Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Nuclear-capable cruise missiles proliferating across globe | The National

Nuclear-capable cruise missiles proliferating across globe | The National: Arms control needed to reverse ‘dangerous trend’ with Iran one of many states to possess advanced models

NRC to Discontinue Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rule - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

NRC to Discontinue Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rule - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

Warmonger Joe Biden Seems Quite Eager To Start A War With Russia | End Of The American Dream

Warmonger Joe Biden Seems Quite Eager To Start A War With Russia | End Of The American Dream: If you are the president of the United States and you want to have a positive relationship with another country, it is probably not a good idea to call the leader of that other country a "killer" that "doesn't have a soul".  Also, it is probably not a good idea to accuse the other country of directl

Is 100% Carbon-Free Electricity Within the Next Decade Viable for the U.S. Let Alone the Rest of the Planet? | Energy Central

Is 100% Carbon-Free Electricity Within the Next Decade Viable for the U.S. Let Alone the Rest of the Planet? | Energy Central: Can the United States within the next decade reduce carbon emissions from the electric grid by 50%? According to Bill Gates and Breakthrough Energy Sciences (BES), the country can achieve 70% carbon-free electricity and emission reductions by 42% by 2030. The cost, $1.5 trillion, $400 billion less than the current COVID rescue plan. Achieving a macro grid involves a

Opinion | Mr. Biden, Enough With the Tough Talk on China - The New York Times

Opinion | Mr. Biden, Enough With the Tough Talk on China - The New York Times: Modest measures can reverse the dangerous decay in relations.

Friday, March 19, 2021

Fukushima Update March 19, 2021

Fukushima Update March 19, 2021 - A Japanese video says news coverage has blown the radiation effects of F. Daiichi out of proportion... Japan posts two relatively positive videos about recovery from the 2011 cataclysms... A high court reverses its shutdown order for Ikata unit #3... Tokyo says Tepco's K-K nuke station cannot be restarted... Th Yomiuri Shimbun says nuclear power companies are at the mercy of local courts over restarts... The Asahi Shimbun posts another 10th anniversary “hopelessness” article... Anti-nuclear consultant Mycle Schneider says F. Daiichi makes nuclear energy irrelevant. https://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

SCE Plans Address Spent Fuel Removal - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

SCE Plans Address Spent Fuel Removal - 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 Ups Funds For Accelerator Technology - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

DOE Ups Funds For Accelerator Technology - 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.

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters

Iran says to cold test redesigned Arak nuclear reactor | Reuters: Iran will cold test its redesigned Arak nuclear reactor as prelude to fully commissioning it later in the year, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization said on Friday.

Mixed court rulings for Japanese reactors : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Mixed court rulings for Japanese reactors : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The Hiroshima High Court today overturned a temporary injunction against the operation of unit 3 at Shikoku Electric Power Company's Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime prefecture. Meanwhile, the Mito District Court has ordered a suspension of the operation of unit 2 at Japan Atomic Power Company's Tokai plant in Ibaraki prefecture.

Russia To Help On Project To Extend Life Of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant

Russia To Help On Project To Extend Life Of Armenian Nuclear Power Plant: Russia will help Armenia extend the life of its nuclear power plant in Metsamor for another 10 years, according to the director of the station.

Plutonium used at Japanese reactor will be glassed, stored at Savannah River Site | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com

Plutonium used at Japanese reactor will be glassed, stored at Savannah River Site | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com: The National Nuclear Security Administration has decided a cache of plutonium sent from Japan years ago will be processed and disposed of for the foreseeable future at the Savannah River

Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | Neutron Bytes

Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | Neutron Bytes: The New York Times reported on August 6, 2020, that a U.S. government classified intelligence analysis includes an assessment that Saudi Arabia, working with China, was building a facility to conve…

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Canadian government has announced investments totalling just over CAD56 million (USD45 million) to support the development of small modular reactor research and technology in New Brunswick. The package includes an investment of CAD50.5 million in Moltex Energy Ltd to develop its 300 MW Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner. Meanwhile, a new report has underlined the potential economic benefits from SMRs for Canadian provinces.

DOE's first task for loan guarantees: Calming industry nerves - POLITICO

DOE's first task for loan guarantees: Calming industry nerves - POLITICO: Business executives and attorneys say they are nervous about the high cost of applying for the loan guarantees and fear they could see their requests get stuck in limbo for years.

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: The ability of nuclear energy to stabilise electricity systems and secure the grid is all the more essential in an increasingly unpredictable weather world, write Bryan Hanson, executive vice president and chief generation officer at Exelon, Bohdan Zronek, chief nuclear officer at ČEZ Group, and Sama Bilbao y Léon, director general of World Nuclear Association.

