Energy Insiders Podcast: EnergyAustralia explains why wind and solar will be “bedrock” of Australia’s grid — RenewEconomy
EnergyAustralia explains why wind and solar will be “bedrock” of Australia’s grid. The post Energy Insiders Podcast: EnergyAustralia explains why wind and solar will be “bedrock” of Australia’s grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Malabar proposes 25MW solar farm on old coal mine — RenewEconomy
Coking coal company in Hunter Valley suggests solar farm on former open cut mine in the process of being rehabilitated. The post Malabar proposes 25MW solar farm on old coal mine appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Malabar proposes 25MW solar farm on old coal mine — RenewEconomy
Old Toyota car plant to become green hydrogen hub, with backing of ARENA — RenewEconomy
ARENA provides $3.1 million towards green hydrogen hub that will use solar and battery storage at old Toyota car plant. The post Old Toyota car plant to become green hydrogen hub, with backing of ARENA appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Old Toyota car plant to become green hydrogen hub, with backing of ARENA — RenewEconomy
District Council in Ireland unanimously says “NO” to nuclear waste dump
Councillors back motion to oppose dumping of nuclear waste, The Impartial 
Reporter, 18th March A motion to oppose the dumping of any toxic waste in any part of Ireland was passed unanimously by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, however it was not without some political wrangling between Sinn Féin and the DUP.The motion proposed by Sinn Fein’s John Feely states the Council’s opposition who said that the “dumping of nuclear waste has dire consequences for our environment and also poses a serious health risk to the population”.
Councillor Feely said the geological screening for geological disposal facilities for nuclear waste raised a number of questions such as about how much radiation would reach the surface and water sources.
He added that the proposals by the British Government showed once again “the complete and total disregard” it has for the citizens of “Fermanagh and Omagh, the North of Ireland and all its people”.
Councillor Barry Doherty seconded the motion saying everybody had obligation to ensure future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the area in the same way that people do today and Ireland should not turn into anyone’s dumping ground……..
Councillor Alex Baird said the UUP were happy to support the motion with an amendment to stop anybody dumping toxic waste in Northern Ireland.
Councillors, Shields, McAnespy and Deehan all welcomed the motion, with Councillor Deehan describing the prospect of a disposal facility for nuclear waste in the country as “chilling”…….. https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/17495254.councillors-back-motion-to-oppose-dumping-of-nuclear-waste/
Japanese government suggested incinerating 11 million tons of radioactive debris — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Fukushima, after eight years: Of the 19 to 25 million tons of contaminated topsoil bagged up across the country, the government has suggested incinerating 11 million tons..
Japan’s Tepco fights for return to nuclear power after Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant’s coastal location leaves it open to tsunamis March 11, 2019 Eight years after the accident in Fukushima, preparations are underway to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant operated by Tepco. But residents fear a second disaster. Decades ago, nuclear power was supposed to be the perfect solution for Japan’s thirst for […]
via Japan’s Tepco fights for return to nuclear power after Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Coalition ramps up scare campaign against climate action, renewables — RenewEconomy
Experts slam modelling for government climate report as it emerges “peer reviewer” is being paid $916/hour by Trump Administration to fight landmark climate suit brought by children in US. The post Coalition ramps up scare campaign against climate action, renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Coalition ramps up scare campaign against climate action, renewables — RenewEconomy
Wind power generated more than one third of British electricity last week — RenewEconomy
Wind energy in Great Britain last week generated over a third of the country’s electricity, more than any other power source. The post Wind power generated more than one third of British electricity last week appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Wind power generated more than one third of British electricity last week — RenewEconomy
Carnegie flags reboot for wave power business, as key investors provide funding — RenewEconomy
Carnegie Clean Energy hopes to resurrect wave power business with help of key investors, while selling or winding down solar micro-grid subsidiary. The post Carnegie flags reboot for wave power business, as key investors provide funding appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Carnegie flags reboot for wave power business, as key investors provide funding — RenewEconomy
Will the NSW election deliver a change in electricity policy? — RenewEconomy
The major parties in NSW have developed policies to address climate and energy, but they don’t talk about them. The post Will the NSW election deliver a change in electricity policy? appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Will the NSW election deliver a change in electricity policy? — RenewEconomy
Bribes from UK’s Radioactive Waste Management not enough to get community consent for hosting nuclear waste dump
GDF Watch 17th March 2019 The sociopolitical challenges Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) faces were starkly revealed by the community sector’s response to a recent major Government funding announcement. Their reaction suggests that the package of GDF-related investment and other funding, while being ‘necessary’, is not necessarily ‘sufficient’ to secure a community’s consent to start initial discussions or formally enter the siting process.
