Nuclear News - Nuclear power: less effective than energy efficiency and renewable energy?
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Nuclear power: less effective than energy efficiency and renewable energy?
‘If the U.S. wants to help stop global warming, nuclear power is not the way to go, according to a new report released today. The Environment California Research & Policy Center concluded that launching a nuclear power industry nearly from the ground up is too slow and expensive a process. Energy efficiency standards and renewable energy options are better solutions, researchers said. Currently, no new nuclear reactors are under construction in the country, and no U.S. power company has ordered a nuclear plant since 1978. Meanwhile, building a reactor would probably take around a decade - 2016 at the earliest, the study suggested. Without an existing infrastructure, manufacturing reactor parts with the dearth of trained personnel would be difficult. But even if the nuclear industry managed to build 100 reactors by 2030, the total power produced would reduce total U.S. emissions only 12% over the next 20 years, which Environment California deemed “far too little, too late.”’
Future boss wants EDF to take French nuclear lead
‘PARIS, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Future EDF boss Henri Proglio wants the power group to play a leading role in a French nuclear energy sector that he says is too fragmented, daily Les Echos reports. In the interview, Proglio also recommends opening the capital of nuclear reactor unit Areva NP, the paper said. "My ambition is to have a French nuclear sector that works," Proglio is quoted as saying. Proglio, executive chairman of French water, waste and transport group Veolia, will officially become chairman and CEO of EDF next week. He is staying on as non-executive chairman of Veolioa.’
France, Czech seal uranium enrichment deal
‘PARIS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- France's nuclear energy company Areva announced Tuesday that it signed a 15-year contract with the Czech state-owned power utility CEZ to provide uranium enrichment service for Czech nuclear power plant. Czech state-owned power utility CEZ and Areva signed the contract for two reactor units at the Temelin nuclear power plant, Paris-based Areva said in a statement. The company's press office told Xinhua the value of the signed contract is confidential information but confirmed Areva has submitted a tender qualification documents for some Temelin project on Oct. 30. According to early reports at the beginning of November, Areva and other two Russian companies are running for the bids to build up five nuclear reactors at Temelin site for CEZ. The final bid, which may worth near 28 billion U.S. dollars, is expected at end of 2010 with a decision in late 2011.’
Russia, Slovakia sign long-term nuclear power deal
‘Russia and Slovakia have signed a deal on long-term cooperation in nuclear power engineering, Russia's state nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly AtomStroyExport said on Tuesday. AtomStroyExport participated today in the second meeting of the Russian-Slovak working group on nuclear power engineering, part of an inter-governmental commission on bilateral economic, scientific and technical cooperation. The commission noted the successful development of Russian-Slovak cooperation in nuclear power engineering, ensuring the safe operation of Slovakia's nuclear power plants. Slovakia voiced support for the participation of Russian companies in modernizing Slovakia's reactors, AtomStroyExport said in a statement.’
DOE's Non-Performance on Nuclear Fuel Storage Costs Billions
‘As the U.S. electric industry is contemplating building new nuclear power plants for the first time in decades, the industry continues to be faced with uncertainty regarding the ultimate long-term disposal solution for the nation's spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Since 1982, when Congress passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, nuclear power plant owners and operators have been funding the development and construction of a national SNF storage facility that may never materialize-that funding amounting to $30 billion to date. Under the terms of the 1982 legislation, nuclear utilities entered into mandatory contracts with the Department of Energy (DOE) under which the utilities pay the federal government one mill (one tenth of a cent) for every kilowatt hour of nuclear-generated electricity sold to their customers. In return, the government assumed responsibility for the development, construction, and maintenance of a facility that would be ready to accept the nation's SNF beginning no later than January 31, 1998.’
U.S., China Agree That North Korea Nuclear Talks Must Resume
‘U.S. President Barack Obama said today that he and Chinese President Hu Jintao were in agreement on the need for North Korea to return to stalled six-nation talks "as soon as possible," USA Today reported (see GSN, Oct. 16). The two leaders addressed nuclear disarmament and other issues during meetings yesterday and today in Beijing. "Both of us said that we will remain committed to dialogue and consultations in resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. And such approach serves the common interests of China, the United States, and other parties concerned," Hu said during a press conference with Obama. "The two sides will work with other parties concerned to continue the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula and six-party talks process in a bid to uphold the peace and stability in Northeast Asia."’
Nuclear Plant Crack
‘WASHINGTON (CN) - Progress Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting to discuss a half-inch gap in the concrete containment vessel at the Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant, in Florida. The plant is on Florida's west coast, about 80 miles north of Tampa. Progress Energy, which operates the plant, requested the meeting to give the NRC a status report on the company's efforts to evaluate the possible causes and extent of the recently discovered gap. The meeting will be held on Nov. 20 at the NRC's headquarters, and the public may observe and ask questions at the end. The nuclear facility is the third plant built as part of the 4,700 acre Crystal River Energy Complex which contains a single pressurized water reactor and four fossil fuel power plants.’
