News 2012 Key, reports relating to:
May 23 UK cimate adviser says low-carbon mix saves $150 bln (Bloomberg). 20 We can let fission fizzle out in a renewable world (New Scientist). Germany and many other countries have no facility for the final storage of nuclear waste. That's a bit like taking off in an aeroplane without having a proper landing strip ready. 17 Ministers urged to clarify nuclear cost overruns (The Telegraph). 16 EDF slumps after nuclear price concerns trigger stock downgrade (Bloomberg Business Week). 16 Greenpeace mounts Hinkley Point legal challenge (Utility Week). 15 Solar photovoltaics: big market in 2012, big changes ahead (European Photovoltaic Industry Association, press release). 13 Centrica stokes energy fears by revealing EDF nuclear timescale has doubled (The Telegraph). 12 European energy chief puts forward case for funding coal (The Guardian). 10 Goodbye nuclear power: Germany's renewable energy revolution (The Guardian). 9 Hanford nuclear waste cleanup plant may be too dangerous (Scientific American). 7 Call a truce in the no-winners solar war (Financial Times, Jeremy Leggett). 6 Four must-see charts show why renewable energy is disruptive – in a good way (Climate Progress). 3 Irish group mounts case against new Hinkley nuclear plant (Energy Live News). 2 Austria makes formal objection to UK nuclear plans (Newsnet Scotland). 1 UK nuclear power plans are 'Soviet', says EU energy commissioner (The Guardian). See also Twitter row after Oettinger dubs UK nuclear plans ‘Soviet’ (Euractiv, 2013-04-30). April 29 Electricity reforms under threat as top civil servant resigns (The Guardian). 28 A question for the Quod: Who will fund new nuclear? (Financial Times). 26 Share of renewable energy up to 13% of energy consumption in the EU27 in 2011 (Europa press release). 26 EDF deal brings Chinese involvement in UK nuclear programme a step closer (The Guardian). 24 Join Germany's green revolution (New Scientist). 24 New inquiry launched on energy subsidies in the UK (Commons Select Committee, press release). 24 Will the public subsidise new nuclear? (The Carbon Brief). 24 MPs point to £2.3bn annual nuclear subsidy (Financial Times). 24 Nuclear accidents: the guilty should pay, not the innocent (Greenpeace International, Justin McKeating). 23 EDF cuts spending on planned Hinkley nuclear power plant (BBC News). 22 Treasury admits 'mistake' over nuclear power cost (SNP press release). 22 The need and necessity of an EU-wide renewable energy target for 2030 (Ecofys, April 2013). 22 Fracking 'unlikely to give UK cheap gas', report says (The Independent). 22 The international case for developing shale gas in China (Financial Times). 21 Am I paying a lot for 'green' energy? (The Observer). 21 Former Toronto mayor calls for buildings investment (The Scotsman). 20 Delayed nuclear deal faces inquiry (The Telegraph). 19 Why is the National Trust investing in renewables while fighting a windfarm? (The Guardian). 14 SF Planning advice is ignored over building near nuclear sites (The Observer). 11 EU approval for UK CfDs could be delayed by lack of transparency (ICIS). 11 'Most energy-efficient' LED light revealed by Philips (BBC News). 11 What does Warren Buffett see in solar? (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 11 What the Dickens? (The Independent, letter from Dr David Lowry, scroll down). 10 Mixed Greens: Portugal hits 60 per cent renewables (RE New Economy). 9 Shale-rich Spanish region votes to ban fracking (Euractiv). 9 More than 1,000 firms demand end to EU-China solar PV trade war (The Guardian). 8 Open letter raises concerns over government nuclear secrecy (The Carbon Brief). 8 EDF ‘in big trouble’ says French nuclear expert (The Telegraph). 8 Germany’s energy stock-take: more power to the people (RE New Economy). 6 MPs and academics call for National Audit Office to review nuclear negotiations (The Sunday Telegraph). 6 Olympics chief Lord Deighton to bring nuclear power stations to Britain (The Telegraph). 5 SF Europe queries nuclear safety of airport plan (Rye & Battle Observer). 4 Davey plays it cool on nuclear negotiations (Utility Week). 3 100% renewables and higher: the new trend in energy targets (RE New Economy). See also 100 percent renewable vision building (RenewableEnergyWorld.com, 2013-04-04). 2 Poland's nuclear plant project needs state backing-PM (Reuters). 2 Nuclear power may have saved 1.8 million lives otherwise lost to fossil fuels, may save up to 7 million more (Scientific American). 2 German energy surplus quadruples despite renewable push (The Telegraph). 