At the forefront of the sectors’ concerns is ‘collaboration’, and more active involvement in shaping policy and how it is implemented. This aspiration, particularly in the context of a ‘consent-based’ siting process, is likely to become a key area of discussion as RWM seeks to build awareness, trust and confidence with communities. The evidence for this analysis can
be found in the community/civil society sector reaction to the Government’s recent £1.6 billion ‘Stronger Towns Fund’ announcement.
Instead of welcoming the extra cash, across the board there was frustration and concern that once again there had been no consultation with those affected, that this was another top-down solution, and was throwing good money at bad means of delivering real benefits to communities.
http://www.gdfwatch.org.uk/2019/03/17/to-consult-or-to-collaborate-that-is-the-community-question/
Australia could learn from Costa Rica – long-term planning, and successful switching to clean energy
FT 17th March 2019 Costa Rica, is small yet bold. We have historically been a leader, a first mover, and have thrived by taking steps others deemed impossible. We were the first country in the world to abolish our army in 1948, have established free public healthcare and education, and invested in our national parks in order to protect our biodiversity.
In 2017, Costa Rica achieved another first – and set a world record – for the most consecutive days of running the national electricity grid with only renewable energy: 300 days in a row.
And this little country is aiming to go even further than that. Decarbonisation is the great task facing our generation, and we want to be the first country in the world to achieve it. We have launched an economy-wide plan to decarbonise our country in line with the Paris agreement on climate change and the objectives of the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda.
Our nation has a history of thinking long-term and those decisions have paid off. Costa Rica rejected cheap coal in the 1970s and instead turned to hydropower, which to this day supplies much of our clean energy and allows us to power our country emissions-free for long stretches. As the price of wind and solar technologies fall globally, we’re investing more in these forms of energy to keep our grid clean and reliable.
https://www.ft.com/content/bfe057b2-464c-11e9-b83b-0c525dad548f
India’s two main anti-nuclear organisations CONDEMN THE SALE OF AMERICAN NUCLEAR REACTORS TO INDIA.
New Announcement About Sales of US Nuclear Reactors to India: Citizens’ Groups Stand in Opposition https://www.dianuke.org/new-announcement-about-sales-of-us-nuclear-reactors-to-india-citizens-groups-stand-in-opposition/ MARCH 15, 2019 First of all, this policy decision of the caretaker Narendra Modi government in India is both illegal and illegitimate as general elections are going on in the country to elect a new Parliament and the new government. Only the incoming government can and should decide on such an important policy issue. As a matter of fact, the nuclear deals and businesses often violate the national laws and the people’s sentiments and interests.
Secondly, India and the US signed an agreement to cooperate in civil nuclear energy sector in October 2008 and it remained a paper exercise for more than a decade. After wasting so much of national time, energy and resources on this useless India-US nuclear deal, they have just announced the construction of six American reactors without divulging crucial information such as the supplier, the site/s of construction, terms and conditions of the sale etc.
The people of India feel insulted by this kind of undemocratic and arrogant decision-making processes without consulting the peoples of both the countries in their national legislatures. The ‘longest’ and ‘largest’ democracies tend to behave like the worst dictators when it comes to nuclear issue.
Thirdly, the hypocritical US administration compromises the non-proliferation values and interests of humanity when it comes to its own selfish business interests. They lobbied with the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to give India a special waiver enabling it to sign cooperation agreements with a dozen countries. As a result, India signed civil nuclear cooperation agreements with the US, France, Russia, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Sri Lanka, the UK, Japan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and South Korea.
Rendering the Non-Proliferation Treaty a cruel joke, the United States reaffirmed its strong support to India’s early membership in the 48-member NSG. It is pertinent to note that India has not signed the NPT so far.
Fourthly, the same hypocritical US administration is strongly objecting to the civil nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea. It is not clear why or how the nuclear power programs of these two countries become so dangerous while the nuclear reactors in India, Israel and everywhere else remain so benign and acceptable.
