More nations clamor for nuclear energy

In the first surge of interest in building nuclear power plants in decades, countries as far afield as Egypt, Poland, Nigeria and Vietnam expressed nuclear aspirations at the IAEA's annual meeting. The disputes with Iran and North Korea have complicated international nuclear issues but they have also clarified how other nations will have to carefully stake their peaceful claims in a nuclear world. While Iran is attempting to enrich its own uranium, other potential nuclear countries view fuel production as too difficult and costly an endeavor. They want to fuel their power plants by buying enriched uranium commercially from suppliers in Russia, France, the United States and a consortium that includes Britain, the Netherlands and Germany.

Interest in civilian nuclear energy has flourished in the past two years as countries assess large-scale forecasts for power demands. 17 of the 28 nuclear plants under construction in the world are in Asia. "Why are more countries interested? When the price of oil rises, alternatives begin to make sense ... wind and solar power can't cover their needs. For many, it comes down to practical considerations: When people go home at night, do the lights come on?" said Tariq Rauf, IAEA's verification and security policy chief. The passing of time also plays a role. Long shadows of concern cast by the accidents in 1979 at Three Mile Island and in 1986 at Chernobyl have receded. It is generally agreed that reforms have greatly strengthened safety margins, even if some critics are not yet satisfied.

At the IAEA general conference in September, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a U.S-based foundation aimed at reducing nuclear risks, pledged $50 million to create a uranium stockpile as a safeguard for countries that choose not to produce their own nuclear fuel. The idea is simple: the fewer countries that produce fuel, the lower the risks. The pledge, backed by CNN founder Ted Turner, former Sen. Sam Nunn and financial adviser Warren Buffett, would allow the IAEA to determine the conditions of access. The fuel bank is one of about six proposals that emerged this year as nuclear nations try to strengthen safety perimeters.

ExxonMobil affiliate highlights lithium-ion battery technology for hybrids

peakoil.com -> greencarcongress.com :

ExxonMobil Chemical's affiliate in Japan, Tonen Chemical Corporation (TCC), will feature its microporous film lithium-ion battery (LIB) separators designed for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications at the 22nd International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition (EVS 22).

TCC expects that its advanced performance separators will significantly improve LIB power and safety performance in HEV applications. The separators offer the potential to make HEV batteries lighter weight and smaller, thereby contributing to HEV system cost reduction and to improvements in design flexibility and durability.

TCC has more than 20 years of research and development in LIB separators and has supplied its proprietary separators for the world's first commercial rechargeable LIB [in 1991]. TCC has collaborated with ExxonMobil Chemical, one of the global polyolefins technology leaders, to develop a new generation of advanced performance LIB separators for HEVs.

- It is significant that ExxonMobil is getting into the game. That's a positive step for a change, compared to funding climate-change critics.

(2006-10-30 13:12:00 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

Honda starts selling business jet for US$3.65m

channelnewsasia.com, vtec.net, hondajet.honda.com :

Honda Motor announced the sales launch of its light business jet with a US$3.65 million price tag, taking the company a step closer to realising its long dream of entering general aviation. Production is scheduled to begin in the United States in 2010 with an initial output of up to 70 aircraft a year. Honda said the jet was the fastest and most fuel efficient in its class and would set a new standard for interior space and comfort. The jet will seat two pilots and five passengers.

Honda announced in July plans to enter the market for light business jets in a joint venture with US-based Piper Aircraft. Honda assigned engineers to the aircraft project in 1986 and HondaJet was created as an experimental company to develop the aircraft in 2003. Last year, it also set up a joint venture company with General Electric to build small aircraft engines.

- According to vtec.net, the HondaJet had 100+ orders in 3 days. That's phenomenal.

Storm knocks out power to parts of American Northeast

news.yahoo.com :

Thousands of homes and businesses had no electricity from Maryland to Maine as a storm system blasted the region with winds gusting to more than 50 mph, knocking over trees and a construction crane. The storm was blamed for at least two deaths. The weather observatory atop New Hampshire's 6,288-foot Mount Washington reported sustained wind of 100 mph and a gust to 114 mph. The peak also got 11 inches of snow overnight, for an October total of 39 inches.

More than 100,000 utility customers throughout the region, including 44,000 in Maine, were without power Sunday. New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, one of three major airports for the New York City region, had delays up to 1 1/2 hours, mostly for incoming flights.

(2006-10-30 09:59:02 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

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