February, 2010

Palo Verde generation accounted for 61% of total Company generation in the twelve months ended December 31, 2009. The capacity factor for Palo Verde increased to 88.9% in 2009 from 84.4% in 2008 - By Linton Levy - Overview For the fourth quarter 2009, EE reported net income of $8.0 million, or $0.18 basic and diluted earnings per share. In the fourth quarter of 2008, EE reported net income...

“This agreement between NNSA and MEXT will help the United States and Japan expand on more than three decades of cooperation in nuclear nonproliferation areas critical for the security of both our countries,” - By April Murelio - Representatives from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) this week met with representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science...

Putin added that electric power consumption in Russia had resumed to the level recorded before the country was hit by the global economic crisis in 2008 - By Stephen Heiser - According to Russian news services, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on this week that the government would spend 53 billion rubles (1.76 billion U.S. dollars) on construction of new nuclear power plants.

Application for nuclear power integrates all performance improvement methods to meet and exceed INPO guidelines - By Vince Gilbert, Principal, Bentley, (formerly Enterprise Informatics) - The ongoing challenge nuclear generating companies face is how to continuously maintain and improve performance as consolidation continues. Consolidation occurs as a result of company mergers and nuclear...

Air Operated Turbine Bypass Control Valve and SVI II AP Digital Positioner Round out Solution - Edited by Chris Smith - Dresser Masoneilan has announced that it has completed the turbine bypass system replacement for the Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant in Crystal River, Fla.

The DoD’s RFP described a countermeasure as one that would be administered following exposure to ionizing radiation that will decrease incapacity and prolong survival by treating the gastrointestinal sub-syndrome of ARS - By April Murelio - Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. has announced that it has submitted a response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by The Department of Defense (DoD) for the...

CEZ made official notification that Westinghouse is to proceed in the tender process - By Linton Levy - Westinghouse Electric Company LLC has announced that it has been notified by CEZ that it has successfully complied with the qualification requirements stipulated in the Qualification Documentation for the public contract “Completion of the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant.”

Biggest public power company in U.S. takes on largest, most integrated project of its kind by a U.S. utility in history - By Chris Smith - The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the United States' largest public power company, has initiated fleet-wide use of IBM software solutions to help it achieve asset-management improvements across all its power facilities, including fossil, hydro, nuclear...

The Arrangement will enhance cooperation on civil nuclear energy and nonproliferation and facilitate joint training, exchanges, and seminars in nuclear safeguards and nuclear management systems - By Stephen Heiser - As part of a trip to strengthen partnerships in the Middle East, this week U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu signed an Implementing Arrangement on peaceful uses of nuclear energy...

The agency requires licensees to provide detailed reports at least once every two years on the financial investments and instruments that they have set aside to cover their future decommissioning costs - Source NRC - Good morning. The Commission will hear today from both staff and external stakeholders on decommissioning funding issues.

This is the first time MEPhI has engaged with a technology provider in this type of arrangement - By Stephen Heiser - Bentley Systems and the Russian National Research Nuclear University (MEPhI) , one of the most recognized technical universities in the world have signed an agreement to cooperate on nuclear power infrastructure progress. The agreement will lead to the creation of a Center of...

On February 17, 2010, an agreement in principle was announced among CPS Energy, NRG and its subsidiary Nuclear Innovation in North America (NINA), whereby NINA would acquire control of the STP 3 & 4 project, with an increase in ownership to 92.375% from 50% as part of a settlement of the litigation between the parties - By April Murelio - NRG Energy, Inc. for the year end December 31, 2009...

This program covers the building of new capacity (like Kusile and Medupi) and optimising existing fleets (such as retrofitting nuclear and coal plants such as Koeberg and Arnot) - By Linton Levy - Alstom has won a contract worth $122.4 Million (€90 Million) for the automation of Eskom’s latest thermal power plant project, Kusile. Alstom Power will engineer, supply and install its latest ALSPA...

Searete’s Deflagration Wave Reactor - By Duncan Williams - Searete’s deflagration wave reactor is one of the newest designs of reactor power plants to emerge during the most recent nuclear renaissance. Only existing on paper, the design is markedly different from previous designs. For example, at the heart of Searete’s reactor is a cylindrical-shaped nuclear fuel laying on its side. The fuel...

Survey of U.S. electric utilities reflects impact of economy, regulatory uncertainty, and role of nuclear power - By Stephen Heiser - Black & Veatch has released the results of its fourth annual survey of U.S. electric power industry leaders. The survey showed reliability of the electric grid, regulatory issues and long-term investment as overall top concerns.

The Commission and the other program offices benefit greatly from the office’s consistently high-quality analyses and reports - Source NRC - Good morning. Today, the office of Nuclear Regulatory Research will brief the Commission on the status of the important programs under its supervision. The agency’s regulatory research programs advance our mission by providing the advice, tools, and information...

U.S. Secretary of Energy posts his thoughts about nuclear power on his Face Book page - Edited by April Muurelio- Steven Chu: Why We Need More Nuclear PowerSteven Chu's Notes Why We Need More Nuclear Power There has been a vigorous discussion here on Facebook since my last post about President Obama's announcement of a loan guarantee for what will become the first nuclear power...

Year-over-year GAAP results primarily reflect the 2009 gain on the EDF transaction, as compared to merger-related costs and impairment losses incurred during 2008 - By Stephen Heiser Constellation Energy has reported adjusted earnings of $3.36 per share for the full year 2009, compared to $3.57 per share in 2008. Adjusted earnings exclude the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles...

This recent agreement paves the way for a long-term partnership between AREVA and JAEC in the development of Jordan’s nuclear power generation program - By Stephen Heiser - His Excellency Mr Abu Hammour, Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Jordan, His Excellency Dr Khaled Toukan, Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of AREVA, and Jean-Jacques Gautrot...

Obama said on the campaign trail and reiterated in his State of the Union address that nuclear power should be part of the mix that helps march the U.S. towards lesser dependence on imported foreign oil - By Press Associates, Inc - For the nation’s construction unions, President Barack Obama’s announcement of $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees to speed the construction of a new nuclear...

“This is an excellent opportunity for the talented individuals who comprise the nuclear security enterprise to showcase their work to a national and international audience,” - By Stephen Heiser - Researchers, scientists, physicists and engineers from across the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) enterprise presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS...

“The Korean government is very interested in the outcome of their discussions, which I hope will proceed smoothly. I would like to express the government’s full support for their business activities.” - By April Murelio - The Korean government has taken an official stance on a potential deal with Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEHI) and KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation...

The company's business is primarily in the power industry with customers using the ER product suite in over 100 nuclear and fossil units in North America and Europe - By Stephen Heiser - Insert Key Solutions (IKS) is a software company which specializes in delivering Equipment Reliability (ER) and Site Security solutions to the power industry. IKS combines software technology and business...

NRC Issues Summary Of Performance And Financial Information For Fiscal Year 2009 - Source NRC - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued its report, NRC Summary of Performance and Financial Information, Fiscal Year 2009. This report summarizes the NRC’s performance to protect people and the environment through the regulation of nuclear power and use of nuclear material.

Manufacturers support a robust nuclear power industry because it is a reliable low-cost, clean energy that supports a sustainable growth agenda and helps manufacturers compete globally - Edited by Linton Levy - Following the announcement by President Obama and the U.S. Department of Energy to issue federal loan guarantees for two new nuclear reactors, National Association of Manufacturers ...