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“Fast nuclear reactors” not the solution to plutonium wastes


Ultimately, however, the core problem may be that such new reactors don’t eliminate the nuclear waste that has piled up so much as transmute it. Even with a fleet of such fast reactors, nations would nonetheless require an ultimate home for radioactive waste, one reason that a 2010 M.I.T. report on spent nuclear fuel dismissed such fast reactors.  

Can Fast Reactors Speedily Solve Plutonium Problems? The U.K. is grappling with how to get rid of weapons-grade plutonium and may employ a novel reactor design to consume it Scientific American By David Biello  | March 21, 2012 The U.K. has nearly 100 metric tons of plutonium—dubbed “the element from hell” by some—that it doesn’t know what to do with. The island nation does not need the potent powder to construct more nuclear weapons, and spends billions of British pounds to ensure that others don’t steal it for that purpose. The unstable element, which will remain radioactive for millennia, is the residue of ill-fated efforts to recycle used nuclear fuel.

One solution under consideration is to recycle the plutonium yet further—by using it as fuel in a pair of new, so-called “fast” reactors. Such nuclear reactors can actually “consume” plutonium via fission (transforming it into other forms of nuclear waste that are not as useful for weapons). The U.K. is considering a plan to build two of General Electric’s PRISM fast reactors, the latest in a series of fast-reactor designs that for several decades have attempted with mixed success to handle plutonium and other radioactive waste from nuclear power. The idea remains that fast reactors, which get their name because the neutrons that initiate fission in the reactor are zipping about faster than those in a conventional reactor, could offer a speedy solution to cleaning some nasty nuclear waste, which fissions better with fast neutrons, while also providing electricity as a by-product.

The U.K. is hardly alone in struggling to cope with nuclear waste, whether plutonium or otherwise. Continue reading →

June 30, 2012 Posted by | Reference, reprocessing, UK | Leave a comment

Growing interest in UK for farming the wind and the sunlight

UK: Concern about energy security ‘sparks rise in interest in developing renewable schemes’ EADT 24, UK , June 24, 2012  Growing concern about climate change and energy security has sparked the country-wide development of renewable energy facilities and commercial interest from landowners and developers, says surveyors’ organisation RICS. Continue reading →

June 25, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

“Contracts For Difference” – the UK’s sneaky way to publicly subsidise nuclear power

‘Contracts for Difference’ are intended to provide support to low carbon technologies to aid their development and market viability. However, any subsidies that go towards nuclear energy from this source will lead to a corresponding reduction in the funds available for
developing new renewables technologies.

“It would be pure sophistry to try and claim that because the funds go directly from the customer to energy companies without entering the Treasury bank account, it is not a public subsidy. 

Committee must be recalled over nuclear subsidies, 20/06/2012  Following evidence from Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey MP, SNP members of the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee have written to the rest of the committee calling for it to be recalled.

New nuclear power stations planned by the UK Government could cost Scottish consumers billions of pounds. Concern has been expressed by industry figures such as in evidence to the House of Commons Energy & Climate Change Committee from Ian Marchant of SSE. Renewables industry representatives have expressed concern that the Department for Energy and Climate Change intends to use ‘contracts for difference’ to subsidise a new generation of nuclear energy. Continue reading →

June 22, 2012 Posted by | politics, secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | Leave a comment

UK Labor not all welcoming nuclear submarines for Wales

Labour split on nuclear policy for Wales? Wales Online, By David Williamson   Jun 21, 12   Labour MPs Martin Caton (Gower) and Paul Flynn (Newport West) have signed a Plaid Cymru-sponsored Early Day Motion attacking First Minister Carwyn Jones’ statement that nuclear submarines would be “more than welcome” in Wales….
http://blogs.walesonline.co.uk/devolution/2012/06/labour-split-on-nuclear-policy.html

June 22, 2012 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

UK nuclear test veterans take their legal battle to European Court of Human Rights.

Right to the top: Britain’s nuclear test veterans take battle for justice to Europe
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-nuclear-test-victims-to-take-887711
Victims of Britain’s ­nuclear tests are to take their fight for justice to the European Court of Human Rights.

More than 1,000 veterans of the atomic bomb tests carried out in the South Pacific in the 1950s are to ask judges in Strasbourg to rule on their ­demand for a trial accusing the Ministry of Defence of exposing them to radiation.

The veterans and their families claim they have since ­suffered from a catalogue of rare medical conditions, as well as miscarriages and birth defects, but courts here have banned hearings into most of their cases.

