December 16 NEC Energy News
¶ “Westinghouse Prepares For US Licensing Of eVinci” • With a capacity of 5 MW, the Westinghouse eVinci microreactor is described as a “small battery” for decentralised generation markets. Westinghouse submitted a pre-application regulatory engagement plan with the US NRC for the microreactor, a company spokesman said. [World Nuclear News]
¶ “EDF Shuts Down Nuclear Reactors on Safety Concerns; Revises 2021 Target” • Electricite de France SA’s 2021 earnings could take a slight hit from the temporary closure of reactors at two nuclear plants on safety grounds, the French company said. Faults were detected on both reactors at the Civaux plant during routine safety checks. [MarketScreener]
¶ “The Teenagers And The Nun Trying To Stop An Australian Coal Mine” • Eight teenagers and an elderly nun in Australia won a climate case in a historic judgement. Their case has now been appealed by the country’s government. If the final verdict swings in their favour, it will have ramifications not just for Australian law but for climate cases world-wide. [BBC]
¶ “The Buildings Made From Rubbish” • Roughly half of the raw materials we extract go into the built environment. Construction creates an estimated third of the world’s overall waste, and at least 40% of the world’s CO₂ emissions. “Why don’t we re-use what we’ve already extracted, rather than gouging the planet for ever more raw materials?” [BBC]
¶ “‘Gas Can Wait,’ Says Energy Minister, Rejecting Panel’s Call For Further Exploration” • Israeli Energy minister Karine Elharrar announced that “gas can wait” and that she will not accept the recommendations of Ehud Adiri, the former ministry director-general, to continue exploring for natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea. [The Times of Israel]
¶ “28% Of US Coal Power Plants Plan To Retire By 2035” • Coal-fired power plants have no mandatory retirement age, but power plant owners and operators have reported to EIA that they plan to retire 28%, or 59 GW, of the operating US coal-fired capacity by 2035. As of September 2021, 212 GW of coal-fired capacity was operating in the US. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “Study Finds Vehicle Emissions Decline Linked To Decreased Deaths, $270 Billion In Savings In USA” • The Associated Press reported that Harvard University researchers found that deaths dropped from 27,000 in 2008 to 19,800 in 2017 due to a decade of decline in vehicle emission. Adoption of EVs and increased fuel efficiency paid off. [CleanTechnica]
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