UK needs “Plan B on Nuclear” – Wind Can to Rise to the Challenge
UK needs “Plan B on Nuclear” – Wind Can to Rise to the Challenge
The Guradian recently posted a story saying that the UK government needs a “plan B” on nuclear power because of the peril that new reactors will not be built in time to avoid energy shortages since many of the UK’s ageing reactors will soon be decommissioned and there is no clear proposition for their replacement. Wind power can provide a way out of this particular problem. A wind farm can be up and running within six months to one year, while a nuclear power plant takes an average of ten years to build. Also, onshore wind power is already very competitive and now cost cheaper to produce compared to nuclear.
German Utility RWE to Cut Renewables Spending to Reduce Debt
RWE AG will cut renewable-energy investment by half from next year as Germany’s second-largest utility aims to reduce debt and counter falling earnings. RWE’s decision to cut investment runs counter to plans by Germany to replace nuclear generation with growth in renewables such as solar, wind and biomass to at least 35 percent of total power generation by the end of the decade. The share is about 23 percent now. While RWE will stick with offshore wind, it will slow the pace of projects it develops as the utility seeks to reduce investment risks.
US Clean Energy Surplus with China reached $1.63 Billion
According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, the U.S. sold more renewable energy and power management products to China in 2011 than it imported, contradicting views that China is becoming the world’s most dominant supplier. U.S. suppliers had a $1.63 billion trade surplus for solar manufacturing equipment, specialty materials, control systems and other high-margin products. Solar products accounted for more than $6.5 billion in trade between the U.S. and China, with a $913 million surplus for the U.S., according to the report.
Chinese Government Recommits to Energy, Emission Goals
As China’s national legislature opens up its annual meeting this week, issues of reducing carbon footprint and energy use are squarely on the table. China’s State Council reportedly could allocate 2.37 trillion yuan (US $380 billion) on such measures, and the nation plans to cut-down energy consumption per unit of GDP by 16 percent and carbon intensity by 17 percent. The recent, and heavily publicized, smog concerns in China are the latest reasons the country is in the spotlight for energy and environmental quality topics.
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Tags: German utility, US Clean Energy
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