2 Nuclear power – yesterday’s technology? (Financial Times). 2 Wind power costs UK consumer just 10 pounds a year (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 2 UK electricity market reform and the EU (PDF, The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Malcolm Keay). 1 Powering world with nuclear would cost quadrillion dollars, says expert - are renewables only option? (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 1 Japan's Marubeni taps geothermal power as nuclear alternative (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 1 Citigroup: how solar module prices could fall to 25c/watt (RE New Economy). 1 Costly renewable energy 'will damage UK's economy' (The Independent). March 31 Triple whammy for solar sector (Scotsman). 28 U.K. renewable power grows 20 percent on new offshore wind farms (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). See also Wind power in the UK and Ireland: growing, reliable and making Donald Trump’s hair stand up (Climate Progress, 2013-03-28). 28 UK's CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (The Guardian). 28 Non-nuclear future (The Guardian, letter from Professor David Elliott). 28 Opportunity for India to fuel UK power plant growth (The Times of India). 27 Nuclear industrial strategy outlines Government commitment to growing nuclear energy provision, says expert (Out-Law.com). 27 EU energy chief calls for no new taxes as talks begin on 2030 climate targets (The Guardian). See also EU energy chief warns against new taxes if sector to remain competitive (The Guardian, 2013-03-28). 27 Renewable energy providers to help bear cost of new UK nuclear reactors (The Guardian). The new reactors planned by EDF for Hinkley Point are significantly larger than any existing power stations, meaning the national grid has to pay for extra standby electricity to stop the grid crashing if one of the reactors unexpectedly goes offline. 27 Renewable energy offers better choice for families hit by huge hike in cost of gas (RenewableUK press release). 26 Asia’s accelerating energy revolution (Rocky Mountain Institute). 26 Nuclear-free future not an option for UK energy strategy, says chief adviser (The Guardian). 24 SF Wind turbines, a new airport and an atomic plant threaten historic wetlands (The Observer). Currently Lydd receives the occasional light aircraft. But approval for a runway extension would allow large commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320, which can weigh over 70 tonnes fully loaded. The operators of Dungeness B, the French energy giant EDF, opposed the application, warning that it would increase the risk of a nuclear accident. "The large increase in air traffic around the site is a risk that should be sensibly avoided in the local and wider public interest," EDF argued in its submission. 23 Too much green energy is bad for Britain (The Telegraph). 22 The clouds are getting greener: Apple data centers powered by 100% renewables (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 22 The best thing about shale gas: we know where it is (Forbes). 20 Budget 2013: £40bn infrastructure scheme could help underwrite nuclear projects (The Telegraph). State-backed EDF is understood not to have asked for guarantees to underpin the construction phase at Hinkley Point, with talks focused on the “strike price” – the amount the Government commits to pay for electricity from the plant. But Japan’s Hitachi, which last year bought the Horizon business that plans to build new reactors at Wylfa on Anglesey and Oldbury, near Bristol, is thought to be more interested in some sort of guarantee during the initial construction stage – not least as it tries to bring other investors into the consortium. 21 British nuclear support plans flout EU rules - lawyers (Reuters). Britain's plans to reward nuclear plant operators through fixed prices for low-carbon energy are illegal under existing EU rules and efforts to adapt them are likely to draw opposition from other member states, EU and legal sources said. 21 UK nuclear deal could "displace" precious renewables funding (Renewable Energy Focus). Investment in renewable energy in the UK could be at risk if construction on EDF’s Hinkley Point nuclear power station – the first nuclear power station to receive planning approval in the UK since Sizewell B over two decades ago- is allowed to proceed, according to environmental group Greenpeace. See also Nuclear boss wants to cut family fuel aid (The Independent, 2013-03-17). Chief of French company poised to build reactors in Britain also argues against European subsidies for renewable energy. 