UK « nuclear-news

Breach of nuclear security at Sellafield nuclear plant

information on the stick that suggested that the International Atomic Energy Agency technicians visiting the site were not sufficiently briefed on health and safety regulations…..

Nuclear Station Suffers USB Data Breach | eWEEK Europe UK, 19 Oct 10, An investigation has begun after a USB stick containing sensitive information about Sellafield was found in a hotel room * By: Tom Jowitt * October 19, 2010 The data breach threat posed by USB sticks has once again been exposed after nuclear processing company Sellafield began an investigation into the loss of a USB device, said to contain information about its business operations. Continue reading →

October 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology | Leave a comment

Taxpayer will cop the bill for UK’s nuclear reactor wastes

The industry will only invest in new reactors if the government fixes a disposal levy to cover their contribution towards disposal in such a repository. The taxpayer will be liable for any shortfall if the actual costs exceed this levy decades from now.

Taxpayer could be hit by nuclear waste bill for new reactors• Fears new disposal levy could underestimate cost• Radioactive waste ‘could be traded like commodity’ Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk, 18 October 2010 The nuclear industry could end up passing on to taxpayers the costs of disposing of waste from new reactors under government plans, according to official documents seen by the Guardian. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment

Local communities shut out of UK nuclear site decisions

NE nuclear wait goes on The Northern Echo 18 Oct 10, “……..four ‘Evolutionary Power Reactors’ (EPR), to open by 2025, have already been allocated to EDF’s sites in Suffolk and Somerset. Two will be built at each…………Jim Footner, head of Greenpeace’s climate and energy campaign, said: “Local democracy is being kicked out of the door when it comes to nuclear sites.
Lib Dem supporters must be furious that local communities will have little say about nuclear power stations in their area, other than choosing the colour of the gates.”…..bigger sea defences must be built. Last year, ministers also admitted that nuclear waste will have to be stored on site for more than 100 years if the go-ahead is given.

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

New UK Trident nuclear submarines not ready before 2028

The decision means that the first of the new generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028 – around five years after the first Vanguard submarine is due to be withdrawn.

Trident nuclear deterrent replacement faces delay of up to five years guardian.co.uk, Wintour and Watt, 18 Oct 10, New generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028….. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

No subsidy for nuclear power plants, says UK govt

there will be no levy, direct payment or market support for electricity supplied or capacity provided by a private sector new nuclear operator, unless similar support is also made available more widely to other types of generation,” said Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change.

Subsidy for eight nuclear reactors rejected, FT.com, By Sylvia Pfeifer October 18 2010 Ministers said they would not rule out taking on “financial risks” as the government paved the way for eight new nuclear reactors, but they insisted there would be “no subsidy” for new nuclear power. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | 1 Comment

UK’s Ministry of Defence secretive over nuclear safety failures

The MoD has been trying since 2007 to keep the reports, which give a unique insight into the managing of Britain’s bomb, secret.

MoD papers reveal catalogue of nuclear safety failures – Herald Scotland | News Rob Edwards 17 Oct 2010 Potentially catastrophic lapses in nuclear weapons safety at the Clyde naval base have been exposed by secret Ministry of Defence reports released after a three-year freedom of information battle. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radioactive | Leave a comment

UK nuclear industry teetering as two sites dropped from plan

“The apparent withdrawal of these two sites, in the heartland of the nuclear industry, is excellent news for local people”. – Jean McSorley

(UK) Greenfield sites dropped from list of new nuclear reactors, Two sites in Cumbria appear to have been dropped from the government’s list of proposed areas for new reactors Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk, 13 October 2010 The government has scrapped plans to build nuclear reactors on greenfield sites, according to documents seen by the Guardian, in the latest blow to the industry’s stuttering programme. Continue reading →

October 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Export of renewable energy a prospect for UK

harnessing just over 75% of the available offshore energy resource would produce enough renewable power for the UK to power its own economy and export excess electricity to northern Europe. “

The rise of British sea power, guardian.co.uk, 13 Oct 10, Investment in offshore renewable technologies is making the prospect of the UK becoming a net exporter of energy a real possibility* James Murray * guardian.co.uk “….. energy industry experts convinced offshore wind farms and marine energy parks could produce more power than the UK needs. Continue reading →

October 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy | Leave a comment

Local solar energy flourishing with UK’s Feed In Tariff

“The scheme is delivering exactly what it was meant to do in terms of a rapid increase in the number of installations, creation of jobs and increase in the amount of renewable energy generated in this country

UK Solar Power Feed In Tariffs Delivering : Renewable Energy News, 5 Oct 10, Rooftop solar energy systems are driving uptake of the UK government’s pilot solar feed-in tariff scheme, Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decentralised, UK | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables, solar | Leave a comment

Taxpayer cops endlessly rising costs of decommissioning nuclear reactor

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said that costs changed over time and were constantly being reassessed.

