Mixed Reactions: Nuclear Energy in the Media

Enhanced Energy Efficiencies Through Automation and IoT Tech

Beth Kelly — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 15:34:09 GMT

Until now the communicative relationship between energy industries and their technology was largely a one-way street. For the nuclear sector today, however, utility operations and performance can be monitored and reported back via IoT platforms connected to the Internet. Developments in sensory and...(read more)

Celebrating the Architect of the Nuclear Energy Age: Enrico Fermi’s Birthday

Beth Kelly — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 14:45:00 GMT

Science often advances incrementally, with small insights building upon one another and gradually expanding the base of human knowledge. Occasionally, however, advances come in the form of great leaps, often propelled forward by one or more singularly brilliant minds. Enrico Fermi was one such mind....(read more)

New Emerging Nuclear Nations

Beth Kelly — Thu, 09 Jun 2016 20:20:00 GMT

As developing nations around the world strive to industrialize their economies, the global demand for energy continues to skyrocket. Experts in the industry are projecting a 48 percent increase of quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) on a global scale by 2040. Today most poor and developing countries rely predominantly upon inexpensive coal to meet their energy demands. However. state-owned nuclear companies in Russia and China have begun to offer finance and fuel services to emerging global markets, helping push for a more diverse energy mix around the world.

Atco Electric estimates that nuclear power plants were responsible for providing almost 11 percent of global electricity production in 2012, and as of 2015, this chart shows that France, Ukraine and Slovakia remained the world's largest suppliers of nuclear energy. Those figures are poised to shift considerably in coming years, as parts of the world - such as the continent of Africa - enact plans to approach nuclear power production. These countries plan to join other global giants like India, who are also developing their own major nuclear programs to allow for faster and more stable economic growth in the region.

China's Planned Developments

China has reported that it is interested in doubling the amount of nuclear power used in over the course of the next five years. This new Five-Year Plan is calling for the country to have 58 gigawatts of nuclear power generation capacity to be up in operation by the year 2020. Looking even further into the future, China is planning on establishing upwards of 150 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2030. This is extremely promising news, as a single gigawatt of nuclear power is enough to provide energy for approximately 700,00 homes. Currently, China operates 30 nuclear reactors, generating 2.5 percent of the country's total electrical output. Under the Five-Year Plan, the country promises to construct another 24 reactors, in addition to accelerating construction of industrial reprocessing plants, where experts can reprocess used nuclear fuel.

India's Nuclear Programs

The Toshiba-owned American firm of Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India are planned to come together to close a deal that will install six nuclear reactors in India. The deal is planned to be implemented later in 2016 in order to commercialize a nuclear deal between the United States and India. These major commercial developments can provide the country with a powerful way to optimize their own nuclear production, resulting in the an increased energy output for the country's citizens to enjoy. This plan was first proposed when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Barack Obama as they discussed mutually beneficial agreements to bolster strategic and economic relationships between the countries.

South African Nuclear Power Innovations

The Integrated Resource Plan developed in 2010 planned for the construction of 9,600 megawatts electric power, capable of being produced by up to eight brand new nuclear reactors. These reactors' construction is planned to be finished by 2030 and there are seven countries bidding to supply South Africa with the reactors, as of 2015. Russian and Chinese companies are currently at the forefront of the bidding as a result of their commitment to the financing. As negotiations continue to move forward, many are excited to see how such energy-based developments can help the country.

Russia to Work With Kenya, Nigeria and Other African Countries for Nuclear Development

In 2016, Nigera signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Russian Federation in order to improve cooperation between the two countries in pursuit of nuclear energy developments. Experts believe that it is Nigeria's intention to shift towards nuclear technology in order to improve local and global nuclear energy generation. With such a large population, analysts project that such an agreement can be extremely beneficial for the African country. Though the project is estimated to have a high cost, the benefits may be tremendous, especially considering the existing costs that come with so many citizens not having access to electricity.

Countries new to nuclear energy may not make drastic contributions to the expansion of nuclear capacity tomorrow, but their choice to embrace this type of energy is representative of all major international efforts to move further away from carbon-based fuel sources. The longest of journeys, as they say, begins with a single step in the right direction.

Celebrating Electrical Safety Month

Beth Kelly — Wed, 18 May 2016 19:42:00 GMT

All power plants present a unique set of safety challenges. One of the biggest hazards - yet one of the least discussed - is the constant presence of powerful electrical currents. While we are trained to handle high voltage equipment regularly, it’s important to keep electrical safety practices at the forefront of everyday concern. May is Electrical Safety Month, and therefore an excellent time to review both the power and potential of electrical energy. Use this quick guide to learn some of the steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe on the job as well as at home.