Renaissance of nuclear power faces uphill battle | The Star

Renaissance of nuclear power faces uphill battle | The Star: Focus now is on clean-energy solutions, while nuclear industry needs better PR, David Olive writes

Senior U.S. Official Acknowledges Washington Has Spent $143 Billion to Destroy Its Own Government in Afghanistan — Strategic Culture

This is a really good piece. What does Biden think he will achieve by staying until November other than a decent interval? Also, with all those $billions, the per capita GDP in Afghanistan has declined since 2010: https://www.statista.com/statistics/262052/gross-domestic-product-gdp-per-capita-in-afghanistan/ Senior U.S. Official Acknowledges Washington Has Spent $143 Billion to Destroy Its Own Government in Afghanistan — Strategic Culture: The U.S.-created and supported government of Afghanistan is on the brink of collapse. It has lost all credibility with its people because of its incompetence…

California opens rulemaking on provider of last resort, as customers move away from utilities | Utility Dive

California opens rulemaking on provider of last resort, as customers move away from utilities | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

Glick, Danly spar over gas pipeline reviews as FERC considers project's climate impacts for first time | Utility Dive

Glick, Danly spar over gas pipeline reviews as FERC considers project's climate impacts for first time | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

FERC boosts small solar, reversing PURPA ruling that had upended 40 years of precedent | Utility Dive

FERC boosts small solar, reversing PURPA ruling that had upended 40 years of precedent | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

Court orders a halt to operation of Tokai No. 2 nuclear plant : The Asahi Shimbun

Court orders a halt to operation of Tokai No. 2 nuclear plant : The Asahi Shimbun: MITO--The Mito District Court on March 18 ordered the suspension of the aging Tokai No. 2 nuclear po

District court orders suspension of Tokai nuclear plant north of Tokyo | The Japan Times

District court orders suspension of Tokai nuclear plant north of Tokyo | The Japan Times: The plant, which started commercial operations in 1978, has been idle as the utility works to meet stricter regulations established after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan: Court orders suspension of nuclear plant

Japan: Court orders suspension of nuclear plant: Order issued on appeal by locals living near Tokai No. 2 nuclear power plant in Ibaraki province, reports local media - Anadolu Agency

Japan court denies Tokai Daini nuclear power plant restart over evacuation plan- The New Indian Express

Japan court denies Tokai Daini nuclear power plant restart over evacuation plan- The New Indian Express: The Tokai Daini, or No.2, plant, launched in 1978, has been offline since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami off Japan's northeast coast that triggered the Fukushima plant's meltdowns.

UPDATE 1-Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group

UPDATE 1-Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group: A new generation of so-called "advanced" nuclear power reactors that Washington believes could help fight climate change often present greater proliferation risks than conventional nuclear power, a science advocacy group said on Thursday. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has made curbing climate change a priority and has supported research and development for advanced nuclear technologies. Last October, the month before Biden was elected, the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded $80 million each to TerraPower LLC and X-energy to build reactors it said would be operational in seven years.

NextEra Energy looking to turn decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant into solar farm

NextEra Energy looking to turn decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant into solar farm: The facility, which is Iowa's only nuclear power plant, was supposed to be decommissioned in October 2020, but damage from the derecho forced it to close right away.

Imported transformers behind November outage at Belarusian nuclear plant - Bellona.org

Imported transformers behind November outage at Belarusian nuclear plant - Bellona.org: Italian-produced equipment was behind a mishap at the Belarus nuclear power plant late last year, which saw a newly operational …

FERC Dismisses California Nuclear Complaint | ERO Insider

FERC Dismisses California Nuclear Complaint | ERO Insider: FERC threw out a complaint by activist group CGNP against that sought to stop the closure of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant.

US Defense Department eyes 2022 for microreactor build decision : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

US Defense Department eyes 2022 for microreactor build decision : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Defense's project to develop a mobile reactor - Project Pele - is on track for full power testing of a mobile reactor in 2023, with outdoor mobile testing at a Department of Energy installation in 2024, DOD's Jeff Waksman told the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 33rd Regulatory Information Conference last week.

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

New nuclear needs positive taxonomies, says Rothschild & Co executive : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: Private investors need to see clear and consistent political support for nuclear energy as a way to tackle climate change if they are to play a role in raising the large amount of capital required for new-build projects, Stephen Vaughan, vice chair of Energy & Power at Rothschild & Co, said yesterday during World Nuclear Association's Strategic eForum on Sustainable Finance. Specifically, taxonomies must back investment in nuclear power, he said.

