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9,200 green collar jobs in wind energy, UK

Highlighting the growth of renewable energy in the UK – both at onshore and offshore wind energy sites and domestic installations – the number of jobs increased to around 9,200 last year.

Wind power industry employment grows 91%, Energy Saving Trust, by Emily Thomas, 03 February 2011, Employment in the wind power industry has surged 91 per cent in the past three years, according to figures from a study by RenewableUK and the EU Sector Skills Council for the Power Sector.

Highlighting the growth of renewable energy in the UK – both at onshore and offshore wind energy sites and domestic installations – the number of jobs increased to around 9,200 last year. In 2007 there were just 4,800 jobs in the industry.Including tidal power and small-scale wind turbines, there are around 10,800 people employed in the UK’s energy industry.

Maria McCaffery, chief executive of the lobby group, told Bloomberg: “The growth in these technologies as well as small wind systems and marine is set not just to continue but accelerate, further driving employment.”

Reports suggest that as more homeowners sign up to the government’s Green Deal and install wind turbines in their property, this will boost the number of installation and manufacturing jobs to cope with demand.

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Wind power industry employment grows 91% / Policy / Energy saving news / Resources / UK Home – Energy Saving Trust

February 4, 2011 Posted by | employment, renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Protestors highlight storm dangers to nuclear plant

“One storm and the beach in front of Sizewell can be gone and the waves will be lapping at the foundations of the nuclear plant.”

Protest blocks Sizewell nuclear power station entrance, BBC News, 2 February 2011, Protesters dressed as fish locked themselves together and blocked the entrance to Sizewell nuclear station in Suffolk for three hours on Wednesday. Continue reading →

February 3, 2011 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, UK | Leave a comment

UK public’s radiation levels raised, due to medical radiation

Medical examinations raise radiation levels, Personnel Today, (UK) 01 February 2011 Greater use of X-rays over the last 10 years, including a 140% increase in CT examinations, has raised the annual radiation dose that the UK public receives, health watchdog the Health Protection Agency has concluded. Continue reading →

February 2, 2011 Posted by | health, UK | Leave a comment

UK’s plan for new nuclear plants add to danger of Sellafield radioactive waste problem

Experts in the field say the ongoing problems at Sellafield are worrying, especially in light of the possibility of waste that will be created from new-build nuclear…The consultation process on how to deal with nuclear waste and new nuclear plants across the country has been clearly lacking,

Sellafield is where we house the toxic legacy of our failed nuclear industry’ Industry experts say the government must deal with legacy waste before committing to new nuclear in the UK Nidhi Prakash,   27 January 2011,   guardian.co.uk There are many uncertainties about the renaissance of nuclear power in the UK, particularly surrounding the level of public subsidy, but one thing remains constant: the industry’s waste problem hasn’t gone away. Continue reading →

January 28, 2011 Posted by | decommission reactor, UK, wastes | Leave a comment

UK’s Trident nuclear weapons not as secure as they used to be

Defence cuts threaten Trident nuclear safety, warns MoD Staff shortages and cash squeeze revealed by Ministry of Defence watchdog pose unacceptable risk, says ex-safety chief ,  Rob Edwards guardian.co.uk,  27 January 2011 The safety of Britain’s nuclear weapons and submarines is being jeopardised by staff shortages and spending cuts, according to secret Ministry of Defence reports. The MoD’s nuclear safety watchdog has warned it can no longer ensure Trident warheads and nuclear submarines “remain safe”. There was a “lack of adequate resource to deliver (and regulate) the defence nuclear programmes safely”……….Defence cuts threaten Trident nuclear safety, warns MoD | World news | The Guardian

January 28, 2011 Posted by | safety, UK | Leave a comment

British MPs cast doubt on nuclear power plans

The MPs’ report also cast doubt on current plans to make sure there is a deep hole for disposing of radioactive waste within 110 years. It called on the Government to insist that there are sufficient interim ways of storing the material before allowing new plants to be built…….. it argued Britain remains unlikely to get the £200bn of investment in new generation that it needs…

MPs ‘sceptical’ that nuclear power stations will be built on time,  Telegraph UK, 26 Jan 2011, Energy companies are unlikely to build all the UK’s planned nuclear power stations on time, according to an influential committee of MPs. By Rowena Mason Continue reading →

January 27, 2011 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Rising financial problems face nuclear industry in UK

Full insurance cover for the consequences of nuclear accidents is generally impossible to obtain because of the potential liabilities. The government said it might be prepared to provide reinsurance under these circumstances.

