Energy and Environment

Industry calls for decarbonisation focus

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:14:08 GMT

Europe faces a "lost decade" in low carbon development, the continent's electricity industry association Eurelectric has warned, due to signals that detract from the ultimate goals of energy policy.

Backloading's back

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:27:36 GMT

Support for the ailing European carbon market has continued with a joint letter from nine EU member states urging another attempt to put through 'backloading' measures as well as structural reform by the middle of this year.

Ontario's energy transition

Warwick Pipe — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:03:05 GMT

Air quality in Canada's Ontario province has improved dramatically in recent years, simultaneously with the ramping up of nuclear power and the phase-out of coal.

World has stalled on clean energy

Jeremy Gordon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:23:39 GMT

The world's governments are failing on almost every level to clean up their energy systems and must intervene to support nuclear power, said the IEA, noting that only renewables and electric vehicles are 'on track'.

Life-saving case for nuclear

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:45:20 GMT

A landmark study has put the figure of 1.84 million on the number of lives saved by the worldwide use of nuclear power instead of fossil fuels. The report co-authored by former NASA scientist James Hansen presents a dramatic new case for nuclear energy.

Energiewende sees emissions rise

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:09:22 GMT

German carbon dioxide emissions rose slightly in 2012 as the replacement of politically closed nuclear generation cost the country the opportunity to reduce emissions to a record low.

Obama neglects nuclear in state of the union

David Hess — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:41:36 GMT

US President Barack Obama clearly acknowledged the threat of climate change and the pressing need to do something about it in his annual state of the union address. He highlighted the potential for solar, wind and even natural gas - but not nuclear.

Energy leaders' nuclear uncertainty diminishing

Warwick Pipe — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:54:45 GMT

Concerns over nuclear energy use have been eclipsed by energy price volatility, the global recession, political unrest and future climate frameworks as the top uncertainties for global energy leaders, according to the World Energy Council.

Nuclear best option for Europe, report says

Warwick Pipe — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:00:52 GMT

Nuclear energy is the European Union's answer to meeting aggressive targets on carbon dioxide emissions while reducing dependency on fossil fuels, according to a new report from consultants Frost & Sullivan.

Germany faces multibillion-Euro grid bill

Warwick Pipe — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:32:12 GMT

The massive expansion of Germany's electricity networks to cope with the country's transition away from nuclear to a high share of renewable energy will require investments of up to €42.5 billion ($55.4 billion) by 2030, according to a newly released study.

Japan sees emissions rise

Jeremy Gordon — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:35:07 GMT

Increased use of fossil fuels for power generation was the main driving force behind a rise in Japanese greenhouse gas emissions for 2011, even though the country saw a fall in manufacturing output.

Nuclear breaks ice on Arctic gas shipments

Jeremy Gordon — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:04:37 GMT

Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers have enabled the first ever LNG delivery via the Northern Sea Route from Norway to Japan, where it will go towards replacing generation lost from shut down nuclear reactors.

Nuclear and hydro the core of sustainability

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:04:39 GMT

The most sustainable national power systems in the world combine nuclear with hydro for mass low-carbon generation, a World Energy Council study shows.

Seventy years since historic nuclear chain reaction

David Hess — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:21:31 GMT

Seventy years have passed since a team of 49 scientists, led by Italian-born Enrico Fermi, succeeded in creating the world's first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

UK companies welcome Energy Bill

Warwick Pipe — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:21:06 GMT

Would-be builders of new nuclear in the UK have welcomed the publication of long-awaited legislation to reform the UK energy market and encourage the development of a low-carbon energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, France has launched a national debate in preparation for its own energy transition legislation.

Levelling the playing field of grid cost

Warwick Pipe — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:52:21 GMT

The widely differing costs of supplying electricity from different generating options to the grid must play a part in future energy decisions, and must be internalised for each low-carbon generation option, according to a new report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

Japanese utilities fossilise

Jeremy Gordon — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:58:25 GMT

Amid uncertainty about long-term energy policy, Japanese imports of fossil fuels continue to rise as utilities secure supplies of coal and liquefied natural gas.

Warnings on greenhouse gas levels

Warwick Pipe — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:09:52 GMT

The concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere reached a record level in 2011, according to the World Meteorological Organization. A United Nations report says the chance to meet emission targets is slipping away.

IEA cuts nuclear power growth forecast

Warwick Pipe — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:29:05 GMT

Global nuclear generating capacity will reach some 580 GWe in 2035, according to the latest edition of the World Energy Outlook from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This is 10% less than the IEA forecast a year ago.

PwC warns of a warmer world

Warwick Pipe — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:14:46 GMT

The target to limit global warming to 2ºC this century appears "highly unrealistic" without "unprecedented" cuts in carbon emissions, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has warned.