20 Google explains why the future of energy is green (Forbes). Google isn’t investing billions into clean energy projects only to feel good and make employees happy. The company is doing it because the bottom-line results are supported by data. 19 Give help to small renewables firms (The Guardian, letter from Dr Dave Toke and others). 18 Can a divestment campaign move the fossil fuel industry? (The Guardian). 15 "I'm worried about consumers’ bills": Energy firm boss blasts long price deals to encourage new nuclear plants (Mirror Money). The chief exec of RWE npower said contracts lasting up to 35 years, to guarantee generators a minimum price for electricity, would be “wrong”. See also Pressure builds on government to deny EDF demands (Dave Toke's blog, 2013-03-15). 14 France predict cost of nuclear disaster to be over three times their GDP (Oil Price). 14 The Big Bang Fair: a distorted view of the value of science (Scientists for Global Responsibility). 14 Nuclear power plans threatened by European commission investigation (The Guardian). 13 EDF raises heat at Hinkley C over price (Financial Times). 13 Prime Minister to make £50 billion bet (press release from Jonathon Porritt, Tom Burke, Tony Juniper and Charles Secrett). See also Letter from Jonathon Porritt, Tom Burke, Tony Juniper and Charles Secrett to the Prime Minister. 13 Surge in renewable energy as solar panel prices plummet (The Guardian). 11 The New Energy System is winning the fight for the future (Catherine Mitchell blog). 11 Anti-nuclear campaigners stage protest on Menai Suspension Bridge (Daily Post). 12 EDF and UK to sign a 35-year nuclear deal (Energy Market Price). 12 UK at forefront of European nuclear expansion (DECC press release). 11 Nuclear reactor operators must be financially liable for disasters (The Guardian, Antony Froggatt). 10 No Dash for Gas campaigners set up anti-EDF website (The Guardian). 10 EDF subsidy to put UK on nuclear path (The Independent). 8 They profit, you pay: the shocking nuclear reality (The Huffington Post). On three continents, in three times zones, the message was the same: Nuclear operators and their suppliers should be held fully responsible for a nuclear disaster. 7 British Gas is organising blackouts for 2017 to maximise its profits (Michael Meacher). 4 Nuclear emergency 'reinforces need for Severn Barrage' - Peter Hain (Wales Online). Anglesey Labour MP Albert Owen and fellow members of the cross-party energy and climate change committee will today urge ministers to stop “crossing their fingers” and “urgently develop a back-up energy strategy”. 3 Solar report stunner: unsubsidized 'grid parity has been reached in India', Italy–with more countries coming in 2014 (Climate Progress). 1 Offshore wind farm developer DONG Energy claims it can beat government cost target (The Telegraph). February 25 Exclusive: Could renewables provide the key to restoring trust in the energy industry? (Business Green). A series of surveys have revealed a clear majority of people are more favourable towards renewables than other forms of energy, and the Edelman survey reveals a similar story with trust in renewables standing at 60 per cent. 25 Finland rejection deals blow to Areva's nuclear export ambitions (Reuters). 25 British Gas creates 1,000 jobs in green sector (The Telegraph). 25 100% renewable energy: becoming the new normal? (RE New Economy). 24 National Trust director-general: wind turbines are 'beautiful' (The Telegraph). 25 Don't let nuclear negotiations drag down renewables (Utility Week, Dave Toke).24 Letter about nuclear safety in Japan (The Independent, Dr David Lowry (scroll down)). 24 EDF faces calls to drop legal action against activists (The Guardian). 24 Nuclear power's place in a safer, cleaner Britain (The Guardian, letter from Dr David Lowry (scroll down)). 23 Wind farms will create more carbon dioxide, say scientists (The Telegraph). 23 EDF nuclear plan risks further delays (The Telegraph). The French utility giant's plan to build Britain's first new nuclear plants in a generation is unlikely to go ahead "before 2015 at the earliest and potentially much later" due to hurdles in winning EU state aid approval, according to rival SSE. 21 A reality check on the shale revolution (PDF, Nature, vol 494. 307-308, 2013). The production of shale gas and oil in the United States is overhyped and the costs are underestimated. 