ISSUE 113 Nuclear News B~ach Particles . 4 Cuemingham, Nirex, Cap La Hague 5 Subsidies, Chernobyl replacements, recycling radioactivity _ 6 Alexander Nikitin, Japanese prosecutions _ 7 Features Half- lives after the RCF 8 Lobbying for lethargy -· 10 Oils not well on the Atlantic frontier 12 Renewable energy life cycles 14 Paltry policies on efficiency 15 Renewing renewables orders 16 Safe Energy News Corporate affairs --~ 18 New ministers, negotiating for a change 19 Green paper 'ambitious', German wind up ___ 20 SRO projects surface, solar marches cm 21

Reviews __..::.. ____ 22 ANNOUNCEMENTS

12th Low level Radiation and Health Conference Subscriptions "Scientific and Cultural Approaches to Nuclear Risk" 19/20 July An annual subscription to the Speakers include: Safe Energy Journal is: • Prof Lewis Wolpert, UCL, Chair of Public Understanding of £40 ORGANISATIONS Science, biologist • Prof Bryn Bridges, Sussex, Chair of Committee on Medical £16 INDIVIDUALS Aspects of Radiation in the Environment • Or Rachel Western, Nuclear Spokeswoman, Friends of the Earth £8 UNWAGED • Or Helen Wallace, Nuclear Spokeswoman, Green peace Send cheques, payable to Safe Energy, to • Or Chris Busby, Nuclear Spokeswoman for the Green Party, 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh EH6 SQG, or pay by chemical physicist credit card over the telephone. 0131 554 9977 • Maurice Frankel, Director, Freedom of Information Campaign • Or Alan lrwin, Brunei, Reader in Sociology, sociologist Special offer for 1997, free • Or John Adams, UCL, 'Risk Expert, geographer • lan Welsh, Cardiff, sociologist illustrated A2 map poster of • Paul Mobbs, environmental scientist renewables in the UK and maybe ... • Prof Jean-Francois Veil, Besancon, epidemiologist/statistician with every new subscription. • Prof Alexey Yablokov, Director of the Russian Centre for Environmental Policy Venue Advertising University of the West of England, Bristol Cost REACH Full page (190 x 265mm) £200 Circa £40 individuals, £80 institutions for B&B, two lunches, one evening Half page (190 x 130mm) £100 meal, tea & coffee (or bring sandwiches and beer money - its only £12 YOUR per night for a room) Quarter page (90 x 130mm) £50 AUDIENCE Contact Above prices for camera ready copy Paul Oorfman - UWE, FBE, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol CALL NOW (Discounts may be available to non-profit organisations) BS16 1QY. Tel: 0117 656 261 ext. 3372

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2 Safe Energy Journal 113 June - Aug 1997 EDITORIAL

