A ministerial debate on the future of Europe’s energy system saw calls to build up cross-border power grids and end dependence on Russian fossil fuels, while France said it was time bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy. Robert Hodgson discusses the debate on the potential role of nuclear energy. France … Continue reading France says it is time to bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy
Category: nuclear energy
Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding
Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University writes on The Conversation about how utilities in the US are coping with AI data centres. What are your views. Is the experience similar in Europe and other regions? How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity … Continue reading Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding
Energy in Demand News, September 8, 2024
The new academic year is now upon us. The Financial Times (behind a paywall) discusses a new study that raises concerns about university ties to the fossil fuel sector. The study provides the first review of research looking at the sector’s extensive role in higher education. It draws from nearly three dozen reports on how … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, September 8, 2024
Nuclear is costly, risky and slow – why then do governments still champion it?
The physicist MV Ramana argues in his new book that, while we need low-carbon energy to address our climate crisis, those who argue that nuclear will be a major solution, because of their costs, safety concerns and time to scale up, nuclear is simply not the solution. Maya Goodfellow discusses his new book in an … Continue reading Nuclear is costly, risky and slow – why then do governments still champion it?
“Continuing to denigrate renewables, and capturing too much political attention, nuclear proponents achieve only one thing – slowing down the transition to renewables”
Jérôme Guillet provides an excellent article on his substack page, Jérôme à Paris, about the future of nuclear. As he writes, nuclear still works, but it is simply no longer competitive against available alternatives. What are your views? Why fans of nuclear are a problem today ... not because they will succeed, but because … Continue reading “Continuing to denigrate renewables, and capturing too much political attention, nuclear proponents achieve only one thing – slowing down the transition to renewables”
“I think the challenge for new nuclear is that it is just expensive”
The Chairman of the Energy Transitions Commission says hydrogen or gas power with carbon capture and storage could help to keep the lights on but nuclear is simply too expensive. Writing in the Times website, Emma Powell discusses the views of Lord Turner, chairman of the Energy Transitions Commission, on the priority now being given … Continue reading “I think the challenge for new nuclear is that it is just expensive”
Does promotion of nuclear energy in Australia make sense?
Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia writes in The Conversation website that he considers the promotion of nuclear energy in Australia as a climate obstruction tactic. Is it? Nuclear power makes no sense for Australia – but it’s a useful diversion from real climate action Opposition leader Peter Dutton argues Australia … Continue reading Does promotion of nuclear energy in Australia make sense?
An important threat to the EU’s ecological and energy transition comes from the alarming number of Chinese and US companies moving into the EU power sector
In an article on The Conversation website, Carine Sebi, Professeure associée et coordinatrice de la chaire « Energy for Society », Grenoble École de Management (GEM) and Patrick Criqui, Directeur de recherche émérite au CNRS, économiste de l’énergie, Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA) write about the influence American and Chinese companies are having in the EU. … Continue reading An important threat to the EU’s ecological and energy transition comes from the alarming number of Chinese and US companies moving into the EU power sector
Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024
In all the important climate and energy news this week, two developments stand out. In a case that has lasted 12 years, this week the climate scientist Michael Mann won his defamation lawsuit against two conservative writers who compared his depictions of global heating to the work of a convicted child molester. “I hope this … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 11, 2024
Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy
Nathan Canas and Paul Messad write on the Euractiv website how SMRs are expected to contribute to achieving the energy and climate objectives of the EU’s European Green Deal. EU aims to deploy Europe’s first small nuclear reactor ‘by 2030’ Small modular reactors (SMRs) will be partly relied upon to meet the EU’s 2040 … Continue reading Small modular reactors (SMRs) still included in EU’s climate strategy
Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 