Broken Hill Councillor inadvertently spelled out the problem with uranium mining
Broken Hill Land Council open to exploring uranium Australian Mining, 9 November, 2012 Alex Heber The Broken Hill Aboriginal Land Council is open to uranium exploration in New South Wales’ far west.
However BHALC chair Maureen O’Donnell said the details and risks still need to be discussed before any mining begins.
“I’ve got to see what benefits (it has) for the people,” she told the ABC .
“I don’t like uranium as it is because it causes a lot of cancer and there’s enough sickness but it sort of depends on how they’re going to do it and what they’re going to do.”
The New South Wales state government lifted the ban on uranium exploration earlier this year in a bid to ramp up the state’s involvement in the mining boom…. http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/broken-hill-land-council-open-to-exploring-uranium
Australia’s Energy White Paper – in the right direction, but SOLAR is going even faster
Rooftop solar generators now produce electricity for less than the retail tariff everywhere in Australia. This could fundamentally change the nature of the electricity business, leading to the establishment of millions of small generators to supplement wind farms and large conventional generators.
Energy White Paper underestimates solar http://theconversation.edu.au/energy-white-paper-underestimates-solar-10645 Andrew Blakers 10 Nov 12 The 2012 Energy White Paper has much to commend it. In particular, the far greater acknowledgement of the need to shift to clean energy sources is a fundamental shift from previous White Papers.
The emphasis on the need for power demand management, rather than simply meeting peak demand though capital expenditure, is also very welcome.
The energy landscape is changing rapidly. A fundamental change is the extraordinarily rapid decline in the cost of solar energy. Results from the 2012 Australian Energy Technology Assessment of various energy technologies is included. This was a radical departure from previous Government assessments in that it recognised that solar and wind are on track to be low cost, fully competitive energy generation technologies rather soon.
The White Paper notes that “few could have predicted the dramatic reduction in solar PV costs that has occurred
over the past few years”. The White Paper could perhaps have emphasised more strongly the large implications of this fact for electricity providers. Continue reading
New “solar smoothers” solve problems of “intermittent’ renewable energy
Innovative solar smoother manages fluctuations from alternative energy sources http://www.pacetoday.com.au/news/innovative-solar-smoother-helps-manage-fluctuatio 9 November, 2012 Kevin Gomez Western Australia’s Horizon Power recently released new specifications that have a major impact on the renewable energy industry.
The State-owned regional utility required a smoothing device to be installed on every new solar power system to help with power fluctuations. Horizon Power’s infrastructure was having difficulties coping with the unstable power, due to injection of solar energy from private systems.
The utility operates WA’s remote electricity supply systems and some local generation facilities and retails electricity to almost 30,000 customers in the Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid West and southern Goldfields.
Horizon Power generates some electricity from renewable sources, including wind power in coastal areas and small scale solar power schemes. Currently there are too many solar panels feeding into generator-based mini-grids in some towns in rural WA. When the mini-grid experiences large changes in the injection of solar power, for example on cloudy
days, the generators have to work hard to keep up. If a large cloud passes by, then the solar power injection level will
suddenly drop and generators will need to work hard to keep the power flowing.
Horizon Power has introduced the changes to ensure that these “black holes” of power are avoided. This is achieved via a “solar smoothing” equipment. The smoothing device will provide back-up power to the grid while the generators ramp up and down – reducing the long term wear and tear of the equipment.
The introduction of the specifications will ensure that Horizon’s infrastructure is protected, whilst also allowing space for new solar farms, where the hosting capacity has been reached. Continue reading
Korean nuclear scandal adds to poor outlook for Australia’s uranium indcustry
Korean nuclear scandal should trigger inquiry. 9 November 2012. A nuclear scandal in South Korea dealt another blow to the crumbling global nuclear industry this week but the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper appears blissfully ignorant, the Greens said today
Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the Government needs to conduct a comprehensive, public independent assessment of the risks posed by Australian uranium given scandals in Korea and Japan.
“If uranium advocates really believe our current system is adequate they will have nothing to fear and everything to gain from an inquiry into the adequacy of Australian safeguards and whether they address utility transparency and competence in receiver nations.
“In the energy White Paper, the Government claims the mass nuclear reactor shut-downs in Europe and Japan will be offset in part by a handful of new plants in South Korea. This week it was announced that South Korea’s nuclear watchdog will investigate every nuclear power station in the country amid a scandal that has forced the closure of two reactors and the resignation of the head of the state power company.
“On Monday the South Korean Government revealed that the safety certificates for more than 7,600 items procured for two nuclear plants over the past nine years had been forged. This is the customer Minister Ferguson sees as the saviour of Australia’s uranium exports.