Obviously, the American stand and viewpoints on the nuclear issue are so hypocritical, self-centered and profit-oriented. It is highly objectionable to buy their nuclear reactors for India. India, being a highly and densely populated country, should put the safety and security concerns of its own citizens ahead of the business interests of its imperial partner. India should think and act like an independent leader and not as a slave of domineering United States.
People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE),
National Alliance of Anti-nuclear Movements (NAAM)
International nuclear security negotiations poorly managed – because they pretty much exclude women
The Limits of Orthodoxy: What Diversity Brings to Nuclear Security, Council on Foreign Relations, by Guest Blogger for the Women and Foreign Policy Program March 18, 2019
“…………Our new report, The ‘Consensual Straitjacket’: Four Decades of Women in Nuclear Security notes that “while women have been working in the nuclear policy field at leadership levels for decades, the space is still overwhelmingly white and male.” Through interviews with 23 women who have worked at senior levels in the nuclear, arms control, and non-proliferation fields from the 1970’s through the present day, we find that a lack of diversity is one critical factor impeding innovation in the nuclear policy security arena. ……….
The “Consensual Straitjacket”
Our research also found that the nuclear security field tends to be insulated, hierarchical, and overwhelmingly male. The resulting emphasis on a shared “nuclear orthodoxy” limits policy design and invites groupthink. Ultimately, that nuclear orthodoxy leads to losses in talented personnel who are unable or unwilling to fit themselves in to this narrow paradigm. Individuals who might otherwise provide creative, alternative approaches instead struggle to fit into the stereotypical image of what a nuclear official should look and sound like.
Michèle Flournoy described this struggle, as well as the resulting lost creativity, as a “consensual straitjacket.” She told us, “I think women are socialized to sort of think outside the box to solve problems […] and to sometimes solve a problem by reexamining the basic assumptions and looking at it differently. And that just was not welcomed very much in the nuclear conversation.”
Participants described working very hard to learn the theory and technical details of nuclear policy and master the jargon used by this community. But they also described how they attempted to fit in to conventional modes of thinking, even as these conventions felt constraining.
Gender Diversity and International Negotiations
A lack of gender diversity at international nuclear negotiations like the Hanoi Summit could therefore limit their potential outcomes. In spite of the benefits that gender diversity brings, we found that women remain systematically under-represented in nuclear and non-proliferation international negotiations. Data developed by the International Law and Policy Institute (ILPI) and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conferences shows that while the U.S. delegation was composed of 5 percent women in 1980, just 38 percent of U.S. delegates in 2015 were female.
U.S. delegations routinely interact with foreign counterpart delegations who also have few, if any, women delegates. At the 2015 NPT Review Conference, the Russian Federation delegation was 27 percent women, China was 30 percent, the UK 27 percent, South Korea 36 percent, and Iran did not have any women delegates.
The “Gender Tax”
Many of our interviewees also pointed out to us that much of the work of negotiations occurs through informal interactions. When they were the only or one of a few women present, women found that they were often shut out of gatherings where their male colleagues were building these social relationships. Although some women said representing the United States offered some protection and gravitas, sexist behavior and harassment were still common.
Christine Wormuth told us that in international situations, “in the early years, I certainly had lots of the whole kind of ‘are you the administrative assistant or are you the mistress?’ [Because] certainly you couldn’t be there for substantive reasons.” The women we spoke to recounted a myriad of anecdotes about the harassment and derogatory comments that they faced at work from male colleagues, through the present day.
On top of doing their already-difficult jobs, these women faced an additional “gender tax” that required them to expend additional mental and emotional energy to navigate these high-stakes situations safely and tactfully. Wormuth recounted her reaction to being asked out to dinner by a high-ranking foreign representative: “It was so deflating because I realized, oh, he wasn’t paying any attention to what I was saying, he was paying attention to how I looked.”…….https://www.cfr.org/blog/limits-orthodoxy-what-diversity-brings-nuclear-security
March 18 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “The Answer To The UK’s Renewable Energy Future Is Blowing In The Wind” • The UK’s offshore wind sector is booming. Auctions for new capacity held in 2017 resulted in deals at half the price of those signed just two years prior, while we are seeing a steady drumbeat of new records relating […]
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