Grid connection for Pakistani Hualong One unit : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Grid connection for Pakistani Hualong One unit : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Unit 2 of the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan was synchronised with the electricity grid yesterday. The Chinese-designed Hualong One reactor - the first of two to be constructed at the site - is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of this year. Karachi 2 and 3 are the first exports of China's Hualong One design, promoted on the international market as the HPR1000.

Texas A&M researchers develop new resilient alloy -- ANS / Newswire

Texas A&M researchers develop new resilient alloy -- ANS / Newswire

Demolition of High Flux Beam Reactor exhaust stack completed -- ANS / Newswire

Demolition of High Flux Beam Reactor exhaust stack completed -- ANS / Newswire

Ohio House passes bill to remove state aid to nuclear plants -- ANS / Newswire

Ohio House passes bill to remove state aid to nuclear plants -- ANS / Newswire

Accelerator technologies get a boost from the DOE -- ANS / Newswire

Accelerator technologies get a boost from the DOE -- ANS / Newswire

House GOP energy agenda features nuclear-related legislation -- ANS / Newswire

House GOP energy agenda features nuclear-related legislation -- ANS / Newswire

Critical Look: PBS Newshour’s coverage of 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident -- ANS / Newswire

Critical Look: <i>PBS Newshour’s</i> coverage of 10th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear accident -- ANS / Newswire

Advanced liquid waste processing systems: Safely processing Fukushima’s wastewater -- ANS / Newswire

Advanced liquid waste processing systems: Safely processing Fukushima’s wastewater -- ANS / Newswire

K-2: Pakistan’s first 1,100MWs nuclear power plant connected to national grid - Pakistan Observer

K-2: Pakistan’s first 1,100MWs nuclear power plant connected to national grid - Pakistan Observer: KARACHI – In a major milestone, the Unit-2 of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (K-2) was successfully connected to national grid for the first time on Thursday. K-2 project, which is based on Chinese ACP1000 concept started in August 2015 close to the site of the Unit-1 in the outskirts of Karachi city, is currently operating […]

Feds to put millions into small nuclear reactor development in N.B. | CBC News

Feds to put millions into small nuclear reactor development in N.B. | CBC News: Taxpayers are pouring tens of millions of additional dollars into subsidizing the development of small modular nuclear reactors in New Brunswick.

Offline Iowa nuclear plant eyed as site of solar project

Offline Iowa nuclear plant eyed as site of solar project: CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A decommissioned eastern Iowa nuclear plant could become the site of a new massive solar energy project. NextEra Energy of Florida on Tuesday laid out plans in a...

Safety goes high-tech at new SRS facility | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com

Safety goes high-tech at new SRS facility | Savannah River Site | postandcourier.com: The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management is employing 3D laser scanning to further ensure safety and accuracy in work at the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the

EIA: Less electricity generated by coal than nuclear in US in 2020 | World Coal

EIA: Less electricity generated by coal than nuclear in US in 2020 | World Coal: 2020 marked the first time that coal was not the largest or second-largest source of annual electricity generation in the US since at least 1949, but the EIA expects coal-fired electricity generation to increase in both 2021 and 2022.

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Canadian government invests in SMR project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The Canadian government has announced investments totalling just over CAD56 million (USD45 million) to support the development of small modular reactor research and technology in New Brunswick. The package includes an investment of CAD50.5 million in Moltex Energy Ltd to develop its 300 MW Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner. Meanwhile, a new report has underlined the potential economic benefits from SMRs for Canadian provinces.

COVID-19 Impacts on Nuclear Ionizer Market Revenue, Industry Forecast 2025 – FLA News

COVID-19 Impacts on Nuclear Ionizer Market Revenue, Industry Forecast 2025 – FLA News: The world has witnessed an increase in consumption of electricity, which has led to a rise in demand

Power Uprates Market Share and Growth Factors Impact Analysis 2017 – 2025 – The Courier

Power Uprates Market Share and Growth Factors Impact Analysis 2017 – 2025 – The Courier: Power uprate (PU) is considered as a well-regulated and cost-effective technique of improving the ne

EPRIʻs Mansoor discusses importance of nuclear generation at NRC summit - Daily Energy Insider

EPRIʻs Mansoor discusses importance of nuclear generation at NRC summit - Daily Energy Insider: During a virtual panel discussion sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Arshad Mansoor, president and CEO of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), highlighted the importance of nuclear ... Read More »

Veil first woman to lead NRC's reactor regulatory office | Power Engineering

Veil first woman to lead NRC's reactor regulatory office | Power Engineering: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named the first African American and woman to run the NRC’s office overseeing reactor regulation.

