December 15 NEC Energy News
¶ “Orano Completes Dismantling Vermont Yankee’s Reactor Core” • In less than four years, the Orano group, based in France, completed cutting up and packaging the vessel and internal components of the boiling water reactor at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vernon. Vermont Yankee went offline in December 2014. [Vermont Business Magazine]
¶ “Nuclear Watchdog Group Raises Concerns Over Concrete Cracks At Seabrook Plant” • The nuclear watchdog group C-10 Research and Education Foundation has petitioned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to take more steps to ensure the safety of cracks in cement at the Seabrook plant. The plant is operated by NextEra Energy Resources. [WMUR]
¶ “Hungary’s Risky Bet On Russia’s Nuclear Power” • Despite the Hungarian government’s unswerving commitment to the Paks 2 project and the Russian commitment to supply the finance and technology, the Russian war in Ukraine makes the nuclear power station less likely by the day. Critics say it makes Hungary more dependent on Russia as a source of fuel. [BBC]
¶ “Global Solar Installs Erupt As Polysilicon Price Peaks” • The latest Rethink Energy report says that global solar installations are on track for 222 GW for 2022, and manufacturing output data shows that next year this will rise by even more. This demonstrates that the solar industry has shaken off the drag of high polysilicon pricing.” [CleanTechnica]
¶ “At $7400, Honda’s Upcoming Electric N-Van Mini Van Can Be A Game-Changer In Japan’s Kei Car Segment” • Honda has set the starting price of the electric N-Van in Japan at ¥1,000,000 ($7,400), with the launch planned for the spring of 2024. Small city cars, which are highway-capable, known as Kei cars, are a big deal in Japan. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “$2.5 Billion Loan From DOE To Ultium Cells – Three Battery Cell Factories, 11,000 Jobs” • The US DOE announced closing a $2.5 billion loan to Ultium Cells to help finance construction of lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing plants in Ohio, Michigan, and Tennessee. Ultium Cells, a joint venture of General Motors and LG Energy Solution. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “GE Renewable Energy Installs First Turbines At 1.2-GW China Pumped Hydro Plant” • The hydropower subsidiary of General Electric’s renewables business has installed the first pair of 300-MW turbines at a pumped hydro storage site in Jinzhai County, Anhui Province, China. The company is to supply to more of the same turbines at the site. [Energy Storage News]
¶ “Volkswagen Plans To Manufacture More Vehicles In The US” • In an interview with Handelsblatt, Pablo Di Si, the new head of Volkswagen for North America, said Volkswagen Group plans to introduce 25 electric vehicle models to the American market by 2030 in order to increase its market share from a fairly dismal 4% to 8% or more. [CleanTechnica]
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