Japan leans toward zero nuclear stance, caution remains

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/uk-japan-nuclear-idUKBRE87S09E20120829

(Reuters) – Japan‘s government, wary of public opinion ahead of an election, is leaning toward setting a target to eliminate atomic power by 2030 – a major policy shift for an economy that had planned to boost the role of nuclear energy before the Fukushima crisis.

Such a decision would fly in the face of objections from big business lobbies, which say an aggressive programme to exit nuclear power will boost electricity rates and force companies to move production – and jobs – overseas.

Feldman rejected suggestions that an abrupt policy change would prompt firms to move overseas “because it takes a static view of technology. Why would technology stop in its tracks?”

But Noda’s party is split and the prime minister seems reluctant to wean Japan from nuclear power too soon. “There are many people who say different things and no one can say whether the government will choose zero or 15 percent at this point,” said a source with knowledge of the debate.

Some experts still expect the government to pick the 15 percent scenario, the logical outcome if reactors are shut after 40 years as required “in principle” by law, and no new reactors are built.

Arai, who favours the 15 percent solution, echoed the concerns. “If we move faster, technological and system development and huge changes in society will be needed,” he said.

“I don’t think that is possible in 15-20 years.”

Germany Hits Brakes on Race to Renewable Energy Future

08/28/2012

[…]

Many scoffed at the initial target that Chancellor Angela Merkel set last June, when she announced that Germany was turning away from nuclear power and toward renewable energies. Her government decided that by 2020 renewables would make up a 35 percent share of the energy mix. It was, said many experts at the time, an impossible goal.

[…]

In the 14 months since then, however, the situation has changed dramatically. In the first half of 2012, the country generated fully 25 percent of its electricity needs via wind, solar and other alternative power sources. Doubts as to whether the 35 percent target is attainable have virtually vanished.

Now a new set of problems have cropped up, and quickly. The fast pace into the renewables future has meant that German consumers are faced with skyrocketingelectricity bills and that the country’s energy grid has suddenly become outdated. Indeed, Environment Minister Peter Altmaier now finds himself in the awkward position of having to put the brakes on the country’s energy revolution.

[…]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-addresses-problems-with-renewable-energy-subsidy-system-a-852549.html

GE, Gama Complete Turkish Wind Farm As Country Boosts Renewables

By Sally Bakewell – Jul 24, 2012

[…]

General Electric Co. (GE), the biggest U.S. maker of wind turbines, completed its second wind farm project in Turkey with Gama Holding AS.

The 10-megawatt Karadag farm in Izmir started generating electricity this month using four turbines, each with a 2.5- megawatt capacity, GE, based in Fairfield, Connecticut, said today in an e-mailed statement.

Turkey, seeking to get 30 percent of its power from renewables by 2023, is a “strategic growth area for GE,” according to the statement.

[…]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-24/ge-gama-complete-turkish-wind-farm-as-country-boosts-renewables.html

August 29, 2012 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized