BaseLoadGeneration

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Continues Preparations for Finland ESBWR Bid

johnio78 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:17:44 +0000

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) continues to expand its presence in the Finland. The company announced it has signed a new project development memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Finnish software and systems engineering firm Space Systems Finland Ltd. (SSF), which specializes in the validation and verification of safety critical software for various industrial sectors, including the aerospace and utility industries.

Under the agreement, the companies will explore potential opportunities to collaborate on future nuclear power plant projects globally as well as in Finland as the utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) is looking to build a fourth reactor at its Olkiluoto nuclear power station.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Issues First Pilot License for Tidal Power Project in New York City’s East River

johnio78 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:04:34 +0000

By Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The project, owned by Verdant Power and known as the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project, is 1,050-kilowatts and uses the East River’s natural tidal currents to generate electricity. Turbine generator units are mounted on the riverbed and capture energy from the tidal flow. The pilot license issued to Verdant Power is for 10 years.

Read more at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Energy Department Takes First Step to Spur U.S. Manufacturing of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

johnio78 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:58:35 +0000

By Energy Department

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the first step toward manufacturing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in the United States, demonstrating the Administration’s commitment to advancing U.S. manufacturing leadership in low-carbon, next generation energy technologies and restarting the nation’s nuclear industry. Through the draft Funding Opportunity Announcement announced today, the Department will establish cost-shared agreements with private industry to support the design and licensing of SMRs.

Plymouth, UK aiming to build country’s first wind, wave and tidal energy park

johnio78 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:47:14 +0000

By William Telford (Plymouth Herald)

PLYMOUTH is at the heart of the country’s first marine energy park, which is bidding to harness wind, waves and tides to bring jobs and investment ….

US Coal to Gasoline Plant Will be the Largest in the World

johnio78 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:54:19 +0000

By Al Fin

TransGas Development Systems, LLC announced an agreement with SK Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd (SKE&C) leading to engineering, procurement and construction of its first US coal-to-gasoline plant—Adams Fork Energy—to be located in Mingo County, West Virginia.

ABB and partners to evaluate the reuse of the Nissan LEAF battery for commercial purposes

johnio78 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:37:39 +0000

ABB, 4R Energy, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) and Sumitomo Corporation of America have formed a partnership to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first and only all-electric car designed for the mass market.

The purpose is to evaluate and test the residential and commercial applications of energy storage systems or back-up power sources using lithium-ion battery packs reclaimed from electric vehicles after use. Energy storage systems can store power from the grid during times of low usage and feed that electricity back into the grid during periods of peak demand, increasing grid performance and providing back-up power during outages. The team plans to develop a LEAF battery storage prototype with a capacity of at least 50 kilowatt hours (kWh), enough to supply 15 average homes with electricity for two hours.

“The agreement will allow us to evaluate the commercial viability of a grid storage solution and develop a prototype to effectively reuse Nissan LEAF batteries,” said Bruno Melles, head of ABB’s Medium Voltage power products business, a part of the company’s Power Products division. “We look forward to working with our partners to take electric vehicle battery energy storage technology a step further.”

Long-life battery system stores electrical energy in liquid form

johnio78 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:28:45 +0000

By Sam Shead

Red-T, the company behind the flow battery technology, said that its battery can store energy for much longer than conventional batteries and could potentially provide electricity for people in remote locations.

Vietnam determined to obtain nuclear energy: PM

johnio78 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:18:26 +0000

By Thanhnien News

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has reaffirmed Vietnam’s determination to build a nuclear power plant because the country is due to experience serious power shortages in the next decade.

Saudi Arabia & China ink nuclear cooperation pact

johnio78 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:23 +0000

By GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN I ARAB NEWS

Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with China, in Riyadh, for cooperation in the development and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, which will help to meet the Kingdom’s rising demand for energy and cut its growing dependence on depleting resources.

Electric Boats, Hybrids to Benefit from Lithium Battery R&D

johnio78 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:01:41 +0000

By George Backwell

Research and development applied to Lithium-ion batteries (increasingly used as ‘energy storage banks’ in hybrid marine powered propulsion systems in workboats and leisure craft due to their high energy density) has recently revealed ways to make these batteries safer, cheaper yet with better performance. The relevant research findings come from John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and …..