Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Europe Turns Away from Nuclear, Asia Embraces It

Germany has panicked and is running away from nuclear power like a frightened child.

Switzerland appears to be joining Germany in its flight from the future.

Europe's reflexive reaction stands in stark contrast to Asian countries' embrace of nuclear power. By the time Europe emerges from its green narcotic trance, it will be desperate to buy Asian-made nuclear reactors and Asian-produced nuclear fuels at any price it can scratch out.

Idaho Samizdat hosts the 54th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Excerpt:
ANS Nuclear Cafe
Dr. Ulrich Decher analyzes wind, solar, and hydro in the Pacific Northwest and California and asks: What is the “good thing” of having so much wind on the Bonneville Power Administration grid? What will be the outcome of California's renewable energy portfolio goal given the intermittency of wind power?

More on Asian nuclear renaissance:
•China’s nuclear build programme is huge – has the potential to shape world nuclear industry for many decades

•Russia internal build of VVER designs will build credibility for export market

•India’s potential buy of imported LWR designs may change the competitive picture, if EPR, ESBWR, or ABWR (or all of these) get orders

•As new nuclear countries make selections, the aggregate world league table will be important

– countries will look for proven designs with real experience and low costs
– will seek a range of support from vendors (government vendors have edge)

Kee also noted that South Korea, China and India were all planning to sell reactors on the global market. Asian reactors cost less than European or American reactors with the Korean APR-1400 costing only 40% of the cost of the French EPR. _NBF
The Anglospheric nations now have a choice of whether to panic like Europe, or to pursue safer, cheaper, more scalable nuclear reactors which are less prone to risk from proliferation, nuclear wastes, or terror attack.

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