21 Abyss of uncertainty: Germany's homemade nuclear waste disaster (Spiegel Online). Some 126,000 barrels of nuclear waste have been dumped in the Asse II salt mine over the last 50 years. German politicians are pushing for a law promising their removal. But the safety, technical and financial hurdles are enormous, and experts warn that removal is more dangerous than leaving them put. 21 How 3D printing could revolutionise the solar energy industry (The Guardian). 21 EDF legal action is blow to the right of democratic protest (The Guardian, letter from John Sauven and others). 21 Does the UK need new nuclear? (Financial Times). 20 Now for the downside of fracking (The Telegraph). 20 RWE boss warns over nuclear plant subsidies (The Guardian). 19 Energy in the UK: the coming crunch (The Independent). 19 We cannot afford not to have nuclear in our low-carbon energy mix (The Guardian). 19 EDF confirms it wants 40-year contracts to build nuclear plants (The Guardian). See also The Liberal Democrats' nuclear tax bombshell (SpinWatch, Pete Roche, 2013-02-20). 18 Nuclear power: ministers offer reactor deal until 2050 (The Guardian). 13 New policy can put the EU on track to reach 100% renewable energy (WWF). 12 Report calls for huge expansion of experimental nuclear plants (The Guardian). 12 Colourful 'solar glass' means entire buildings can generate clean power (The Guardian). 11 German environment minister: 'we want to limit fracking' (The Guardian). 11 Wind power capacity grew 20% globally in 2012, figures show (The Guardian). Wind power expanded by almost 20% in 2012 around the world to reach a new peak of 282 gigawatts (GW) of total installed capacity, while solar power reached more than 100GW, having more than doubled in two years. ... In November, the International Energy Agency noted that low-carbon energy was growing quickly, driven largely by state subsidies. But the IEA highlighted that fossil fuels received six times more subsidy – $523bn in 2011, up 30% from 2010 – than low-carbon energy. 11 Scotland's green energy target 'would be threatened by independence vote' (The Guardian). 9 RWE warns on UK energy policy (The Telegraph). 8 Nuclear accident in France could cost more than EUR 400 billion, says IRSN (Nucnet). 7 Negotiations on new nuclear power plants 'need more scrutiny' (BBC News). 7 Renewables now cheaper than coal and gas in Australia (RE New Economy). See also Renewable energy ‘could run Australia’ (Climate News Network, Paul Brown, 2013-01-16). 4 Cameron's green economy speech - in full (Business Green). 4 Nuclear storage clean-up bill could cost £70bn (The Independent). See also Public Accounts Committee publishes report on Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: managing risk at Sellafield (UK Parliament, 2013-02-04). An enormous legacy of nuclear waste has been allowed to build up on the Sellafield site. Over decades, successive governments have failed to get to grips with this critical problem, to the point where the total lifetime cost of decommissioning the site has now reached £67.5 billion, and there’s no indication of when that cost will stop rising. 4 Centrica pulls out of new UK nuclear projects (BBC News). 4 Friends of the Earth says George Osborne creating 'bonanza' for oil firms (The Guardian). 2 Tories about to build biggest white elephant (Michael Meacher). The government is shortly set to announce its decision to go ahead with building a second Sellafield MOX plant (SMP) at a cost of £3bn. 1 From Somerset to Sellafield: it's a thumbs-down to storing nuclear waste (The Telegraph). See also Is it all over for Cumbrian nuclear waste store plans? (BBC News, 2013-02-01). January 31 Germany does not need a foreign nuclear power: Greenpeace presents study on nuclear power imports (Greenpeace, Germany). Report in English (PDF). 31 European Commission threatens feed-in tariffs for renewables (Dave Toke's green energy blog). 31 Cumbria sticks it to the nuclear dump lobby – despite all the carrots on offer (The Guardian). 31 European Parliament safety ruling to cost nuclear sector $33bn (Power Engineering). 30 Wind energy 'could deliver £2.3bn boost for economy' (BBC News). 30 Taxpayer billions could be secretly funnelled to EDF to underwrite cost of proposed power station at Hinkley Point (The Independent). MPs: Nuclear support to be kept secret (Greenpeace, Doug Parr, 2013-01-30). It is scandalous that these coalition MPs, who are there to hold Government and Secretaries of State to account, have handed over such wide powers and have actively voted to allow the government to keep the public paying up in ignorance. 