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Issued by the World Nuclear Association
At the Leaders Summiton Climate a a realistic, science-based approach that addresses all sectors must be taken that uses every low-carbon technology at our disposal, including nuclear power.
The Unit 1 reactor at the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates has successfully transitioned to full commercial operations.
There are no scientific arguments supporting an exclusion of nuclear energy from the Sustainable Finance Taxonomy, according to the leaked JRC report.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed today between World Nuclear Association and the ASEAN Centre for Energy at a virtual ceremony.
Electricity generation from nuclear power plants is the dispatchable low-carbon technology with the lowest expected costs, according to the Projected Costs of Electricity Generation 2020 report, published today by the International Energy Agency and OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.
World Nuclear Association
Published: Fri, 07 May 2021 13:46:35 GMT
Excavation of the first final disposal tunnel has started at the Onkalo underground used nuclear fuel repository near Olkiluoto, Finnish radioactive waste management company Posiva Oy announced today. The repository - the first in the world for used fuel - is expected to begin operations in the mid-2020s.
Published: Fri, 07 May 2021 13:10:09 GMT
US President Dwight Eisenhower's 'Atoms for Peace' speech to the UN General Assembly in 1953 is still relevant as the world of today confronts the existential threat of climate change, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León told delegates at a preparatory event for the Tenth NPT Review Conference that is expected to take place in August. Speaking at the event - titled Industry and Peaceful Applications of Nuclear Technology - Bilbao y León called upon all signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in 1970, to support the expansion of civil nuclear power.
Published: Fri, 07 May 2021 08:38:37 GMT
Exelon is not giving up on its Illinois plants, but will go ahead with the closure of Byron and Dresden later this year if the state does not - before the end of its current session - pass policy reforms to support their continued operation, CEO Chris Crane said this week.
Published: Thu, 06 May 2021 15:08:34 GMT
The Tennessee Valley Authority is to provide engineering, operations and licensing support to help Kairos Power deploy its Hermes low-power demonstration reactor at the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee under a newly announced collaboration agreement between the two companies.
Published: Thu, 06 May 2021 14:33:15 GMT
Many challenges have to be faced in maintaining safety over the long term in a damaged nuclear power plant following a severe accident, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency notes in a new status report. The report reviews knowledge and experience gained through long-term management of the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi accidents, by identifying and ranking main issues and knowledge gaps. It also reviews the existing regulations and guidance, practices, technical bases and issues regarding long-term management of a severely damaged nuclear site.
Published: Thu, 06 May 2021 12:46:55 GMT
Ringhals AB and Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB each issued an Urgent Market Message to the Nord Pool power exchange yesterday morning about the potential risk of Ringhals units 3 and 4 and Forsmark units 1, 2 and 3 being unable to restart following scheduled outages - in 2024 (F2), 2025 (R3-4, F3), and 2028 (F1) - because of a lack of storage space for used nuclear fuel.
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 15:13:03 GMT
A mismatch between the world's climate ambitions and the availability of critical minerals could mean a slower and more expensive energy transition, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. The Paris-based organisation describes its special report, The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions, as the most comprehensive global study to date on the importance of minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements in a secure and rapid transformation of the global energy sector.
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 13:58:08 GMT
The first multi-purpose canister containing fuel has been loaded into a HI-STORM FW module and placed into the new on-site used fuel dry storage facility at Brazil's Angra nuclear power plant, Holtec International has announced. This marks the official start of the storage facility's planned 50 years of operation as well as the first use of Holtec's HI-TRAN 300 single-failure proof vertical heavy load hauler.
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 13:33:50 GMT
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved an application by Dominion Energy's Virginia subsidiary for a 20-year extension to the operating licences of the twin-unit Surry nuclear power plant. This will enable the two pressurised water reactors to operate until 2052 and 2053, respectively.
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 12:51:06 GMT
Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom has called on lawmakers to repeal a resolution recently passed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and restore the previous Public Service Obligation mechanism in the country's electricity market until the end of June. Parliamentarians should "analyse in detail", the state-run company said, "who, how and in whose favour" Resolution 439 had been prepared, since it "harms" state-owned energy-generating companies.
Published: Wed, 05 May 2021 11:52:22 GMT
The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board has produced a report on how the Department of Energy can develop a robust, safe and effective nuclear waste management programme for the USA, including laying the groundwork for a successfully implemented geological repository. It says the lack of progress on developing and operating a geologic repository impedes the associated potential benefits of having nuclear energy as part of a zero-carbon future for mitigation of climate change, as well as the advancement of US nuclear technology and commerce.
Published: Tue, 04 May 2021 15:24:33 GMT
The goals of the Generation IV International Forum - and the six reactor types that are its focus - remain as important today as they have always been, speakers at an international panel discussion held to mark the organisation's 20th anniversary agreed. Looking to the future, demonstration should become a focus to drive forwards to deployment of the technology.
Published: Tue, 04 May 2021 14:40:11 GMT
Nuclear provides a perfect solution for the generation of large quantities of low-carbon and affordable hydrogen, the European nuclear trade body Foratom said today in a position paper. This, it said, will be key as Europe aims to transform all parts of its economy, including transport and industry. The position paper makes a number of policy recommendations aimed at recognising the contribution nuclear energy can make in decarbonising such areas.
