Some random nuclear news

[Wobs]

Nuclear news:
“In the planning for their future energy choices Japan and Switzerland performed energy cost comparisons. Both nations found nominally the same cost disparities in wind, solar, and nuclear. In comparing costs of nuclear energy with both solar and wind energy costs, these nations independently found that solar electricity was a nominal 30 times more costly and wind energy 3 times the costs of nuclear energy. This helps explain why so many nations are building large nuclear programs and not wind or solar facilities. China for example is currently building 8 reactors and has 20 more in the design stages. They are also building huge hydro facilities and a large number of coal plants. “

and:
"Presently, nuclear fuel is commonly enriched by a clumsy process using centrifuge technology, but the Australian team has found a way to enrich uranium much more efficiently using lasers. “The technology, said Michael Goldsworthy, a nuclear scientist and leader of the project, may halve enrichment costs, which he estimated accounted for 30 percent of the price of nuclear fuel,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported on May 27, 2006."


Should make the already abundant uranium reserves goes even further.

[spadlet]

Originally Posted by Wobs

Nuclear news:
“In the planning for their future energy choices Japan and Switzerland performed energy cost comparisons. Both nations found nominally the same cost disparities in wind, solar, and nuclear. In comparing costs of nuclear energy with both solar and wind energy costs, these nations independently found that solar electricity was a nominal 30 times more costly and wind energy 3 times the costs of nuclear energy.

Do you have a link to the analysis parameters?

[August]

New Harris Poll "FlashBack" Finds Half Of Americans Favor Building More Nuclear Power Plants; Opposition Drops by Thirteen Percent Since Three Mile Island Accident 30 Years Ago

A new Harris Poll finds that 49 percent of Americans are in support of building more nuclear power plants as opposed to 47 percent in 1979 – virtually unchanged. As both U.S. presidential candidates have taken a stance on this issue, public support and/or opposition will be critical to the future of nuclear power in America. While a third of Americans are still opposed to new nuclear plant construction, this opposition has decreased by 13 percent (from 45 percent to 32 percent) since April 1979 just after the accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant on March 28, 1979. Prior to that incident, a series of Harris Polls found that substantial majorities of American adults were in favor of building new nuclear power plants.

In 1975, 63 percent favored building more nuclear power plants while 19 percent opposed their construction. Right after the Three Mile Island accident a Harris Poll found that the public was almost equally divided, 47 percent to 45 percent in favor of building more plants, but a month later a modest 52 percent to 42 percent majority supported an expansion of nuclear power. However, no new power stations have been built in the United States since 1979.

Of interest, today nearly one in five Americans respond that they are “not at all sure” how they feel when asked this question. What is clear, however, is that majorities believe there are major safety problems related to nuclear waste disposal and the possible escape of radioactive material.

- I'm not in favour of nuclear developments, that's all. It helps feed a lot of power to the military-industrial complex, I fear.

[Besoeker]

Originally Posted by August

New Harris Poll "FlashBack" Finds Half Of Americans Favor Building More Nuclear Power Plants; Opposition Drops by Thirteen Percent Since Three Mile Island Accident 30 Years Ago



- I'm not in favour of nuclear developments, that's all. It helps feed a lot of power to the military-industrial complex, I fear.

It also provides France with 70% of its electrical energy.
From what I have observed, there seems to be a backlash against nuclear because the perception that it is dangerous.
This perception may be shaped by the Three Mile and Chernoybl incidents.

But few human endeavours are without risk.
Bhopal, Piper Alfa, and Aberfan come to mind.
Not to mention the RTA fatalities.