“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 →

UK push for civil atomic power highlights link with nuclear weapons

Last week, EiD published a post by Andrew Warren that the UK government is pursuing an uneconomic nuclear programme in large part so as to maintain and renew military nuclear capabilities. Now Andy Stirling, Professor of Science & Technology Policy in the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex together with Philip Johnstone, Research Fellow, … Continue reading UK push for civil atomic power highlights link with nuclear weapons →

Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024

EiD welcomes that the IEA published Renewables 2023 this week. It is encouraging to see that the world added 50% more renewable capacity in 2023 than in 2022 and next 5 years will see fastest growth yet. The IEA says that the world’s capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024 →

Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest

Graham Readfearn writes on the Guardian website about recent analysis showing that solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest options in Australia. Analysis shows that small modular nuclear reactors would provide most expensive power and will not be available until 2030. What are your views? Note that CSIRO is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research … Continue reading Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest →

Britain’s energy transition is more complex than meets the eye

The UK government is pursuing an uneconomic nuclear programme in large part so as to maintain and renew military nuclear capabilities, argues Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, in an article on the BusinessGreen website. Submarine thinking: A 'lock-in' of nuclear power would be reckless for the economy and the climate … Continue reading Britain’s energy transition is more complex than meets the eye →