Civilian nuclear power plant owners in the United States purchased 55 million pounds U3O8e in 2011 at an average price of $55.64 per pound U3O8e. Foreign-origin uranium accounted for 91% of the purchases and was sourced mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, China, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, and Ukraine. Prices were up sharply.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to approve Southern Company’s application to build and operate two new nuclear reactors [...] near Augusta, Georgia. The combined construction and operating license will make the Vogtle units the first to receive construction approval in over 30 years.
An article on the Bloomberg.com website explores how the United States is starting to approach energy self-sufficiency with rising oil output, developing shale gas fields and growth in renewable sources.
Uranium consumption currently exceeds production by over 70 million pounds per year and the source that currently supplies overconsumption will deplete in the next few years.
The ExxonMobile 2012 Outlook for Energy has a chart that compares current demand for energy sources with the forecast demand in 2040. Demand for all sources of energy increases. Although wind and solar demand grows rapidly, in 2040 their total use is still dwarfed by the demand for oil, gas and coal.
The Energy Information Administration has an article that explores the sources of primary energy in the United States. Primary energy includes petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear fuel, and renewable energy.
As part of their International Energy Outlook, The Energy Information Administration has released a chart showing the projected sources for electricity generation. Renewable sources are expected to move into the lead and the use of coal, natural gas and nuclear will continue an uninterrupted rise. Petroleum liquids is the only source expected to decline.
Yucca Mountain, once designated as the permanent storage site for US nuclear waste, is available for other uses. GAO has published: “Yucca Mountain: Information on Alternative Uses of the Site and Related Challenges“
Over 20 years ago construction was halted on the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant due to declining power demand estimates. The Tennessee Valley Authority has now approved a $4.9 billion plan to continue with the construction.
“Owners and operators of U.S. commercial nuclear power reactors purchased nearly 47 million pounds of uranium from U.S. and foreign suppliers during 2010; 92% of this total was of foreign origin.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration article.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan believes that Japan should work to decrease and then eliminate its reliance on nuclear power: “Through my experience of the March 11 accident, I came to realize the risk of nuclear energy is too high.”
Germany shut down a number of nuclear power plants immediately after Japan’s Fukishima nuclear accident. Now they might have to restart at least one plant to meet winter power demands.
An article on the Christian Science Monitor website asks how well the United States could handle a mega-disaster such as the earthquake-tsunami-nuclear accident that has struck Japan.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has a detailed question and answer page on “Radiation and the Oceans” with a focus on radiation from leaking Japanese nuclear reactors.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories has a very interesting chart that maps energy sources such as natural gas, solar and coal with energy uses such as electricity generation, residential, transportation, etc. Check it out.
With a number of nuclear plants out of commission and a that energy source declining in popularity how will Japan’s energy industries recover from the nuclear loss?
With several of Japan’s nuclear reactors out of commission, energy analysts expect that coal-fired plants will be first to supply unmet demand but in the long-term, LNG will be the replacement. Most of the coal and LNG is expected to come from Australia.
The Energy Information Administration has updated the Japan Country Analysis Brief. Japan is the third largest consumer of oil and will likely consume more with nuclear power units going offline…
“Japan likely will require additional natural gas and oil to provide electricity, however power demand may be dampened at least in the short term as a result of the destruction of homes and businesses.” Quoted from the EIA brief.
Investors are selling shares in uraniummining companies after news of several damaged nuclear reactors in Japan. They fear a downturn in the construction and continued operation of nuclear plants.
A video interview with Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of the UAE Nuclear Energy Corporation. He says that United Arab Emirates can save money by selling their oil while using nuclear plants to generate their electricity.
In a TED: Ideas Worth Spreading talk, Mark Jacobson and Stewart Brand debate the question: “Does the world need nuclear energy?” They both attack the question by considering the alternatives.
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