30 Nuclear expansion plan thwarted after Cumbria no vote to underground store (The Guardian). See also Cumbria rejects underground nuclear storage dump (The Guardian, 2013-01-30); Nuclear plans in disarray after Cumbria votes 'no' to radioactive dump (The Telegraph, 2013-01-30). Any new nuclear power stations built without long-term plans for how the waste will be buried would almost certainly be subject to legal challenges. 29 New thinking blog: book review of The Carbon Crunch (Catherine Mitchell). 25 Speech at World Economic Forum annual meeting (Europa, press release, Günther Oettinger). 25 "Nuclear operators should bear €25 billion cost of making Europe's reactors safer" (European Parliament). 24 EU referendum: Climate efforts could be 'collateral damage', warn MEPs (The Guardian). 24 UK and Ireland sign pact on renewable energy trading (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 23 Solar companies to sue UK government for £140m over feed-in tariff cuts (The Guardian). 22 'Suction bucket' lays new foundation for offshore wind (The Guardian). 22 What exactly is Germany's 'Energiewende'? (DW). 22 Renewable energy: the 99.9% solution (RE New Economy). A combination of wind and solar power and sophisticated energy storage systems could keep a power grid fully supplied between 90 and 99.9% of the time, at costs comparable with today’s fossil fuel and nuclear mix, according to a new study from Delaware in the United States. See also Solution to renewable energy's intermittency problem: more renewable energy (Scientific American, 2012-12-12). 21 Belgium plans to build island to store excess wind energy (RenewableEnergyWorld.com). 18 Germany's green revolution (PBS Video). A multiparty German plan to end that country’s use of fossil fuels by 2050. 18 Backing energy efficiency would help stave off a triple-dip recession (The Guardian). 17 Report: solar could meet all the world’s electricity needs in 2050 using under one percent of world’s land (Think Progress). 17 Climate Minister: 'Solar is coming of age' (Business Green). Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has predicted the coming years will see a surge in solar installations as the cost of the technology continues to fall and businesses and households realise solar panels offer an effective means of reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. 16 "Nuclear Roulette: the Truth About the Most Dangerous Energy Source on Earth" (Paperback) (Gar Smith). 16 Crown estate to invest £20m in wave and tidal power (The Guardian). 16 Italy and Spain set new records for solar generation (RE New Economy). 16 Historic move: IAEA shifts 47 Japanese reactors into “long-term shutdown” category (World Nuclear Industry Status Report). 15 Areva and EDF defend project costs (The Financial Times). 15 François Hollande: invest in renewable energy to avert 'catastrophe' (The Guardian). 15 Will connecting offshore wind to the grid really cost £17bn? (The Guardian). 15 Ed Davey: UK companies support decarbonising target (The Guardian). 15 François Hollande: invest in renewable energy to avert 'catastrophe' (The Guardian). 14 UK tidal power has huge potential, say scientists (BBC News). 11 US to build $120m rare earth research institute (BBC News). 11 EDF £3bn deal with Network Rail makes trains 'mainly nuclear powered' (The Guardian). 11 Coal-fired power dominates UK generation mix (Platts). 11 EDF may bring Chinese partner to UK nuclear deal-report (Reuters). See also EDF, China firm held British nuclear talks (Reuters, 2012-01-11). France's EDF remains in the hunt for a partner to build four nuclear reactors in Britain after talks were halted with China's GuangdongNuclear Power Corporation Holding (CGNPC), sources close to the talks said on Friday. 10 Cost agreement over new nuclear reactors powers up EDF talks (This is Money). 10 Mercury poisoning is a growing global menace we have to address (The Guardian). 10 Good Energy green lights first community wind farm tariff (Business Green). 9 Anglesey Council green-lights plans for Wales’ largest PV installation (Solar Power Portal). 9 Solar panels for Cambridge's Trinity College backed (BBC News). 6 Investors spooked by 'complex' UK Energy Bill (The Telegraph). 5 The unwelcome renaissance (The Economist). 2 EDF inquiry puts brakes on UK nuclear plans (Financial Times). 1 Solar energy on the rise in Germany (DW). Solar energy currently accounts for about 5 percent of the country's total electricity usage, the BSW said. The association aims to increase that number to 10 percent by 2020 and at least 20 percent by 2030. |