Does the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant create more problems than it solves?

Does the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant create more problems than it solves?: Part of Abu Dhabi’s clean energy push, the $32 billion nuclear power station risks destabilising a volatile region with detrimental consequences for the environment.

Huge solar farm planned for decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant site | The Gazette

Huge solar farm planned for decommissioned Duane Arnold nuclear plant site | The Gazette: For more than four decades, the name of former Cedar Rapids utility executive Duane Arnold has been synonymous with nuclear power in Iowa. Now it could have a new connotation: a massive solar energy project planned for 2023 near the now-idle Duane Arnold Energy Center.

Report: 'Advanced' Nuclear Reactors No Better Than Current Fleet | Union of Concerned Scientists

Report: 'Advanced' Nuclear Reactors No Better Than Current Fleet | Union of Concerned Scientists: A new Union of Concerned Scientists report finds that so-called "advanced" non-light-water nuclear reactors in development do not live up to their hype.

Egypt's Petrojet signs teaming agreement with Korean nuclear companies : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Egypt's Petrojet signs teaming agreement with Korean nuclear companies : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Petrojet - an Egyptian petroleum sector company - is boosting cooperation with South Korean companies including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Kepco E&C, Hyundai E&C and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction to participate in Egypt's first nuclear power plant project. The El Dabaa plant is to be built by Russia's JSC Atomstroyexport as the general contractor for the project. Petrojet Chairman Waleed Lotfy signed a teaming agreement with representatives of the South Korean companies, who visited Petrojet's headquarters in Cairo on 16 March.

Less electricity was generated by coal than nuclear in the United States in 2020 - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Less electricity was generated by coal than nuclear in the United States in 2020 - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Japan Court Paves Way for Restart of Shikoku Nuclear Reactor - Bloomberg

Japan Court Paves Way for Restart of Shikoku Nuclear Reactor - Bloomberg: A Japanese court overturned a decision barring the operation of Shikoku Electric Power Co.’s nuclear power plant, a win for the government’s efforts to revive the country’s idled atomic energy industry.

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group: A new generation of so-called "advanced" nuclear power reactors that Washington believes could help fight climate change often present greater proliferation risks than conventional nuclear power, a science advocacy group said on Thursday. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, has made curbing climate change one of the pillars of his administration and has supported research and development for advanced nuclear technologies. Last October, the month before Biden was elected, the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded $80 million each to TerraPower LLC and X-energy to build reactors it said would be operational in seven years.

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County

Advanced nuclear reactors no safer than conventional nuclear plants, says science group | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County: By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new generation of so-called "advanced" nuclear power reactors that Washington believes could help fight cl...

Japan court denies resumption of Tokai Daini nuclear power plant: NHK | Reuters

Japan court denies resumption of Tokai Daini nuclear power plant: NHK | Reuters: Japan's Mito District Court ruled on Thursday that Japan Atomic Power Co should not be allowed to resume operations at its Tokai Daini nuclear power plant, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Japanese regulators say TEPCO nuclear plant prone to attack | The Seattle Times

Japanese regulators say TEPCO nuclear plant prone to attack | The Seattle Times: TOKYO (AP) — Japanese nuclear regulators said Wednesday that the world's largest nuclear power plant, owned by the utility behind the Fukushima nuclear crisis, will not restart anytime soon due...

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

China launches Iter tritium breeding project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

China launches Iter tritium breeding project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The first project of the Chinese Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket System for the Iter fusion reactor project was launched on 15 March at China National Nuclear Corporation's Southwestern Institute of Physics in Chengdu, Sichuan province. It marks the start of China's implementation phase of tritium breeding technology in Iter.

SCE plans relocation of  San Onofre used fuel : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

SCE plans relocation of  San Onofre used fuel : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Southern California Edison has released a three-part strategic plan for the relocation of used nuclear fuel from the shut-down San Onofre plant. The company has also launched a stakeholder coalition with two local counties to advocate for and encourage federal government action to deal with used fuel currently stored at San Onofre and other US nuclear sites.

Korean companies to train Egyptian plant workers : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Korean companies to train Egyptian plant workers : Corporate - World Nuclear News: A group of South Korean firms has signed a partnership agreement with Egyptian state-owned construction company Petrojet to help train Egyptian employees for the planned El Dabaa nuclear power plant, which is to be built by Russia. A construction licence for the El Dabaa plant is expected to be issued in the second-half of 2021.

