HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Policymakers Are Addressing Nuclear Power Plant Market Issues, Says NEI
There has been a "significant evolution in thinking in a relatively short period of time" among U.S. federal regulators, state officials and regional transmission organizations (RTOS) to address the market issues negatively impacting nuclear power plants in the U.S., says Marvin Fertel, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), as reported in World Nuclear News.
Swiber Wins $310m Contract for Offshore Natural Gas Field Work
Swiber Holdings Limited, an offshore construction and support services company based in Singapore, has won its second-largest contract; a $310 million engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contract from an unidentified national South Asian oil company.
Solar Energy Install Timeline Probed by NREL Report
The U.S. Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced findings from a data analysis it performed for more than 30,000 solar photovoltaic installations across the U.S.
Japan Could Restart Some Nuclear Power Plants in May
Some nuclear electric power reactors in Japan could be back online as early as May, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Oil Price Drop Leads to Lower Petrochemical Prices and Market Weakness, IHS Says
The recent decline in global oil prices is causing some petrochemical supply chain destocking, but is also sowing the seeds for better economic conditions, lower petrochemical prices and improving global petrochemical demand.
Revenues for Top Solar PV Suppliers Hit Three-Year High
IHS says that revenues among the 20 leading global suppliers of solar photovoltaics reached $5.9 billion in Q4 of 2014, the highest quarterly revenues since Q3 of 2011.
Wind Turbine Blade Part Could Boost Performance
Two Danish wind energy companies worked with the Technical University of Denmark and wind energy cluster Hub North develop a system called PowerCurve to improve wind turbine's performance by up to 10%.
Argentina Selects Chinese Design for Nuclear Power Plant
Plans for a new nuclear plant in Argentina incorporate a Hualong One reactor from China, World Nuclear News reports. The presidents of Argentina and China recently signed a cooperation agreement to jointly construct the plant.
Wastewater Treatment Technology for Developing Countries
Engineers have developed a wastewater treatment technology for use in developing countries that can reduce total energy consumption by 90%.
Concrete Harvests Solar Energy for Electricity
Researchers at the University of Kassel in Germany have developed a building material based on the principles of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).
Energy Department Launches Clean Energy Incubator
The U.S. Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched the Clear Energy Incubator Network.
Energy Management Smart Thermostats Installed in 3.2m U.S. Homes
Consumers in North America and Europe bought twice as many smart thermostats in 2014 as in the previous year, according to an article in Metering.com.
Molten Salt Reactor Firm Partners with Canadian and Oak Ridge Labs
Terrestrial Energy Inc. (TEI) is collaborating with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to move the company’s integrated molten salt reactor (IMSR) to the engineering blueprint stage by late 2016.
Regulators Set Rules for Hardening French Nuclear Reactors
The French nuclear safety regulator has specified additional post-Fukushima safety measures to be taken at the country's fuel cycle and research facilities.
Shell to Start Closing Down North Sea Oil Field
Shell has announced its plans to decommission the North Sea Brent oil and gas field. A public consultation will begin on Feb. 16 to find the best way to take down the 23,500-ton Brent Delta platform, which has been in operation since the 1970s.
U.S. Oil Production: Strong Growth May Stall in 2015, IHS Says
Consistent growth in oil production may come to a halt by mid-2015, according to an IHS report. Lower oil prices are beginning to affect production, ending more than six years of “historic gains,” the report says.
Bioenergy Competes for Food Crops and Land, Report Claims
A report suggests that growing crops for biofuels is hurting the environment and adding to the global food crisis.
Delay for Plant Vogtle Nuclear Expansion
The timeline for completing the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant expansion will be delayed 18 months, Georgia Power Co. and Southern Co. announced in late January.
GE, Statoil to Develop Clean Tech for Oil and Gas Industry
GE and Statoil announced a new partnership to accelerate the development of clean technologies for the oil and gas industry.
Oxygen Loss in Oceans Similar to When Ice Age Ended
Seafloor sediment cores reveal abrupt, extensive loss of oxygen in the ocean when ice sheets melted roughly 10,000-17,000 years ago, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The findings provide insight into similar changes observed in the ocean today.