Know Your Voltage and What It Can Do

Different voltage levels can affect the body in different ways. While you should not come into direct contact with anything over 50 volts, you should still be prepared to handle that emergency situation. Each room with high voltage should have an emergency shower. Using personal protection equipment, or PPE, is a must at all times. In addition, rooms, especially overhead areas, should be inspected on a regular basis to help prevent accidents.

50 to 150 volt rooms should be guarded at all times. This level of exposure can cause a great deal of bodily harm, so you should use appropriate PPE. 151 to 600 volts cannot be tolerated by a human. Secure and guard the room, leaving only small spaces to add foreign objects. Rooms with equipment that uses over 600 volts require the utmost caution. Because of this very high amount, you should stay at least 8 feet away from the power source. It is crucial to keep everything isolated, well-maintained and guarded.

Authorized Access

Having authorized access to a room is important. If you don't have the training to handle the electrical sources in the area, you should not be in it under any circumstances. Lead by example and only visit areas of your plant that you have access to.

There are several other things you can do to ensure your safety and the safety of others. The biggest thing is to clearly mark any restricted areas. Warning signs, especially ones with both international symbols and words, help people know where they can and cannot go. If the equipment you are using involves dangerous chemicals or high voltage, consider having someone guard the entrance as well.

Part of keeping people out of restricted areas is making sure that they have no reason to go there in the first place. Never send someone inside just to press a button or retrieve a lost object. If the room is shared with a storage or equipment room, make sure the electrical areas are sectioned off, with several feet of walking room.

Before you leave the area, you need to double check to ensure everything is turned off. Unattended, working equipment can lead to electrical fires and explosions. After ensuring everything is powered down, secure the area before leaving.

Electrical Fire Prevention

Not all electrical incidents result in injury. Practicing working with electricity safely can help prevent environmental disasters and asset loss. Fires, for example, are a very real possibility when you mishandle electricity. Electrical fires don't just put you and your coworkers at risk, they can also cost several million dollars in repairs.

One thing you can do to prevent fires is to check the equipment before use. Make sure that it is in good repair and that you are using flame-retardant cables. While some power plants cannot remove all fuel sources and ignitions from an area, they should know how to reduce the growth of fire. Invest in good fire barriers and try to find ways to reduce exposure to fire hazards in the workplace.

Continuing Electrical Safety at Home and Work

Electrical safety concerns are by no means limited to the power plant workplace, electricity is everywhere and essential to daily living. To learn more about protecting your home and preventing additional electrical-energy related disasters, visit one of these online resources or stop by the Electrical Safety Foundation website.

Electrical hazards are very common in nuclear power plants. Do your part to ensure that you and your coworkers are safe around powerful electrical equipment. Keeping areas secure with guards and posting warning signs can help alert coworkers to the dangers of working in an area. Lead by example by wearing personal protection equipment and by ensuring everything is powered down before leaving your area. By avoiding hazards, promoting awareness and practicing safety, we can protect ourselves, those around us and our property for years to come.

Wisconsin Reevaluating Nuclear Power?

Beth Kelly — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 17:58:33 GMT

Last month Wisconsin lawmakers moved to repeal a ban preventing the construction of new nuclear power plants in the state. Sponsored by Republican State Representative Kevin Petersen, he's worked to re-frame the discussion around nuclear, introducing it as "affordable, clean, safe and necessary...(read more)

Bernie's Big Nuclear Mistake

Beth Kelly — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 22:42:00 GMT

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has come forth with his own plan to build upon the efforts of President Barack Obama and strengthen the United State’s climate change policies. While he is to be commended for calling attention to a subject his contemporaries continue to willfully ignore, his climate plans contain their own glaring error - that being, of course, his proposed phaseout of all nuclear plants. In order to reach emissions targets set by both the Clean Power Plan and recent Paris agreement, nuclear’s carbon-free energy is essential.

While Sanders has also been a strong environmental advocate in his home state of Vermont, his ideologies were formed during the counterculture era of 1960’s - a time in which he was very active in the civil rights movement, organizing for both the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Sanders continues to appeal to "grassroots" factions in his current campaign, while linking his beliefs as a democratic socialist to those of Franklin D. Roosevelt - the President responsible for lifting the country out of the Great Depression in the 1930’s. His politics have earned him a reputation as an outlier in the United States Senate, largely due to his aversion toward corporate interests and the influence of “big money” in politics.

Bernie’s decision to campaign for the Presidency also comes at a time of significant political upheaval, both at home and abroad. And the latest digital technologies have changed the election game completely - pay TV companies Dish Network and DirecTV, for example, have given “addressable advertising” a broader reach than ever before, helping political parties target ads at an individual household level. The advent of digital campaigning, whether through email, social media, or other Internet-enabled technology, has boosted Sander’s “buzz”, particularly among younger generations of voters.