UK's Hinkley Point B approved for restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

UK's Hinkley Point B approved for restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation has today provided EDF with permission for Reactors 3 and 4 at the Hinkley Point B power station in Somerset, England, to return to service for a limited period of operation. This follows ONR's assessment of whether cracking observed in the graphite bricks that form the reactor core could compromise the key nuclear safety requirements.

Security lapses impact Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Security lapses impact Kashiwazaki-Kariwa restart : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Tokyo Electric Power Company has failed in its duty to protect nuclear materials at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, according to Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority. A series of security breaches has prompted the regulator to suspend the process for inspections needed to restart unit 7 at the plant.

Infrastructure Should Be the Great Economic Equalizer - CounterPunch.org

Infrastructure Should Be the Great Economic Equalizer - CounterPunch.org: During the Trump years, the phrase “Infrastructure Week” rang out as a sort of Groundhog Day-style punchline. What began in June 2017 as a failed effort by The Donald’s White House and a Republican Senate to focus on the desperately needed rebuilding of American infrastructure morphed into a meme and a running joke in Washington. More

£72m secured to transform North West England into a low carbon industrial cluster | Energy Central

£72m secured to transform North West England into a low carbon industrial cluster | Energy Central: The North West of England Through Blue to Green – Hydrogen and Innovation in the Northwest of England – Charley Rattan Associates

Russia Signs Contract To Supply Another Batch Of Research Reactor LEU :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Russia Signs Contract To Supply Another Batch Of Research Reactor LEU :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) and the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority have signed a contract for Russia to supply another batch of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for the ETRR-2 research reactor.

Russia’s Tvel nuclear fuel company, of which NCCP is a subsidiary, said the contract follows the successful completion of a similar contract signed in 2020.

Nuclear energy is long-term green energy, say scientists - The Hindu

Nuclear energy is long-term green energy, say scientists - The Hindu: ‘Mass awareness of societal benefits will have cascading effect on its acceptance’

Covra Announces Plans For New Radwaste Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Covra Announces Plans For New Radwaste Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: The Netherlands’ Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (Covra) has announced plans for a new storage building for low- and medium-level radioactive waste.

Covra, which operates the Netherlands centralised radioactive waste processing and storage facility near Vlissingen-Oost in the municipality of Borselle, in the southwest of the country, said the additional storage space is needed because the current storage building for low- and medium-level radioactive waste is filling up.

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register: Southern California Edison Co., which operates the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant, hopes affected citizens and communities can prod the federal government to find a permanent home for radioacti…

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International: A new report by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) explores the potential for nuclear energy as part of the energy portfolio and shows how the utilisation of local or regional uranium resources can provide a platform for sustainable...

EPRI CEO: Nuclear power is important for a decarbonized, resilient energy system

EPRI CEO: Nuclear power is important for a decarbonized, resilient energy system: Electric Power Research Institute President and CEO Dr. Arshad Mansoor this month stressed the importance of nuclear generation to the resilience of the U.S. electric power system and expressed confidence in the potential for new and emerging nuclear energy technologies to support continued grid decarbonization.

Taking Charge: Commissioner Clements on FERC's 'make or break' role amid the energy transition | Utility Dive

Taking Charge: Commissioner Clements on FERC's 'make or break' role amid the energy transition | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

Report looks at what to do with the nuclear waste at San Onofre - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Report looks at what to do with the nuclear waste at San Onofre - The San Diego Union-Tribune: Federal government urged to take action, new coalition forms to generate momentum

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Westinghouse Electric Company has announced its intention to invest in nuclear technologies in Poland, following a meeting in Warsaw between Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman and Polish Secretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski.

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: The ability of nuclear energy to stabilise electricity systems and secure the grid is all the more essential in an increasingly unpredictable weather world, write Bryan Hanson, executive vice president and chief generation officer at Exelon, Bohdan Zronek, chief nuclear officer at ČEZ Group, and Sama Bilbao y Léon, director general of World Nuclear Association.

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste - Sealing-of-a-Deep-Horizontal-Borehole-Repository-Nuclear-Waste-DeepIsolation.pdf

Sealing of a Deep Horizontal Borehole Repository for Nuclear Waste - Sealing-of-a-Deep-Horizontal-Borehole-Repository-Nuclear-Waste-DeepIsolation.pdf

Uranium companies announce strategic purchase plans : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News

Uranium companies announce strategic purchase plans : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: Uranium companies have separately announced plans to make strategic purchases of physical uranium. Denison is aiming to buy about 2.5 million pounds U3O8 (962 tU) through the spot market as a long-term investment, while Uranium Energy Corp has entered into agreements to purchase 400,000 pounds. UK-based Yellow Cake plc has also announced further purchase plans under its agreement with Kazatomprom.