Nuclear clean-up costs face big rise, FT.com / UK , By David Blair,   January 24 2011 Companies operating nuclear power stations in Britain could be liable for clean-up costs of up to €1.2bn (£1.01bn) in the event of an accident – a seven-fold increase on the present maximum. Continue reading →

January 27, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, UK | Leave a comment

French nuclear company EDF faces risky investment in UK plants

In the UK the coalition wants energy companies to spend some £40bn on constructing nuclear generators at eight sites in England – and to do so without any direct public subsidy. Moreover, no nuclear power plant in Britain has been completed on time and on budget.

(UK) Uncharted waters entice French group, FT.com, By David Blair,   January 26 2011 The coalition must make 2011 the “year of delivery” for its electricity market reforms if new nuclear power stations are to go ahead, according to the leader of a joint venture aiming to complete the first reactor. Continue reading →

January 27, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, UK | 1 Comment

More catastrophic than Chernobyl: danger of a Sellafield nuclear accident

Actual meteorological data from 2008 suggests wind direction and heavy precipitation would disperse fallout that was seven times worse than 1986’s Chernobyl accident.

Sellafield potential disaster for Norwegian food industry The Foreigner — Norwegian News in English,  by Michael Sandelson and Nicoleta-Madalina Sincan.  25th January 2011 An accident at Britain’s Sellafield nuclear processing plant could have catastrophic consequences for western Norway’s food production, according to a new report. Continue reading →

January 26, 2011 Posted by | safety, UK | Leave a comment

UK wanting to increase nuclear operators’ liability for accidents

no company can obtain insurance against a nuclear accident – or would want to shoulder the risk themselves – because the costs could potentially be limitless.

Nuclear power generators will face £1bn in clean-up costs after an accident At present any operator of a nuclear site only has to pay the first £140m towards clean-up costs with the taxpayer contributing the  Guardian UK, Tim Webb ,  23 January 2011 Continue reading →

January 23, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, UK | Leave a comment

More jobs in wind power for UK

Britain had moved to the world’s leading position in installed offshore wind capacity at 1,341 megawatts (MW), followed by Denmark and the Netherlands…

Wind power firms plan UK sites, to create jobs | Reuters, By Karolin Schaps LONDON Jan 20, 2011 – Three global wind farm companies stepped up their commitment to Britain’s growing renewable energy industry on Thursday by announcing plans to build factories and research centers, creating up to 1,400 jobs. Continue reading →

January 22, 2011 Posted by | employment, renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Fire in old nuclear power station in Britain

Bradwell nuclear power station hit by fire, BBC News -21 January 2011 Bradwell nuclear power station hit by fireA fire has broken out at a disused nuclear power station in Essex.Twelve fire crews were called to the blaze in a condenser unit, measuring four by six metres, at Bradwell Power Station at about 1230 GMT. Assistant Divisional Officer Neil Fenwick, of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service, said titanium rods were being broken down and caught fire.An Essex fire service spokesman said the blaze was brought under control by 1430 GMT.A spokeswoman from Bradwell Power Station said: “The immediate vicinity was made safe and evacuated and the emergency services called who then promptly extinguished the fire….. BBC News – Bradwell nuclear power station hit by fire

January 22, 2011 Posted by | safety, UK | 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 | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Britain’s mock “GREEN” Investment Bank to fund nuclear power!

Caroline Lucas, the Green party MP who sits on the committee, said: “Nuclear is not green in my view. But it’s not new in anyone’s mind. Funding nuclear makes a mockery of the whole idea of a Green Investment Bank”

Green investment bank could help to build nuclear reactors The Conservatives’ pre-election manifesto promised that the bank would finance ‘new green technology start-ups’  Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk,   13 January 201 The government’s Green Investment Bank could fund the building of new nuclear reactors, it has emerged. Continue reading →

January 14, 2011 Posted by | spinbuster, UK | Leave a comment

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority says all of UK’s high level radioactive waste is at Sellafield

NDA: ‘No plans to send high-level nuke waste to Sellafield’ , Whitehaven News by Alan Irving, 13 January 2011 THE Nuclear Decommissioning Authority says it has no plans whatsoever to send high-level radioactive materials to Sellafield. Copeland’s MP Jamie Reed has raised Parliamentary questions over claims that high-level waste might come to Sellafield from other UK nuclear sites. Continue reading →

January 14, 2011 Posted by | UK, wastes | Leave a comment

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