August, 2010

The challenges and opportunities associated with a new energy grid and the data that comes with it Live Webcast Sept. 8, 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT Free registration – click here The modernization of electrical grids presents an opportunity to improve the efficient use of energy through analytics of energy consumption...

It is the second major nuclear energy contract in that country in the past year Turkey may have another major nuclear reactor deal in the works. According to English language press reports from Ankara, South Korea is positioned to sign contracts by November to build a $10 billion project. An energy official...

Another post in a continuing series to brighten up the start of your work week Put a lid on it Installing the dome on the Olkiluoto 3 reactor. Watch a powerful crane lift the 210 ton piece into place. Not breaking the bank to build a new reactor Clean Skies video news report on financing new nuclear...

There is no safety lapse when a reactor system works as designed The moral of a famous Aesop’s fable is wrapped up in the phrase “ the boy who cried wolf ". It has also become a figure of speech , meaning that one is calling for help when he or she does not really need it. It can also mean someone...

This post is a wrap up of highlights from a round robin of nuclear energy blogs. The Carnival is hosted each week at a different blog site. It’s quiet the week before Labor Day, but there’s always some nuclear news. At Next Big Future Brian Wang has an interesting update on the Pebble Bed reactor project...

If these two countries want nuclear energy, they have a strange way of showing it The political leaders of two countries that really need their nuclear reactors are pursuing the goal with all the grace and style of an oversized truck stuck in reverse. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is not backing...

Conference organizer offers free briefing As a celebration of Nuclear Energy Insider's inaugural Nuclear Investment and Project Finance Conference , they are giving away a presentation by Paul Murphy who was Senior Council - Legal and Risk Management at Bechtel. Simply go to the web site that hosts...

Global markets for sale of reactors are expanding Export of nuclear reactors is a growing business despite the global economic downturn. The most interesting aspect of it is that state-owned corporations in China, Russia, and France are the leading exporters of nuclear technology. In December 2009 a...

A mixed outlook indicates no sunny days in sight Florida Power & Light ( FPL ) looks like a boxer on the ropes when it comes to the issue of getting rate increases to fund operations and especially to pay for construction of new nuclear reactors. FPL’s relationship with the State of Florida Public...

More easy on the eyes stuff to help you start the work week Disposal of the Engineering Test Reactor in Idaho Removal of the Experimental Test Reactor at the Idaho Cleanup Project. This video includes some controlled demolition sequences. Crash test for nuclear fuel cask hit by railroad train at 100...

The utility will spend $248 million in 2011 on next steps to complete the 1,260 MW reactor The Tennessee Valley Authority ( TVA ) decided Aug 20 to spend nearly $900  million on development of nuclear energy in 2011.  It will invest $248 million to develop an option to complete the 1,260 MW...

This blog post is an edited version of a column published in Fuel Cycle Week , V9:N388, August 5, 2010, by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. International Isotope gains on application for $65 million DOE loan guarantee The Department of Energy has approved the first of a two-part application...

Bolton’s bogus bombast Foreign Policy Magazine has an excellent article that takes apart John Bolton’s alarming statement about the likelihood that Israel would bomb Iran’s uranium enrichment plants and the Russian built LWR at Bushehr . Fuel will be loaded into the reactor next week. Bolton (right)...

Nuclear industry group leads efforts to overcome regulatory barriers to commercial success Last winter the Nuclear Energy Institute ( NEI ) thought it might get 75-100 people to show up for a forum on small modular reactors (SMRs). The nuclear industry's flagship trade group was pleasantly surprised...

Planned tax on nation’s 17 reactors prompts a threat by utilities to shut them down As an idiomatic phrase, if something " backfires ," it means plans for a project have not worked out and with unanticipated negative consequences. It can also mean that the plans were not thought out deeply...

Another in the weekly series to brighten your first day back on the job All videos are absolutely safe for work. First light bulbs powered by nuclear energy This is a visual tour with interviews about EBR-1. How does a nuclear engineer turn on a light bulb? He plugs it into a reactor. Too bad all we...

Nonproliferation objectives get attention from Congress and China The Wall Street Journal reports Aug 3 that US talks with Vietnam about its plans to build nuclear reactors has “unsettled“ key members of Congress. The Hindu, one of India’s largest newspapers, reports Aug 9 that China is annoyed by reports...

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne says reactors on track for 2018 UK Energy Minister Chris Huhne, (right) who favors subsidies for wind power projects, and opposes loan guarantees, or anything like it for new nuclear reactors, sought this week to dampen the fiery criticism about his anti-nuclear policy view...

More safe-for-work fun to lighten up the new week This week we’re looking at videos that illustrate how nuclear power plants work. The first two videos are technically correct, more or less, but the last two are just for fun especially the one on the “ nucleation cycle ” involved in Mentos and Diet Coke...

It’s 10 PM. Do you know what the computers at your reactor are doing right now? In an often cited incident , in January 2003 the Davis Besse nuclear power plant in Ohio was affected by the “Slammer” computer worm for five hours. Although the plant was shut down at the time, and a redundant system safety...

Cameco heads overseas for growth This blog post is an edited version of a column published in Fuel Cycle Week , V9:N387, July 29, 2010, by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. Canada's largest uranium producer has some new customers overseas. In June Cameco ( TSE:CCO ) announced a series...

House Committee pursues nuclear R&D A bipartisan bill developed by the House Committee on Science & Technology would advance nuclear energy research & development on multiple fronts. The bill, H.R. 5866 , covers small modular reactors (SMRs), key elements of the nuclear fuel cycle including...

The pressure is on for the utility to make up its mind Constellation ( NYSE:CEG ) has always been upfront about its “walk away” option for the Calvert Cliff's III nuclear reactor project if the Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee is not awarded to it. Thanks to a vote in Congress , DOE only...

Two nuclear bloggers and the New York Times question facts and balance of a report that said solar was less expensive than nuclear. An article on cost comparisons between solar and nuclear energy published by the New York Times has gotten feedback about making unwarranted assumptions about the cost of...

A new blog feature will offer a few videos every Monday to lighten up your back to work blahs. All videos are completely safe for work. No guarantee is made that any of the information in the videos is technically correct! How to make a thorium-fueled nuclear reactor Last spring I told Facebook users...