“Two more nuclear reactors were closed in Belgium after a new testing method revealed metal stress and fatigure. Germany, Switzerland and Japan are closing their nuclear sectors completely. In a recent referendum 96 per cent of Italians voted no to any new nuclear stations. 150 nuclear plants are marked for closure in Europe alone.
“Nuclear power is well into its phase of terminal decline – and the booming renewable energy sector is helping hasten its demise.”
Safety problems add to South Korea’s nuclear power troubles
Cracks at South Korean nuclear plant raise fresh safety concerns, By K.J. Kwon, CNN November 9, 2012 Seoul, South Korea — Tiny cracks have been found in tunnels at a nuclear plant in South Korea, increasing concerns about nuclear safety in the country following a recent scandal involving the use of unverified parts. The reactor where the cracks were found will remain offline for weeks as regulators investigate the problem, putting extra strain on South Korea’s already stretched power supply going into the winter months……
the news could hurt South Korea’s efforts to export its nuclear power technology to other countries.
The problems at the South Korean reactors come amid increased scrutiny of nuclear power worldwide following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan during the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in March 2011. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/09/world/asia/south-korea-nuclear-reactor/index.html
Corruption scandal in South Korea’s nuclear industry
Eight companies submitted 60 false certificates to cover more than 7,000 parts used in the two reactors between 2003 and 2012, and Economy Minister Hong Suk-woo told parliament that most of the documents, which purported to come from certifying body UCI, were
forgeries
South Korea widens nuclear lapses probe; KEPCO chief resigns By Meeyoung Cho and Somang Yang SEOUL Nov 7, 2012 (Reuters) – South Korea widened a probe into how thousands of parts for its nuclear reactors were supplied using forged safety documents, with regulators set to inspect all 23 of the country’s facilities – a move that could test public support for the industry and threaten billions of dollars worth of exports.
Two reactors remained shut on Wednesday, and five others are closed for maintenance, or through other glitches, raising the prospect of winter power shortages…..
Kim Joong-kyum, president and CEO of power utility Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), which owns the operator of the nation’s nuclear plants, tendered his resignation for what KEPCO officials said were ”personal reasons”. Continue reading
Business will get a boost from Australia signing up to new Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto 2 a boost to business but it will cost coalminers BY: SID MAHER AND LAUREN WILSON : The Australian November 10, 2012 THE Gillard government’s decision to sign on to the second period of the Kyoto climate change protocol will guarantee Australian businesses access to low-cost UN emissions permits.
However, the move will force big methane emitters, such as gassy coalmines and landfills, to pay 20 per cent more within five years…. subscription only
United Nations praise for Australia’s lead on climate action, and signing Kyoto Protocol
UN leader praises Australia’s climate lead http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/un-leader-praises-australias-climate-lead/story-e6frf7k6-1226514100428 AAP November 10, 2012, UN leader Ban Ki-moon has called for “urgent” action on measures to counter climate change, as he praised Australia for signing on to a new round of the Kyoto Protocol environmental protection treaty.
Ban called on other governments to follow Australia’s example and “congratulates Prime Minister Gillard for her leadership,” said a UN spokesman, Farhan Haq.
“Addressing climate change is fundamental for achieving sustainable development. Urgent action is needed,” Ban was quoted as saying on Friday. “The secretary general calls on all governments to take decisive steps against climate change at the upcoming Climate Change Conference” in Qatar, said the spokesman.
Australia, one of the world’s biggest per capita polluters, earlier announced that it was ready to join a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. So far, only the European Union and some smaller economies have signalled they are ready to agree new pledges.
Annual negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) start in Qatar on November 26.
Australia’s purchase of US nuclear submarines would anger China
Buying US submarines may anger China, Financial Review 10 Nov
An Australian Coalition government move to purchase or lease up to 10 US nuclear-propelled submarines would almost certainly attract China’s ire. ….subscription only
Liberal Party leaders keen for Australia to buy US nuclear submarines
Coalition leaders float nuclear navy Financial Review CHRISTOPHER JOYE, 10 Nov 12
Top Coalition leaders want to open the debate over the purchase of nuclear submarines to replace the navy’s diesel fleet, a huge step up in Australia’s military capability in response to China’s plan to become a major maritime power in the Pacific Ocean.
Senior Coalition frontbenchers told The Weekend Financial Review that acquiring or leasing 
Virginia-class nuclear submarines equipped with conventional weapons, such as cruise missiles, would be supported by the Obama Administration.
Purchasing the submarines is not yet Coalition policy but some shadow ministers have discussed the idea with United States officials….. In discussions with defence experts US Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich reiterated American willingness to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines, which could receive technical support at US naval bases in Hawaii and Guam. In the longer term, this could lead to a joint Australian-US submarine base in the west or north of Australia. Continue reading
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