Rosatom starts building reactor for Akkuyu unit 3 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Rosatom starts building reactor for Akkuyu unit 3 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: AEM Technology, part of the Atomenergomash engineering subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom, has started manufacturing the reactor pressure vessel for unit 3 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Yesterday's announcement follows a ceremony held on 10 March to mark the pouring of first concrete for the unit at the Akkuyu construction site, which is in the Mersin province of Turkey.

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Westinghouse plans investment in Polish nuclear : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Westinghouse Electric Company has announced its intention to invest in nuclear technologies in Poland, following a meeting in Warsaw between Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman and Polish Secretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski.

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News

Viewpoint: Nuclear can weather any storm : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: The ability of nuclear energy to stabilise electricity systems and secure the grid is all the more essential in an increasingly unpredictable weather world, write Bryan Hanson, executive vice president and chief generation officer at Exelon, Bodhan Zronek, chief nuclear officer at ČEZ Group, and Sama Bilbao y Léon, director general of World Nuclear Association.

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International

UNECE report examines how nuclear energy can support sustainable development - Nuclear Engineering International: A new report by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) explores the potential for nuclear energy as part of the energy portfolio and shows how the utilisation of local or regional uranium resources can provide a platform for sustainable...

New type of fallout from Fukushima Daiichi found a decade after nuclear disaster – Physics World

New type of fallout from Fukushima Daiichi found a decade after nuclear disaster – Physics World: Particles are large and highly radioactive

Leningrad II-2 gets clearance for commercial operation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Leningrad II-2 gets clearance for commercial operation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Rosatom has received regulatory approval to start the commercial operation of the second VVER-1200 reactor at the Leningrad nuclear power plant in western Russia, which is scheduled for the end of this month. The existing Leningrad plant site in Sosnovy Bor has four RBMK-1000 units, while Leningrad II will have four VVER-1200 units.

IEA assesses Turkey’s energy sector - Nuclear Engineering International

IEA assesses Turkey’s energy sector - Nuclear Engineering International: The International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) latest country report on Turkey and energy policy review notes that Turkey has seen considerable diversification of its energy sector since the previous review in 2016....

Why the Fukushima disaster signalled the end of Big Nuclear

Why the Fukushima disaster signalled the end of Big Nuclear: Ten years after the world’s second worst nuclear disaster, large nuclear power stations have yet to regain their appeal.

Fuel loading under way at Barakah 2 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Fuel loading under way at Barakah 2 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The process of loading 241 fuel assemblies into the core of unit 2 at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE has begun, operator Nawah Energy Company has announced. The move follows the issuance last week by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation of the operating licence for the second of four Korean-designed APR1400 units at the site.

Erdogan, Putin remotely start nuclear reactor construction | Arab News

Erdogan, Putin remotely start nuclear reactor construction | Arab News: ISTANBUL: The presidents of Turkey and Russia remotely inaugurated the construction of a third nuclear reactor at the Akkuyu power plant in southern Turkey Wednesday, vowing to continue their close cooperation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the plant would launch Turkey into the “league of nuclear energy countries” and called it a “symbol of Turkish-Russian

GE Steam Power unveils 'largest last-stage blade ever made' : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

GE Steam Power unveils 'largest last-stage blade ever made' : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: GE Steam Power announced today that it has designed and manufactured the largest-ever (75-inch) last-stage blade for its Arabelle low-pressure rotor. The blade will enable the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant under construction in Somerset, England to produce 3.2 GWe of CO2 free power, GE said. Once completed, this Arabelle steam turbine will be the most powerful nuclear steam turbine in operation. It was tested at GE's factory in Belfort, France.

Senators Manchin, Stabenow and Daines lay out plan to boost manufacturing and innovation | Energy Central

Senators Manchin, Stabenow and Daines lay out plan to boost manufacturing and innovation | Energy Central: By Toby Short, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs My father and grandparents worked in the textile mills in North Carolina. When those mills closed, the once vibrant towns that housed the mills began to shut down as well. My father, being...

Ten years after the Fukushima disaster in Japan - World Socialist Web Site

Ten years after the Fukushima disaster in Japan - World Socialist Web Site: Rather than lessons being learned, the true cause of the disaster is being papered over to protect the capitalist profit system.

