2011 January 15 « nuclear-news

In the mind of a nuclear missile man

Missile training fosters an unquestioning, automation mentality. I was trained to be a cog in the machine: Orders were orders, and a lawful command from the president was not subject to debate or dissonance.

Every missileer is carefully screened for mental aptitude and stability, yet they’re evaluated for their readiness to unleash hell.

In Nuclear Silos, Death Wears a Snuggie | Danger Room | Wired.com,

By John Noonan

January 14, 2011

“………America and her nuclear warriors have an odd relationship. For decades, missileers (as we’re known in the military) have quietly performed their duties, custodians of a dying breed of weapon. But American citizens have no real connection with the shadowy operators who stand the old posts of the Cold War, despite the fact that they spend up to $8 billion a year to maintain our country’s nuclear deterrent. The truth is the job is an awesome responsibility, but it’s deeply weird………….. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Religion and ethics, USA | 1 Comment

Energy storage solutions for renewable energy

These forms of electricity storage are all likely to be needed, and they should be considered in conjunction with the much higher levels of renewable energy that will be required to “decarbonise” the electricity supply, which experts say will be necessary if global targets to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, compared with 1990 levels, are to be met.

Electricity storage: holy grail of the renewables industry, FT.com, By Fiona Harvey, Environment CorrespondentPublished: January 14 2011 Storing electricity reliably, safely and cheaply has long been the holy grail of the alternative energy industry. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, energy storage | Leave a comment

Los Angeles success with renewable energy

LA’s Department of Water and Power Celebrates Renewable Energy Goal, Get Solar.com, January 14th 2011 The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, shared some good news with city residents this week: LA’s Department of Water and Power managed to secure 20 percent of its power from renewable sources, including solar power, in 2010…….. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

International push to indoctrinate Indian public on virtues of nuclear power

aims at creating public awareness about the benefits nuclear energy and its applications……

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano to visit Mumbai, Kalpakkam, Sify News, Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Geneal Yukiya Amano will visit the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) here next week and interact with top nuclear scientists in the city, Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, spinbuster | Leave a comment

Hard to convince public and regulators that mini nuclear reactors will be safe

there are still many obstacles in the path of the development of small reactors, of which the most difficult to overcome may be securing regulatory approval....

Mini nuclear: very small reactors will need huge sales effort, FT, By Ed Crooks January 14 2011 “…the hunt is on for a workable small reactor technology that uses the same fuel as most nuclear power plants today. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | technology, USA | Leave a comment

No new safer nuclear technologies

“But there are new and safer nuclear technologies!” No.

There are no new technologies that offer a solution for the waste or guarantee the safety of nuclear plants. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Nuclear power – the most expensive way to boil water

“But nuclear power is cheap!” No.

Nuclear power is often described as “the most expensive way to boil water.” Despite what the nuclear industry tells us, building enough nuclear power stations to make a meaningful reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would cost trillions of dollars. The construction costs of new nuclear power plants in Finland and France are soaring. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Scotland to lead North Sea region in renewable energy

Scotland will be at the heart of plans to deliver a North Sea offshore grid to interconnect European electricity networks,”

Scotland leading region in renewables – UPI.com, EDINBURGH, Scotland, Jan. 14 – Scotland has what it takes to lead regional plans in the North Sea to develop the offshore electricity grid, the Scottish energy minister said.The European community is looking to expand its offshore energy grid. The government in Edinburgh said it was working with England and nine other European countries to advance those efforts in the North Sea. Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Renewable energy storage going ahead in 2011

Perhaps the biggest news (not in terms of scale but in terms of significance) is that the first utility-scale battery storage system in the U.S. is now in commercial operation….2011’s shaping up for a strong year for energy storage.

Energy Storage on the Grid in the New Year , Reuters By Eric Bloom at Eric Bloom Jan 13, 2011 1: The new year brings some good pieces of news on the energy storage front. If the first week of 2011 is any indication of trends to come over the next 12 months, there’s much to look forward to in the area of utility-scale energy storage Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | energy storage, USA | Leave a comment

Safety and costs concerns stall Taiwan’s nuclear program

Taiwan May Delay Startup of its Fourth Nuclear Plant, BusinessWeek, by Yu-Huay Sun in Taipei January 14, 2011 (Bloomberg) — Taiwan Power Co. may delay the startup of the island’s fourth nuclear plant for the fifth time since the state-run utility proposed the project in 1980………..Taipower, the island’s monopoly grid operator, had postponed four times the start of the No. 4 plant, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Taipei, because of safety concerns and rising construction costs. The project costs about NT$280 billion ($9.65 billion), according to Huang. Taiwan May Delay Startup of its Fourth Nuclear Plant – BusinessWeek

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Renewable energy sector buoyant during 2010

Largest Renewable Energy Projects of 2010 SustainableBusiness.com News, 14 Jan 2011, A recently published round-up of the biggest renewable energy projects completed during the year shows that, despite the global recession, the renewable energy sector remained buoyant during 2010. The list of record-breaking projects was put together by the editors of Renewable Energy World: Continue reading →

January 15, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment