and standards,” he said, adding technology readiness – the ability to move from research to prototyping to industry – will be key to the realization of fusion power.
In this area, the IAEA has recently taken initial steps to facilitate the harmonization of design rules before the technology is commercialized. The Integrated Approach to Safety Classification of Mechanical Components for Fusion Applications shows how to use knowledge from the safety classification process to determine the design, quality and manufacturing requirements of mechanical components for fusion applications.

Overview, Oral and Poster Sessions

The overview sessions highlighted the progress of ITER towards first experiments, the progress of ITER-India activities, the results in support of ITER operation (e.g. plasma instabilities control, disruption avoidance) recently achieved in present nuclear fusion devices (e.g. ASDEX-Upgrade, DIII-D, JET) the advances in worldwide nuclear fusion research (e.g. ADITYA, Alcator C-Mod, Globus-M2, HL-2A, LHD, MAST, NIF, NSTX, TJ-II, TCV and WEST), the results towards establishing the scientific basis for future fusion reactors (e.g. CFETR, DEMO, JT-60SA and K-DEMO), and the progress in engineering design activities of DEMO-oriented test facilities in which heat and power exhaust systems for future fusion reactors can be developed (e.g. DTT), and candidate materials can be qualified (e.g. IFMIF-DONES, and IFMIF-LIPAC).
The oral and poster sessions highlighted developments across fusion research with an emphasis on physics input to critical elements of the ITER’s design and the preparation of ITER’s operation, and also addressed physics and engineering issues for a future DEMO design.
The contributions provided evidence of the quality of the theoretical, experimental, technological and materials developments conducted worldwide and of the significant progress that has been achieved in the performance of the present reactors and their heat exhaust systems. Progress on the two main fusion reactor layouts – tokamaks and stellarators – were presented, including the high-performance plasma operation at W7-X, which has recently achieved the highest stellarator fusion triple product: the density, confinement time and plasma temperature used by researchers to measure the performance of a fusion plasma. World records in the continuous operation of tokamaks, EAST and K-STAR, were also presented.
The most important results as well as the overview and summary papers from this conference will be published in Nuclear Fusion.

Nuclear Fusion Award

Since 2006, one highlight of the FEC is the celebration of excellence in research with the Nuclear Fusion Award, granted each year by the IAEA's journal, Nuclear Fusion, and presented at the conference. The winner for 2018 was Arne Kallenbach as the lead author of a critical paper which shows, among others, that heat exhaust system in machines such as ITER could have longer lifetimes thanks to a combination of exhaust control with re-fuelling of the fusion reactor.
One year after its announcement, Francois Ryter received the 2017 award, as the lead author of a landmark paper that filled the gap in the understanding of magnetic confinement plasma physics. This study can facilitate the preparation for the operation of future fusion reactors for energy production.

The FEC 2018 has been organized by the IAEA in cooperation with the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India and the Institute for Plasma Research, at the Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar (Ahmedabad) Gujarat, India. More than 700 fusion enthusiasts have regularly attended the over 100 plenary talks and 700 posters presented during the six days conference. The next FEC will be held in 2020.

Monday, October 29, 2018

October 29, 2018—The Feds Are Coming | The Download

October 29, 2018—The Feds Are Coming | The Download: A precursor to RICO?

UN Climate Report Is Biased Against Nuclear Energy, Scientists Say | The Daily Caller

Shikoku Electric restarts Ikata nuclear reactor following failed court challenges | The Japan Times

Nuclear Notebook Multimedia - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Feds invest $49.3M in Burnaby-based General Fusion

Feds invest $49.3M in Burnaby-based General Fusion: A Burnaby business leading the way in fusion energy research is getting big funding from the federal government. The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development announced today it . . .