But now, as Prime Minister David Cameron comes under repeated fire for ignoring the terms of the Military Covenant which pledges to look after our servicemen, the vets are asking Europe to intervene. Continue reading →

June 20, 2012 Posted by | Legal, UK | 1 Comment

Scotland rejects Trident nuclear submarine plans

Scotland says no to nuclear weapons http://www.snp.org/media centre/news/2012/jun/scotland-says-no-nuclear-weapons 17/06/2012   The SNP has criticised the UK Government for its plans to spend £1 billion on a contract renewing the UK’s nuclear-armed submarines for Faslane, despite Scottish public opinion  consistently being against Trident. Continue reading →

June 20, 2012 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Trident nuclear submarine program a political minefield for UK’s coalition govt

Coalition faces split over Trident nuclear replacement As defence secretary confirms £1bn contract for plant, Lib Dems confirm campaign for alternative to Tory plans for 2016 Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent guardian.co.uk,  17 June 2012  A replacement for Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent will become highly contentious at the next general election after the Liberal Democrats confirmed that they will campaign for an alternative and the SNP rejected the presence of “weapons of mass destruction in our waters”. Continue reading →

June 20, 2012 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

East Sussex County Council says No to UK’s nuclear waste dump plan for Romney Marsh

Romney Marsh nuclear plan opposed by East Sussex County Council BBC News 13 June 12,  Proposals for a nuclear research and disposal facility at Romney Marsh in Kent have been opposed by East Sussex County Council. Continue reading →

June 14, 2012 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, UK | Leave a comment

Childhood leukaemia risk from very low exposure to ionising radiation

Natural gamma rays linked to childhood leukaemia, University of Oxford, 12 June 12,  A small but statistically significant link between risk of childhood leukaemia and the gamma rays we are all exposed to from our natural environment has been detected in a very large study led by Oxford University researchers.

Exposure to gamma rays from natural sources in the environment isn’t something that can readily be altered, but the study adds to our understanding of the small cancer risks associated with other low doses of radiation, such as from medical X-rays and CT scans. The findings demonstrate that there are small effects of radiation at very low doses.

Guidelines on exposure to low doses of radiation have largely been based on estimated risks from models using data from Japanese survivors of the atomic bombs, where radiation exposures were brief and very much higher. As a result, there have been some long-standing uncertainties about the extrapolation of these risks to low radiation doses.

The researchers conclude that the size of the increased risk of childhood leukaemia with natural gamma-ray exposure is consistent with these models and supports their continued use in radiation protection. The results of the study contradict the idea that there are no adverse radiation effects, or might even be beneficial effects, at these very low doses and dose rates. Continue reading →

June 13, 2012 Posted by | health, Reference, UK | Leave a comment

UK public kept in the dark on negotiations for nuclear power subsidy

SSE attacks secrecy of nuclear subsidy talks, Government negotiations with French energy giant EDF over subsidies for new nuclear power are being conducted in “a smoke-filled room”, the chief executive of rival company SSE claimed yesterday. Telegraph UK, By Emily Gosden  12 Jun 20122   Ian Marchant attacked the lack of transparency in the talks as he warned MPs on the energy select committee that ministers’ plans to reform the energy sector were so complex and risky as to leave consumers “paying a higher price”.

Under the proposals, companies building nuclear and renewable power generation would be guaranteed a return on their investment through contracts setting the price they will be paid for electricity…… in evidence to the committee, Mr Marchant said the Energy Secretary would
be agreeing long-term contracts “without any level of public scrutiny of what is being paid for, how much is being paid or why it is being paid at a particular level”.

“Consumers will be liable to pay for contracts, potentially for up to 40 years, which they have no visibility of, and no input into,” he warned….. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9327801/SSE-attacks-secrecy-of-nuclear-subsidy-talks.html

June 13, 2012 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | Leave a comment

UK’s nuclear power plans for Hinkley Point are ‘stumbling’

Hinkley Point plan hit by fresh criticism as police anticipate protest action  http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Hinkley-Point-plan-hit-fresh-criticism-police/story-16337609-detail/story.html, June 11, 2012 Western Daily Press Plans to build Britain’s first nuclear power station for 20 years in the West Country have been hit by a barrage of new criticism.