UK Energy Bill approaches

Jeremy Gordon — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:49:47 GMT

The British government has moved to reassure energy market players ahead of an Energy Bill that will bring a program of reforms next month. A market for capacity is planned, alongside feed-in tariffs and the contract for difference scheme.

France needs more electricity, not less nuclear

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:26:31 GMT

EDF chief Henri Proglio has positioned electricity as "the energy of the future" while the country prepares to debate an 'energy transition'.

Switzerland's 'challenging' energy policy

Warwick Pipe — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:12:13 GMT

Switzerland faces many challenges in its plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions while also phasing out its use of nuclear power, the International Energy Agency said after reviewing the country's energy policy.

Apec recognition for nuclear role

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:52:30 GMT

Asia-Pacific countries must work together to ensure that nuclear power can continue its important role in the region's energy mix despite the experiences of Fukushima, according to a declaration from energy ministers.

Governments get nuclear policy round-up

Jeremy Gordon — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:18:21 GMT

An OECD report has highlighted the contribution nuclear already makes to the energy mix as well as how it can fit into future low-carbon networks. The report is aimed at informing the policymaking of the body's member governments.

Fossil fuels rule Japan

Jeremy Gordon — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:42:11 GMT

Fossil fuels now provide some 90% of Japan's electricity as nuclear plants remain shut down. Consumption of crude and heavy oil for electricity is at a four-year high.

EDF posts record carbon efficiency

Warwick Pipe — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:03:41 GMT

The carbon intensity of generating capacity owned by the EDF group of companies fell below 100 g/kWh for the first time in 2011, while in France EDF's emission rate dived 25% to 30.4 g/kWh.

More action needed sooner on climate change

Jeremy Gordon — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:06:48 GMT

Greenhouse gas emissions remain on a steadily rising path despite policymakers' best efforts, an OECD report has warned. Nuclear was noted as a major mitigating technology, while governments were urged to avoid 'lock-in' to carbon-emitting generation.

Germany escapes carbon emissions rise

Jeremy Gordon — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:50:31 GMT

Germany's emissions of carbon dioxide edged down by 2.2% last year, even while those from its power sector grew in the wake of post-Fukushima reactor closures. The main effects from the shutdowns have been a cut in exports previously supported by nuclear and the financial impact of this on utilities.

Fukushima impacts global nuclear generation in 2011

Warwick Pipe — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:46:53 GMT

The amount of electricity generated by nuclear power plants worldwide fell by just over 4% in 2011, primarily due to reactors being idled in Japan following the Fukushima accident and Germany's reflex reaction to close its older units.

Nuclear helped UK cut emissions in 2011

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:58 GMT

An 8% drop in carbon dioxide emissions in the UK in 2011 was helped by an 11% increase in electricity output from the country's nuclear power plants, provisional figures from the government indicate.

US energy demand to outstrip nuclear growth

Warwick Pipe — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:21:27 GMT

While US nuclear generating capacity is expected to grow by 11% by 2035, its share of the country's total electricity output will drop slightly, according to a forecast by the US Energy Information Administration. Coal use will fall significantly during this period, with gas seeing the highest growth.

BP sees growth in non-fossil fuel use

Jeremy Gordon — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:21:42 GMT

While global energy demand is expected to grow by almost 40% by 2030, non-fossil fuels will account for one-third of this growth, according to UK-based oil and gas giant BP. Nuclear energy will continue to play a significant role, with the Asia Pacific region seeing the greatest growth in its use.

Japanese study underlines nuclear cost advantages

Jeremy Gordon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:54:49 GMT

New cost estimates for nuclear power generation in Japan are over 50% higher than previous figures, but are still comparable to costs for wind and geothermal generation and competitive with fossil fuels.

Europe reveals clean energy roadmap

Jeremy Gordon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:26:32 GMT

The European Commission has released an energy roadmap presenting various scenarios for meeting its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Nuclear energy, it says, will remain an important part of Europe's power generation mix.

Warning on greenhouse gas concentrations

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:49:33 GMT

Global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases reached record levels in 2010, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The rate of increase in their levels has also accelerated.

Nuclear has role in sustainable mix

Jeremy Gordon — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:21:41 GMT

A new report by the World Energy Council into countries' energy policies has determined that a mixture of generating technologies and strategies is best for ensuring sustainable energy production.

Bold changes needed, IEA proclaims

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:48:58 GMT

An insecure, inefficient and high carbon energy system will exist in 2035 unless radical changes take place, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns in the latest edition of its World Energy Outlook report.

WHO warns on urban air pollution

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:48:01 GMT

Air pollution in many cities around the world is increasingly reaching levels that threaten people's health, according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO). Motor vehicles and fossil fuel power plants are among the major contributors, it said.

Profitable today, competitive tomorrow

Jeremy Gordon — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:57:32 GMT

Nuclear and gas will compete to provide future baseload power generation in Europe, as standard coal-fired power plants will no longer be profitable, the latest study by the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency on electricity prices concludes.