General Dynamics wins contract to upgrade M1 Abrams tanks

UN panel rejects Russian proposal on nuclear treaty

Turning nuclear into a fuel dominated business - Atomic Insights

Turning nuclear into a fuel dominated business - Atomic Insights: Under our current energy paradigm, nuclear power has the reputation of needing enormous up-front capital investments. Once those investments have been

DOE Cancels MOX Facility Contracts - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Today.Az - Belarus to help Uzbekistan construct nuclear power plant

US Warns Britain Against Chinese Alliances on Nuclear | RealClearEnergy

DOE to Approve Nuclear Waste Dumping | RealClearEnergy

DOE to Approve Nuclear Waste Dumping | RealClearEnergy: DOE to Approve Nuclear Waste Dumping | RealClearEnergy

Test Operation Underway At China’s Russia-Supplied Tianwan-4

DOE Extends Global Nuclear Fuel Contract - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Study Shows France's Possible Spent Fuel Storage Future - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Breaking Up and Reorienting Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program | Institute for Science and International Security

Breaking Up and Reorienting Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program | Institute for Science and International Security: ISIS is a non-profit, non-partisan institution providing public knowledge of nuclear proliferation and international security.

Fourth Tianwan unit connected to grid - World Nuclear News

Fourth Tianwan unit connected to grid - World Nuclear News: Unit 4 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province has been connected to the electricity grid, bringing global nuclear generating capacity to over 400 GWe for the first time.

How to tell if North Korea is serious about denuclearization - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

How to tell if North Korea is serious about denuclearization - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Pyongyang may offer many measures, but only a few will indicate real readiness to give up nuclear weapons.

Putin, Mirziyoev Launch Construction Of Nuclear Power Plant In Uzbekistan

Putin, Mirziyoev Launch Construction Of Nuclear Power Plant In Uzbekistan: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev have launched the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan's western region of Navoiy, which Moscow estimates will ...

US utility uses drones for nuclear plant inspections - World Nuclear News

US utility uses drones for nuclear plant inspections - World Nuclear News: Xcel Energy is using unmanned aircraft to assist in inspections at the company’s nuclear facilities in Minnesota, achieving safety and cost benefits.

Fessenheim closure decree annulled - World Nuclear News

Fessenheim closure decree annulled - World Nuclear News: France's Council of State has invalidated the governement's April 2017 decree to repeal EDF's licence to operate the Fessenheim nuclear power plant. The council ruled the decree had not been issued at EDF's request, as required by law.

Fortum, Rolls-Royce complete automation of Loviisa plant - World Nuclear News

Fortum, Rolls-Royce complete automation of Loviisa plant - World Nuclear News: Finnish utility Fortum and British engineering company Rolls-Royce have completed the biggest single project at the Loviisa nuclear power plant since its construction - modernisation of the plant's safety automation systems.

Fourth Tianwan unit connected to grid - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: The advantages of Small Modular Reactors - World Nuclear News

UPDATE 1-Minister: Czechs may delay plan to boost nuclear power capacity -Bloomberg | Energy & Oil | Reuters

UPDATE 1-Minister: Czechs may delay plan to boost nuclear power capacity -Bloomberg | Energy & Oil | Reuters: * Industry minister: state may delay nuclear power expansion

EDF restarts 1.5 GW Chooz-1 nuclear reactor Oct 26 after river flow concerns ease | S&P Global Platts

EDF restarts 1.5 GW Chooz-1 nuclear reactor Oct 26 after river flow concerns ease | S&P Global Platts: France's EDF reconnected its 1.5 GW Chooz 1 nuclear reactor back to the national electricity grid on Friday, around two weeks after the unit was taken offline due to concerns over water flow threshold

The size of a small modular reactor gives it several advantages over large conventional nuclear power plant designs. Here, Vincent Zabielski, senior lawyer at Pillsbury Shaw Pittman, looks at what the future might hold for SMRs.

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Viewpoint-The-advantages-of-Small-Modular-Reactors

Saturday, November 3, 2018

U.S. Federal Regulatory Bodies in the Energy Sector

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Friday Matinee: Building Yankee Rowe

Khashoggi Killing Spurs Senate Fury Over Nuclear-Power Talks

Big Gains for Tiny Nuclear Reactors

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Japan's nuclear industry growing, but slower than government hoped

Virginia nuclear operator applies for 80-year lifespans; Hitachi signs up three engineering groups for UK new build

Robotic spent fuel inspection trials bring commercial use closer

New decommissioning giant seeks further sites under ‘dominant’ transfer model

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Fusion Energy Conference 2018 Reviews Status of Research and Technology to Fusion Power

Opening Session

Overview, Oral and Poster Sessions

Nuclear Fusion Award

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Monday, October 29, 2018

Entergy Unveils Plan for New Spent Fuel Storage Pad at Pilgrim

Viewpoint: The advantages of Small Modular Reactors