Police have warned that the massive construction project will become the focus of major protests and attract a small army of transient and foreign workers. Anti-nuclear campaigners say plans by EDF Energy to construct two reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset are “stumbling”, with 30 major issues still unresolved. Continue reading →

June 13, 2012 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, UK | Leave a comment

Yet again, radioactive materials found at Dalgety Bay, Scotland

More radiation discovered on beach, Google Hosted News, (UKPA) – 13 June 12 A third significantly radioactive particle has been recovered from a beach at the centre of a contamination scare, it has emerged. Tests are now being carried out on the particle found by scientists in front of the headland at Dalgety Bay, Fife at the end of April.
It was discovered outside the area which is cordoned-off to the public, but in a section of beach said to be used infrequently.
More than 2,000 radioactive particles are thought to have been uncovered since October last year, when high-activity radiation was found at the bay and parts of the beach were closed….. “The source, which further demonstrates the need for a comprehensive investigation
of the contamination, is currently undergoing testing.”
Radioactive material was found on the Dalgety Bay foreshore 22 years ago. The contamination is thought to stem from residue of radium-coated instrument panels used on military aircraft which were incinerated and put in landfill in the area at the end of the Second World War. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jAo-QrsuKQSJecRRyOFjfxRnjx8w?docId=N0240891339516232548A

June 13, 2012 Posted by | environment, UK | Leave a comment

Gloom in UK Parliament about the doubtful future of nuclear power

“It is a worry for the government that EDF is so downbeat. They are the only horse left in this race and if they falter it might mean the end of the whole [nuclear] programme.

The planned reforms, laid out in the government’s recent paper, have come under fire from some energy companies as a veiled subsidy for nuclear power

UK nuclear plans ‘need saving by David Cameron and Francois Hollande’ Commons committee chairman Tim Yeo says heads of state must intervene, after EDF casts doubt on its UK investment Fiona Harvey, environment correspondent guardian.co.uk,   12 June 2012  The prime minister must step in urgently to rescue the UK’s nuclear power programme, or risk it failing, a senior Tory has warned after French nuclear company EDF gave a downbeat report on the prospects for a new fleet of reactors in the UK.

Chairman of the influential energy and climate change committee and former Tory cabinet minister Tim Yeo said that Cameron must speak to his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, in order to decide what conditions are necessary for the state-owned French utility to fulfil its planned investment.

“This is something that can only be done by the heads of government of Britain and France,” he told the Guardian. “There may need to be special arrangements for nuclear [separate from the regulation and subsidy of other forms of power]. Given the size of this investment – billions and billions, with a return on investment coming well into the 2020s – this has to involve the heads of government.”
Yeo was speaking after the committee’s MPs questioned EDF Energy chief executive Vincent de Rivaz and several other energy company senior directors. De Rivaz was “very downbeat” on the prospects for new nuclear power stations, said Yeo. Continue reading →

June 13, 2012 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

UK’s Thorpe nuclear reprocessing plant not economically viable

Extending Thorp’s life would require investment “well in excess of £1bn”, the NDA said, including the construction of £600m of storage tanks for the highly-radioactive “liquor” that is produced by reprocessing.

“It would be very expensive to carry on much longer,” said Bill Hamilton, head of stakeholder relations at the NDA. “If there was a market out there, there would be a reason to invest, but there is no major appetite.”

Cumbria’s reprocessing plant to close Financial Times -8 June 12 By Rebecca Bream  One of the more problematic facilities in the UK nuclear industry, the Thorp reprocessing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, is set to close, reflecting a worldwide drop in demand for its services.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which is responsible for cleaning up the UK’s nuclear reactor sites and dealing with radioactive waste, said on Thursday that Thorp would close in 2018 when its existing reprocessing contracts end. Continue reading →

June 8, 2012 Posted by | reprocessing, UK | Leave a comment

Sellafield nuclear reprocessing to shut, but no plan for waste disposal!

and they still want to keep on making the stuff!

 the authority said it was “still many years from making final decisions on the design” of the dump and even where it would be located.

Construction on the UK’s national nuclear waste dump, to be built deep underground, is expected to start in 2075, though a location has not yet been chosen.


Controversial Thorp plant at Sellafield to be shut down, Irish Times, MARK HENNESSY, London Editor, 7 June 12, SELLAFIELD’S CONTROVERSIAL Thorp nuclear reprocessing plant is to close. The facility will be shut down in six years’ time, Britain’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has said.

The decision will mean that spent nuclear rods produced by the British nuclear industry after 2018 will have to be buried untreated in a temporary nuclear storage dump for up to a century.

“Our strategy to close Thorp following completion of the reprocessing contracts has potentially wider policy implications for spent fuel management in the UK,” the authority acknowledged. Continue reading →

June 8, 2012 Posted by | UK, wastes | Leave a comment

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