Friday, March 22, 2013

Chinese HTGR fule plant under construction

Chinese HTGR fuel plant under construction energyandnuclear.com

Chinese HTGR fuel plant under construction Construction has started on a pilot production line for fuel elements for the Shidaowan HTR-PM project - a demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled react...http://energyandnuclear.com/2013/03/21/chinese-htgr-fuel-plant-under-construction/?goback=.gde_2437005_member_225092344

Counting the hidden costs of energy by Barry Brook

BraveNewClimate

Counting the hidden costs of energy

by Barry Brook

When comparing power sources, we have to take the costs of system effects into account.

By Martin Nicholsonhttp://bravenewclimate.com/2013/03/22/counting-hidden-costs-of-energy/

and Barry Brook. This article was first published on The Conversation

. A response was then published on Business Spectator. It is worth reading both pieces, and the comments that followed them (for instance, Martin's reply).

A recent Bloomberg press release

got wide coverage with its claim that wind power is now cheaper than coal. But a new report from the OECD shows that when you cover the full cost to the grid, variable renewables like wind don’t add up as favourably.

It is often claimed

that introducing variable renewable energy resources such as solar and wind into the electricity network comes with some extra cost penalties, due to “system effects”. These system effects include intermittent electricity access, network congestion, instability, environmental impacts, and security of supply.

Now a new report

from the OECD titled System Effects of Low-Carbon Electricity Systems gives some hard dollar values for these additional imposts. The OECD work focuses on nuclear power, coal, gas, and renewables such as wind and solar. Their conclusion is that grid-level system costs can have significant impacts on the total cost of delivered electricity for some power-generation technologies.

LADWP to Eliminate Coal-fired Power from Energy Mix by 2025

LADWP to Eliminate Coal-fired Power from Energy Mix by 2025 *by PennEnergy Editorial Staff* \| March 21, 2013 \|
	Following a recent pledge made by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to wean the city off of coal-fired generation within 12 years, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has unveiled its ambitious plans to aban... Full Articlehttp://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/03/ladwp-to-eliminate-coal-fired-power-from-energy-mix-by-2025?cmpid=WNL-Friday-March22-2013

Energy Storage Update 3/22

Energy Storage Study Predicts Boom Through 2022
Energy Collective
A study released by the research team last week projects that long-duration energy storage is expected to grow exponentially in the next 9 years; from trace amounts of value in 2012 to nearly $30 billion by 2022. The graph below was shared by Pike in ...http://theenergycollective.com/ecskris/201381/energy-storage-study-projects-boom-through-2022

Altairnano Lithium Titanate Energy Storage System Commissioned at Vestas ...
Marketwire (press release)
For Altairnano, entering Vestas' demonstration program is an opportunity to spotlight its energy storage solutions and demonstrate the ALTI-ESS's superior power, cycle life, and system performance. Altairnano recognizes the global importance of ...
See all stories on this topic »

ResearchMoz: Global Energy Storage Market to 2020 - Targeting Transportation ...
PR Newswire (press release)
GBI Research's new report, "Global Energy Storage Market to 2020 - Targeting Transportation Sector Applications, Advanced Batteries, Ultracapacitors and Fuel Cells All Set for Growth", provides key data, information and analysis on the market ...http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/researchmoz-global-energy-storage-market-to-2020---targeting-transportation-sector-applications-advanced-batteries-ultracapacitors-and-fuel-cells-all-set-for-growth---new-market-research-report-199340861.html

ZBB Energy, Itron site Southern California photovoltaic energy storage project
Electric Light & Power
This project allows ZBB to demonstrate the integration of an advanced energy storage system at a yet to be publicly disclosed location in Southern California. The project is partially funded from the California Solar Initiative Research, Development, ...http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/03/zbb-energy--itron--site-southern-california-photovoltaic-energy-.html

Asia Pacific tapping advanced battery tech for energy storage
Fierce Energy
In Asia Pacific, most of the research, development, and demonstrations of native energy storage technologies are advanced batteries, specifically advanced lithium ion, sodium sulfur, and flow batteries, according to Pike Research, where the total ...http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/asia-pacific-tapping-advanced-battery-tech-energy-storage/2013-03-21

Energy storage solutions win backing
Carbon News
The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson has announced project funding for Ecoult, a CSIRO spin-off company, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's Emerging Renewables Program, to optimise CSIRO's UltraBattery technology.http://www.carbonnews.co.nz/story.asp?storyID=668

2Energy storage | SmartGridToday
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) gave Australian energy storage firm Ecoult a government grant to conduct small/mid-sized storage project ...
www.smartgridtoday.com/articles/topic/221-energy-storage

Funding Charges Renewable Energy Storage Solutions
Cost-effective battery storage for residential and commercial renewable energy systems is a step closer following an Australian Government investment of ...
minister.ret.gov.au/.../fundingchargesrenewableenergystorages...

San Onofre design choices led to nuclear plant shutdown

San Onofre design choices led to nuclear plant shutdown
Los Angeles Times
An executive with the company that manufactured faulty equipment that led to the shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear plant defended decisions made in the design of the replacement steam generators. The company made choices in designing support ...http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/03/san-onofre-mitsubishi.html

SoCal nuke plant could breakdown at full power

Power Engineering Magazine -

LOS ANGELES The troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant in California could be restarted safely and run at full power, but the risk of a breakdown would increase to vexing levels after 11 months, a report concluded Monday. The seaside plant between San ...http://www.power-eng.com/news/2013/03/21/socal-nuke-plant-could-breakdown-at-full-power.html

Restarting San Onofre Isn't Cost Effective, New Study Suggests

KPBS - ‎

Above: The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station at San Onofre State Beach on March 15, 2012 south of San Clemente, California. Thursday, March 21, 2013. By Alison St John. San Onofre may be offline for another summer, and a new analysis suggests ...http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/mar/21/restarting-san-onofre-cost-effective/

San Onofre: Restart plan would cost customers $150M more than replacement ...