Sander’s stance on nuclear is not particularly surprising given the unfamiliarity and outright hostility his younger voter base has for nuclear power, but it is disappointing to say the least. In his 6,500 word plan entitled “Combating Climate Change to Save the Planet”, his (brief) statements regarding nuclear plants and nuclear power are both inconsistent and erroneous. Placing a moratorium on the nation’s aging nuclear plants - and replacing them with an increasing reliance on natural gas - would increase the country’s net emissions by an estimated 2 billion tons. Sanders claims that he will replace nuclear with solar and wind, but this will not displace coal and gas from the grid in such a way that will reduce their total consumption.

Greenpeace, which continues to call nuclear power an “unacceptable risk to the environment and to humanity” lauded Sanders’ ideas, many of which do sound like an environmentalist’s dream. Overlooking his dismissal of nuclear, he wants to establish revenue-neutral carbon pricing; to create 10 million clean energy jobs; to insist on 65 miles per gallon fuel economy on vehicles by 2025; to develop a nationwide high-speed rail plan; and to ban offshore oil drilling.

While Sanders correctly notes the country’s need to move to sustainable energy, he mistakenly equates this goal with the refusal to sustain and reinvigorate an aging nuclear system. Yet the facts show that any serious proposal to provide the United States with clean energy will have to contain provisions for nuclear components. Without it, any clean energy program will fall short of providing sustainable and renewable energy for generations to come. If and when Sanders chooses to incorporates nuclear power into his plan, accepting a realistic approach to the problem of climate change, he could come closer to being the President we need.

Internet Billionaires' Climate Solution: Go Nuclear

Beth Kelly — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 16:43:28 GMT

This year's COP21 meeting in Paris effectively established a new legal framework that will help curtail further planetary surface warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Speakers highlighted the advantages of various renewable energy technologies in achieving this goal, but nuclear was still largely sidestepped...(read more)

Nuclear Power in Paris - Why Nuclear Energy is Clean Energy

Beth Kelly — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 17:40:00 GMT

Because of the serious nature of global climate change, many people are focused on renewable energy resources, such as solar cells and wind turbines, as a means of cutting global carbon emissions. Nuclear power is often left out of the discussion, but this is a mistake. Only by fully harnessing the potential...(read more)

Will New Generation Cyber Attacks Threaten Nuclear Plant Security?

Beth Kelly — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 17:24:27 GMT

Nuclear power plants generate around 20 percent of all the electricity produced in the United States, helping the nation meet its energy demands without releasing the greenhouse gases common to other types of power generation. Because there are only around a hundred such facilities nationwide, problems...(read more)

Nuclear Desalination; Improving Access to Clean Earth-Conscious Water

Beth Kelly — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 21:58:46 GMT

As human populations increase around the world, dwindling freshwater reserves come under additional pressure. Already, nearly one-fifth of the globe lacks access to potable drinking water. Various water treatment methods are often too expensive to even consider, and even the most promising solutions...(read more)

Start Up Ventures Shake Up Nuclear Tech

Beth Kelly — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 22:17:56 GMT

Lately start up companies in the energy sector have concentrated mostly on "renewables" like solar and geothermal for home use, and most talk about meeting the world’s ever-growing energy needs has focused on these areas as well. Innovation in nuclear power in the private sector, has...(read more)

Nuclear Power and Pop Culture - Not a Positive Reaction

Beth Kelly — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 16:48:00 GMT

Created in 1942, the world's first nuclear reactor was the brainchild of The Manhattan Project under the supervision of Enrico Fermi. Scientists discovered nuclear power to be an unlimited source of clean energy, without the environmental damage caused by fossil fuel pollutants. Hopes were high that...(read more)

Did SolarCity Just Sink Nuclear Power?

Beth Kelly — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:53:27 GMT

As companies and individuals race to implement green energy solutions at both private residences and corporate facilities, there's one form of clean energy that's taking a back seat in the discussion: nuclear power. New developments in solar energy by SolarCity and Tesla Motors, both run by Elon...(read more)

New Chinese Documentary Exposes Dangers of Coal

Beth Kelly — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 19:25:51 GMT

Chinese news anchor and environmental reporter Chai Jing produced a 104-minute documentary titled, Under the Dome , which immediately went viral in the country - before it was banned. The documentary depicts the devastating effects of smog and pollution from China’s dependence on coal-produced...(read more)

What Neil DeGrasse Tyson Doesn't Want to Say About Nuclear Energy

Beth Kelly — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 20:00:11 GMT

In March of 2014, FOX premiered Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey , an ambitious documentary series meant to follow in the footsteps of Carl Sagan’s famous 1980 series. The new series was hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson , the well known astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium . Just as many...(read more)