Dismantling of mothballed Alaska NPP to begin in 2022/3 - Nuclear Engineering International

Dismantling of mothballed Alaska NPP to begin in 2022/3 - Nuclear Engineering International: The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has decided to remove solid waste from the mothballed SM-1A nuclear power plant in Fort Greely, Alaska initially to disposal facilities in-state. However, because Alaska ha no facility for handling...

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register

Edison aims to rally allies nationwide to push feds on permanent nuclear waste storage – Orange County Register: Southern California Edison Co., which operates the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant, hopes affected citizens and communities can prod the federal government to find a permanent home for radioacti…

Monday, March 15, 2021

GE Steam Power unveils 'largest last-stage blade ever made' : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

GE Steam Power unveils 'largest last-stage blade ever made' : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: GE Steam Power announced today that it has designed and manufactured the largest-ever (75-inch) last-stage blade for its Arabelle low-pressure rotor. The blade will enable the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant under construction in Somerset, England to produce 3.2 GWe of CO2 free power, GE said. Once completed, this Arabelle steam turbine will be the most powerful nuclear steam turbine in operation. It was tested at GE's factory in Belfort, France.

Fuel loading under way at Barakah 2 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Fuel loading under way at Barakah 2 : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The process of loading 241 fuel assemblies into the core of unit 2 at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE has begun, operator Nawah Energy Company has announced. The move follows the issuance last week by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation of the operating licence for the second of four Korean-designed APR1400 units at the site.

Leningrad II-2 gets clearance for commercial operation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

Leningrad II-2 gets clearance for commercial operation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: Rosatom has received regulatory approval to start the commercial operation of the second VVER-1200 reactor at the Leningrad nuclear power plant in western Russia, which is scheduled for the end of this month. The existing Leningrad plant site in Sosnovy Bor has four RBMK-1000 units, while Leningrad II will have four VVER-1200 units.

Climbing without a map: Japan's nuclear clean-up has no end in sight | Reuters

Climbing without a map: Japan's nuclear clean-up has no end in sight | Reuters: For one minute this week, workers at the Fukushima nuclear station fell silent to mark the 10-year anniversary of a natural disaster that triggered the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

France to build nuclear crisis centres based on Fukushima lessons

France to build nuclear crisis centres based on Fukushima lessons: Designed to withstand accident levels the crisis centres are built to enable the management of a facility safely in any situation.

SNC-Lavalin Report Calls For Aggressive Nuclear New-Build Programme :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

SNC-Lavalin Report Calls For Aggressive Nuclear New-Build Programme :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: The licensing process for an “aggressive” programme of siting 1,000 MW class commercial nuclear power reactors should begin immediately if Canada is to meet its net-zero electricity targets, a report by Canada-based engineering company SNC-Lavalin says.

According to the report, one such reactor could be brought into service every year from 2030 to 2050. Once small modular reactor designs are complete, three 300-MW SMR units could be added to the grid each year from around 2035 to 2050.

While aggressive, this accelerated new-build scenario is less than the nuclear new build rates that both China and India are achieving today, the report says.

New Mexico demands more of US when addressing nuclear waste

New Mexico demands more of US when addressing nuclear waste: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Energy Department has rolled out its 2021 priorities for cleaning up tons of toxic waste left behind by decades of bomb-making and nuclear research at scientific...

‘Crazy’ US-China cooperation on nuclear energy key to tackling climate change, forum hears on Fukushima anniversary | South China Morning Post

‘Crazy’ US-China cooperation on nuclear energy key to tackling climate change, forum hears on Fukushima anniversary | South China Morning Post: The US should cooperate with China so that nuclear energy can play a bigger role in decarbonising the world, a forum held on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster has heard.

Biden Vowed to Make Climate ‘Essential’ to Foreign Policy. The Reality Is Harder. - The New York Times

Biden Vowed to Make Climate ‘Essential’ to Foreign Policy. The Reality Is Harder. - The New York Times: So far, repairing alliances and restoring friendships seem to be taking precedence.

Bill Gates On New Book: 'How To Avoid A Climate Disaster' : NPR

Bill Gates On New Book: 'How To Avoid A Climate Disaster' : NPR: NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates about his latest book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need.

New Mexico demands more of US when addressing nuclear waste | KRWG

New Mexico demands more of US when addressing nuclear waste | KRWG: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Energy Department has rolled out its 2021 priorities for cleaning up tons of toxic waste left behind by decades of bomb

Study: Carbon tax more efficient to cut emissions Energy News Network

Study: Carbon tax more efficient to cut emissions Energy News Network: Ohio State researchers found that a carbon tax would be less costly than either renewable portfolio standards or production tax credits.