YubaNet (press release) -

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. March 21, 2013 - Restarting one of the crippled San Onofre nuclear reactors this summer would cost Southern California Edison's customers three times as much as keeping it shut down and buying power from other sources, ...http://yubanet.com/california/San-Onofre-Restart-plan-would-cost-customers-150M-more-than-replacement-power.php#.UUx57DdQpCM

Nuke Plant Could Break Down at Full Power

Chem.Info - ‎Mar 19, 2013‎

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant in California could be restarted safely and run at full power, but the risk of a breakdown would increase to vexing levels after 11 months, a report concluded Monday. The seaside plant ...http://www.chem.info/News/2013/03/Plant-Operations-Nuke-Plant-Could-Break-Down-at-Full-Power/

NRC delays decision on San Onofre
Power Engineering Magazine
Federal regulators have pushed back their estimate of when they are likely to decide whether one of the reactors at the San Onofre nuclear plant can be restarted. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's website now indicates that the decision could come in ...

http://www.power-eng.com/news/2013/03/21/nrc-delays-decision-on-san-onofre.html

Groot Group and Partners to Launch Namibia Thorium Energy Research Institute ...

Groot Group and Partners to Launch Namibia Thorium Energy Research Institute ...
PR.com (press release)
The purpose of the Namibia Institute for Thorium Energy is strictly to conduct advanced research and development of the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR) and Thorium technology for the eventual development and construction of an energy-based ...http://www.pr.com/press-release/480532

Financial Times Energy 3/22

FT.com - Energy

Vestas investors reject independent auditor

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/Q3A8YF/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

SSE warns of UK’s ‘lights going out’

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/OFVBKF/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

Rosneft and BP plan Arctic projects

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/OFVBKS/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

APR boosted by rising demand for power

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/UL5C91/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

Premier increases output as profits rise

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/DX1J0M/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

Nick Butler

Cyprus – the Russian reaction

http://link.ft.com/r/A1TNOO/FDFX4R/8A25BP/97OXU9/LSOL5Y/FW/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=22

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Great nuclear shift towards Asia predicted

http://energyandnuclear.com/2013/03/21/great-nuclear-shift-towards-asia-predicted/

Fukushima Spews More Radiation … Due to Tepco’s Carelessness

by WashingtonsBlog

Fukushima Still Pumping Out Massive Amounts of Radiation

Power was lost to the cooling systems to virtually all of the spent fuel pools at Fukushima for more than a day.
Some of these fuel pools have lost containment, and are arguably the top short-term threat to humanity … and America’s national security.
The loss of cooling increased the radiation output from the pools. And the loss of power was due to carelessness by the operator of the Fukushima reactors. As nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen notes:
Is TEPCO doing an adequate job of keeping the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power site safe?
We don’t think so.http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/03/fukushima-spews-more-radiation-due-to-tepcos-carelessness.html

EDF eyes development of new, smaller reactors - papers

EDF eyes development of new, smaller reactors - papershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/edf-reactors-idUSL6N0CD1J820130321

Japan Taps Methane Hydrates: Pondering the Explosive Implications

Japan Taps Methane Hydrates: Pondering the Explosive Implications
http://theenergycollective.com/jessejenkins/198761/japan-taps-methane-hydrates-pondering-explosive-implications?utm_source=tec_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&inf_contact_key=ddedc59fc07acc25065a0a71a70abaf0620fc80e41366fb13367a06d7e0eedfa

Update and Perspective on Small Modular Reactor Development

Update and Perspective on Small Modular Reactor Development ...
By Jim Hopf. The US Department of Energy has a $452 million program to share development and licensing costs for selected small modular reactor (SMR) ...
ansnuclearcafe.org/.../update-and-perspective-on-smr-develop...

NY Assembly Votes to Extend Fracking Moratorium Until 2015

http://energy.aol.com/2013/03/14/ny-assembly-extends-fracking-moratorium-until-2015

New report says US mining, energy industries face workforce shortage as Baby Boomers retire

http://energy.aol.com/buzzitem/?param=httpPPROCC3APPROCC2FPPROCC2Fwww.startribune.comPPROCC2FbusinessPPROCC2F199362841.html|NewPPROCC20reportPPROCC20saysPPROCC20USPPROCC20miningPPROCC2CPPROCC20energyPPROCC20industriesPPROCC20facePPROCC20workforcePPROCC20shortagePPROCC20asPPROCC20BabyPPROCC20BoomersPPROCC20retire|792|1

Chinese Nuclear Energy and the Future of Innovation

http://theenergycollective.com/breakthroughinstitut/198441/chinese-nuclear-and-future-energy-innovation?utm_source=tec_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&inf_contact_key=44a3aaf7153816ce84541150cb2a6fd25bf02ca901642334fb6dc50a0397a4a5

Russia Fears Iran Nuclear-Talks Progress Not Irreversible

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-21/russia-fears-iran-nuclear-talks-progress-not-irreversible.html

North Korea threatens nuclear attack on US bases in Japan

North Korea has threatened to launch a nuclear attack on US bases in Japan and Guam after Washington used B-52 bombers in a joint military drill with the South.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9945546/North-Korea-threatens-nuclear-attack-on-US-bases-in-Japan.html

Nuclear weapons: Who has what?

More than two dozen countries have nuclear power, but only a few have nuclear weapons or are suspected of pursuing nuclear weapons. Click on a country below to learn more about their nuclear programs.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/world/nuclear-weapon-states/