Cost of clearing Suffolk nuclear plant set to soar to nearly £1bn – Norfolk News – EDP24, 4 Oct 10, The estimated cost of clearing the Sizewell A nuclear power station site on the east coast is now a massive £927m, according to new figures.Taxpayers will pick up most of the bill Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decommission reactor, UK | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Secrecy over six month shutdown of nuclear reactor

It’s our flagship nuclear power station and it’s been out of action for the last six months and the local people don’t know and have not been told enough about how or why.

(UK) Consultant speaks out over N-plant ‘secrecy’, East Anglian Daily Times, By Chris Harris Monday, 4 October, 2010 A NUCLEAR expert who co-founded Greenpeace UK has hit out at “secrecy” surrounding a Suffolk nuclear power station’s six-month closure. Continue reading →

October 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, reactors | Leave a comment

Dangerous ionising radiation lingers at Scottish beach

Some of the particles found on the foreshore near a sailing club used by thousands of families are so highly radioactive that they could be lethal if they found their way inside the body. According to Sepa, outside the body they are “hot” enough to cause radiation burns on exposed skin.

Visitors at risk as MoD stops radiation monitoring at resort – Herald Scotland | News, Rob Edwards, 3 Oct 2010The health of visitors to one of Scotland’s most popular coastal resorts is being put at risk from radioactive contamination because the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stopped monitoring the area. Continue reading →

October 4, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | 1 Comment

UK’s new Trident nuclear missiles likely to be postponed – forever

Postponing most of the investment until after the next general election—due by 2015—would make it easier for an incoming government to ditch Trident or, more likely, prevaricate for so long that it amounts to the same thing. That prospect pleases Lib Dems but dismays many Tory MPs,

(UK) The nuclear deterrent Gunning for Trident, The Economist, 1 Oct 10, The coalition government is divided over whether and to what extent Britain should remain a nuclear powerSep 30th 2010 “… Continue reading →

October 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

40 % renewable energy by 2020 – Northern Ireland sets target

Northern Ireland aims for 40% renewables by 2020 | Recycle.co.uk, September 29th, 2010 by Lucy Rees Northern Ireland has announced an ambitious new target to reach 40 per cent renewable energy by 2020.The scheme, which will require the construction of huge offshore wind farms to be reached, is aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on gas, coal and oil. Currently, less than 10 per cent of NI’s energy is generated by renewables, but what is being produced is currently in the form of land-based wind farms…..Energy Minister Ariene Foster stated that the targets, which have been detailed in the Strategic Energy Framework for Northern Ireland 2010, stress the need for immediate and effective action against global climate change. Additionally, the document highlights the need for the Government to address the issues of security and sustainability of the sector in terms of supply and cost.

Northern Ireland aims for 40% renewables by 2020 | Recycle.co.uk

September 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, wind | Leave a comment

Scotland economist calls for renewable energy funding

“The economics of the renewables industry are continually changing as new technologies are developed…..Part of this transition requires the end of financing of fossil fuels. RBS themselves need to redirect their own funding from fossil fuels to renewable energies.”..

Economist calls for radical thinking on funding of renewable energy Scotsman.com News : 27 September 2010 One of Scotland’s top economists has called for “radical thinking” by government and the public and private sectors to create the finance necessary to boost renewable energy potential.
Andrew McLaughlin, pictured, group chief economist at Royal Bank of Scotland Scotland has “more potential renewables resources than almost any other European country”.
………He said: “The economics of the renewables industry are also continually changing as new technologies are developed. These technologies will offer even greater benefits for us in the future, but investment must be channelled into the UK’s research and development establishments, otherwise we risk losing out to others around the world.”

Dan Barlow, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Part of this transition requires the end of financing of fossil fuels. RBS themselves need to redirect their own funding from fossil fuels to renewable energies.”..