Published: Tue, 04 May 2021 14:12:00 GMT
From a childhood fascination with "what small means" to simulating the power of the sun to bring affordable energy to all of mankind. This is the journey described by Sergio Orlandi, head of the Central Engineering and Plant Directorate at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
Published: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:27:15 GMT
Nuclear energy is "a key pillar" of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León said today during the launch of Rosatom's Atoms for Humanity initiative. However, she said the benefits to society of nuclear science and technology beyond that of electricity generation need to be more widely appreciated.
Published: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:21:33 GMT
Caring about the environment has traditionally focused on the scarcity of natural resources, but with nuclear power a healthier world can also mean abundance for all, environmentalist Ben Heard said today at the Atoms for Humanity discussion on Why Humanity Needs Nuclear produced by Russia's Rosatom. Heard is an advocate for nuclear power in his native Australia, through his directorship of environmental NGO Bright New World.
Published: Thu, 06 May 2021 10:56:28 GMT
The recent assessment by the EU's scientific body, the Joint Research Centre, that nuclear energy does no more harm to human health or the environment than any other power-producing technology considered to be sustainable may be a sign of the green stamp of approval needed for the inclusion of nuclear in the EU Taxonomy on sustainable finance, write Elina Teplinsky, Vincent Zabielski and Victoria Judd, partner, special counsel and counsel, at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.
Published: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:29:53 GMT
Most of the nuclear plants in the PJM Interconnection wholesale electricity market - covering 13 US states and the District of Columbia - will not produce enough revenue to remain economically viable in the coming years, an independent economic evaluation has concluded.
Published: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:43:59 GMT
Herman Halushchenko, vice president of development at Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom, has been appointed the country's new energy minister, following approval yesterday by the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. Halushchenko received support from 305 lawmakers in the 450-seat chamber. The ministry had been under a caretaker minister since the collapse of the previous government in March 2020.
Published: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:16:03 GMT
Hungary will start repaying the Russian loan for the Paks II project in 2031, five years later than originally agreed, Hungary's Finance Ministry has announced. This amendment to the intergovernmental agreement for the EUR12.5 billion (USD15.1 billion) project means that income from the new nuclear power plant can help repay the loan, but it does not change the rate of interest on the loan nor the option to pay it off early, it added.
Published: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 13:17:17 GMT
Entergy Corporation's Indian Point unit 3 will be shut down tomorrow after nearly 60 years of nuclear power generation at the site in New York state. The closure will bring to an end a world record-breaking run for the pressurised water reactor.
Published: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:13:22 GMT
Uranium investment company Uranium Participation Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement with Sprott Asset Management LP to convert UPC into the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust and pursue listing on US stock exchanges. Denison Mines Inc's Management Services Agreement with UPC will be terminated, with Denison set to receive a termination payment estimated at CAD5.3 million (USD4.3 million).
Published: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 12:01:21 GMT
The International Atomic Energy Agency has designated Ontario Tech University as a Collaborating Centre to support IAEA activities on advanced nuclear power technology, including small modular reactors, as well as the non‑electric applications of nuclear energy. The institution is the first in Canada to receive such a designation.
Published: Thu, 29 Apr 2021 11:02:36 GMT
The US State Department has announced it is launching the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme, which will provide "capacity-building support to partner countries". As an initial investment, the department has committed USD5.3 million to support FIRST projects.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:55:53 GMT
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has unanimously voted to extend the zero emission certificates for the Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants for an additional three years.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 14:54:44 GMT
Japan's nuclear regulator today approved Tokyo Electric Power Company's decommissioning plan for the four reactors at its Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant, close to the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:58:57 GMT
The governor of Japan's Fukui Prefecture today approved the restart of three reactors owned by Kansai Electric Power Company - Takahama units 1 and 2, and Mihama unit 3. His consent was the final approval needed for the reactors - all aged over 40 years old - to resume operation.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:06:36 GMT
The planned Hanhikivi 1 nuclear power plant in Finland is now likely to enter commercial operation a year later and cost up to EUR1 billion (USD1.2 billion) more than previously expected, Fennovoima says in an update to its construction licence application. The company submitted the update today to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 09:39:32 GMT
President Joe Biden's pledge for the USA to cut its CO2 emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by the end of this decade will be "virtually impossible" without nuclear power, Fareed Zakaria, the host of US network CNN's Global Public Square programme, said last week. America is "going in the wrong direction" in reducing the contribution nuclear power makes to its electricity supply, said Zakaria, who is also a Washington Post columnist.
Published: Wed, 28 Apr 2021 06:41:30 GMT
Climate change is "essentially an energy challenge" because more than 80% of CO2 emissions come from the energy sector, but governments must not make the mistake of thinking that energy is a bad thing, Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency said yesterday at the Foreign Policy Virtual Climate Summit. Instead, policymakers should be looking for ways to incentivise investment in clean energy technologies and not exclude any of them.
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