Largest-ever turbine blade | Engineer Live

Largest-ever turbine blade | Engineer Live: The 75-inch last-stage blade will enable Hinkley Point C’s to produce 3.2GW of CO2 free power

For the NPT to work, plutonium has to go - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

For the NPT to work, plutonium has to go - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: If we want an effective NPT, we have to eliminate dangerous materials from civilian nuclear power programs. Dealing with uranium enrichment is complicated because nuclear power plants use enriched uranium fuel, but that should not hold us back from eliminating the danger we can eliminate—plutonium.

Sunday, March 14, 2021

Barakah / UAE Regulator Grants Operating License For Unit 2 | Neutron Bytes

Barakah / UAE Regulator Grants Operating License For Unit 2 | Neutron Bytes: Barakah / UAE Regulator Grants Operating License For Unit 2India / Government Pushing Ahead With Ambitious Plan For 10 New Nuclear ReactorsCzech Nuclear Regulator Grants Site License For Up To Two …

Notes from central Taiwan: Taiwan’s spent nuclear fuel problem - Taipei Times

Notes from central Taiwan: Taiwan’s spent nuclear fuel problem - Taipei Times: I spent this week chatting online with French film-maker, publisher and historian Rene Vienet, who began his two decades of involvement with Taiwan’s nuclear power program in the late 1970s as the representative for the French nuclear firm Cogema (today known as Orano). We discussed his work in Taiwan over the years, and the tough decisions involving spent nuclear fuel currently facing Taiwan’s policymakers. The second part of the interview will appear on March 22. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Michael Turton: You got in touch with me to discuss the problem of Taiwan’s spent nuclear

Newsom Can’t Hide Behind a Pandemic - California Globe

Newsom Can’t Hide Behind a Pandemic - California Globe: In his 2021 State of the State Address, Governor Newsom's focus, to the exclusion of nearly everything else, was to defend his response to the COVID-19

EIG Article : Iran: Growing Frustration Over JCPOA

EIG Article : Iran: Growing Frustration Over JCPOA

After The Abraham Accords: Nuclear Deterrence And Nuclear War In The Middle East - Modern Diplomacy

After The Abraham Accords: Nuclear Deterrence And Nuclear War In The Middle East - Modern Diplomacy: Though the Trump-brokered Abraham Agreements[1] with selected Sunni Arab states might first appear sensible, there is actually little here to celebrate. In essence, these Agreements exhibit little more than just another self-serving contrivance of America’s former president. At best, these Agreements codify variously harmonious diplomatic relations between states that were never genuine adversaries. At worst, […]

Nuclear Plant Closures And Renewables Increase Electricity Prices & Unreliability, Testifies Michael Shellenberger to U.S. Senate — Environmental Progress

Nuclear Plant Closures And Renewables Increase Electricity Prices & Unreliability, Testifies Michael Shellenberger to U.S. Senate — Environmental Progress: Are we so confident that reducing energy diversity while pushing more variable energy onto electrical grids is the best path forward in terms of reliability, affordability, and sustainability? The Senate can play a constructive role by taking action now to prevent the closure of nuclear plants that

Egypt to launch first nuclear power plant in Dabaa: President - Economy - Business - Ahram Online

Egypt to launch first nuclear power plant in Dabaa: President - Economy - Business - Ahram Online: President Mansour's 1973 anniversary speech includes plans to re-start nuclear power project and Suez Canal development plant

US could operate a fusion plant by 2040, Academy says : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

US could operate a fusion plant by 2040, Academy says : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has called for urgent investment by the government and private sector to enable a pilot fusion plant to be operational in the 2035-2040 timeframe.

Elon Musk's Tesla ($TSLA) and Other EVs Could Save Texas Power - Bloomberg

Elon Musk's Tesla ($TSLA) and Other EVs Could Save Texas Power - Bloomberg: It doesn’t even require top-secret battery projects.

OPINION: Fukushima's nuclear meltdowns still have lessons for us in the Tennessee Valley

OPINION: Fukushima's nuclear meltdowns still have lessons for us in the Tennessee Valley: Mar. 13—Ten years ago this week, the world watched in horror as a nuclear plant with multiple reactors in Fukushima, Japan, melted down on live TV day after day after day — the aftermath of a natural disaster in the form of a March 11, 2011, earthquake and its ensuing tsunami. Here in the Tennessee Valley, we were especially attentive: The Japanese nuclear plant was a near-twin of the ...