I have just done my first pass of the Word Energy Outlook 2012 issued by the IEA this November. Many of you will have seen some of the headlines – one of the most intriguing is that the US is expected to become the world’s largest oil producer by 2017 Read more…
I started writing this while sitting on the very long plane ride on my way to China. The Rio+20 conference had just started, the largest ever UN conference and yet it was receiving relatively little press. I remember the first Rio conference 20 years ago when there was so much Read more…
It seems as if a day doesn’t go by when we don’t hear about the low price of gas in North America and its impact on potential growth in the nuclear industry. In the past month, the price of gas actually dropped below $2 /million BTU; a price that was Read more…
Has it been that long since my last blog entry? Been extremely busy this winter and of course, busy is good! But on the other hand, I have a set of topics piling up that I would like to write about. Earlier, I blogged when I read Jeff Rubin’s book Read more…
Late in November I blogged about a recent phenomenon being experienced in some systems – Surplus Baseload Generation (SBG). This is being experienced in Ontario, Canada due to falling electricity demand and the increased use of variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. At that time, I started Read more…
As usual at this time of year I find myself asking “Where did the time go?” Seems like just yesterday the year was beginning. And in this case, it was a very busy year. I am thankful to have been busy as we have been going through the worst economic Read more…
System operators have recently seen something rather new – SBG – or “Surplus Baseload Generation”. This is due to falling demand related to the current economic situation and a newer phenomenon; the displacement of base load by variable load renewable generation. With governments everywhere and the public strongly supporting new Read more…
Last month, the supply of uranium was severely interrupted when BHP declared force majeure on its deliveries of uranium as the main haulage system failed at Olympic Dam. Production has been reduced to about 20% of nominal and it is expected to take a number of months to repair and Read more…
Bruce Power officials say running at reduced capacity is the new reality for the nuclear plant for the foreseeable future
During the summer I have been a slacker when it comes to contributing to my blog. It is a time for relaxation; a good time for reading and reflection. As we all start the big climb out of the current economic crisis, it may be time to start thinking Read more…
This week MIT released an update to its 2003 report, “The Future of Nuclear Power”. Back in 2003 this report brought the economics of nuclear power in the United States to the forefront. It supported new nuclear as a low carbon option for electricity generation and considered a scenario that Read more…