Some things change " ... a fitting years old this year, Safe Energy is old enough to remember the last Labour government. An eight page bulletin spawned by the campaign move for the against Torness nuclear power station has become the glossy journal you 20 have before you today. fossil fuel According to plan, Safe Energy supporters are strategically placed throughout councils, universities, government offices, the consulting industry would fraternity and the now suit-wearing environmentalists. lightyears away from the early days, new nuclear capacity in the UK is now a pipe be to say how dream for its supporters. But our work here is not yet done-that is self-evident from a cursory glance at this they plan to issue. lt might be a different backdrop. Climate change (and nuclear's chosen role as saviour) contribute to wasn't an issue 20 years ago. Environmentalists certainly weren't invited to consult with government and industry 20 years ago, and sustainability wasn't even in the dictionary. greenhouse gas The mandate - to promote safe, clean energy - is as it always was. reduction Some stay the same targets currently being afe Energy's 1987 ten year anniversary edition reported the government's aban donment of Nirex's shallow burial concept for low level waste. A Nirex official negotiated." S conceded the decision "could mean that a facility for LLW would not be devel­ oped as early as was originally hoped." A further ten years on, Nirex's plan B, to dump it with intermediate waste in the Sellafield deep repository, is also on the rocks following government refusal. For 20 years Safe Energy and many others have said the first step for managing nuclear waste is to stop its production. After that, its pure damage limitation. To quote The Safe Energy Journal is the 1987 Safe Energy edition: "There is no solution to existing nuclear waste. There are the international magazine only measures which can be taken to isolate it from living things." lt's a simple, powerful of Friends of the Earth argument which makes the nuclear industry's carry on regardless attitude look a reckless, Scotland's Safe Energy Unit. Views expressed are dangerous folly. not necessarily those of FoE Now Greenpeace are saying the important first step in tackling climate change is to Scotland. cease further fossil fuel exploration. Discovered reserves are more than enough, when burnt, to wreck the climate. And as greenhouse gasses already emitted have committed Editor: Helen Snodin us to temperature rise, the next step is to limit the damage. Contributors: Patrick Green, Yet fossil fuel companies cannot as yet translate the logic of this argument into Sir John Knill, Blake Lee Harwood, Pete Roche, action. Nicola Steen, Graham Stein, They say that action by one company in one area is chicken feed on the global scale. Mike Townsley, Andrew But until companies change the entrenched corporate psyche of projected fossil fuel Warren, Tertia Waters. production rising into the sky, they can't ask to be taken seriously on these kinds of details. Cover Design: Tony Wylie Layout: Another favourite, also used for human rights issues, is that a company cannot be Graham Stein, Tony Wylie expected to tackle what are essentially political problems. This argument shows no Proofing: Graham Stein understanding of what they are being asked. Shifting corporate strategy from fossil fuels to renewables and conducting business with care and understanding is well within Cover photo: Greenpeace. their means. To say it is solely up to government to shape energy strategy is an argument Squid from 'Atlantic they themselves would laugh out of the door. The intense political lobbying undertaken Frontier' cinema advert on their behalf by groups like the global climate coalition is a testament to the political Printed on recycled paper clout these companies expect to wield as a matter of course. When vested interests are threatened, heads are buried in the sand. Except this time Published by Friends of the heads are not quite submerged. Most fossil fuel companies concede the reality of climate Earth Scotland, change and the inevitability of action -just not in their time horizon. 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh EH6 5QG, As world leaders meet at Earth Summit 11, a fitting and sensible move for the fossil Scotland, UK fuel industry would be to say just how they plan to contribute to the near-term greenhouse gas reduction targets currently being negotiated. Tel. 0131 554 9977 Accepting and planning for a downward trend in fossil fuel consumption, investing in Fax 0131 554 8656 renewables to compensate, would be a welcome next step and a prudent commercial E-mail foescotland @gn.apc.org strategy. "Half lives after the RCF" p8; "lobbying for lethargy" p10; "Oils not well on the ISSN 1350-5114 Atlantic Frontintier" p12; "Corporate Affairs" p18.

Safe Energy 113 June- Aug 1997 3 NUCLEAR NEWS Second beach particle OLLOWING the discovery of a the country of origin not later than ten Karlsruhe. Fradioactive particle on a public years after "that waste has arisen". SEPA said it "believes that AEA beach, Sandside Bay, 1.5km from the The Dounreay site director, Or Roy Technology are inadequately monitoring Dounreay nuclear research centre, the Nelson, has warned: ''This could make discharges from the plant and that there Scottish Environment Protection some of our customers think twice about is doubt over the amount of radioactivity Agency (SEPA) has told the UKAtomic using us. It would affect the number of in the waste being processed at the Energy Authority (UKAEA) "to take people we employ at Dounreay." plant." all practicable steps" to advise beach Nelson has also confirmed that The Agency is also querying the users of the risk they face. Dounreay no longer expects to win legality of the importation of the sodium. The particle, a fragment of spent contractsforthebulkofAustralia's1,100 Over fifty tonnes of the slightly highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel, spent HEU elements from the Lucas radioactive sodium coolant arrived in five shipments which lacked so-called was found I I Heights 'transfrontier shipment authorisations', Iton~9May 1s the.• J.p, UKAEA reactor:research according to SEPA. A scheduled sixth s e c o n d "We are and final shipment already has the H E U n o w permit. fragment talking AEA Technology concedes it didn't to be found at Sandside; the first was about a relatively small number of have authorisation for the shipments but discovered in 1984. shipments over a period of two years." said it had clearance from the German While Dounreay was keen to play The Health and Safety Executive authorities, the Scottish Office and HM down the level of radioactivity involved, (HSE) has written to Dewar explicitly Industrial Pollution Inspectorate (SEPA' s Hugh Fearn of SEPA's northern office questioning SEPA's authority in predecessor). warned: "If it stuck in the gut, you would demanding early waste return. While the Welcoming SEPA' s apparently tough get an ulcer within four to six hours. Scottish Office admits it has received a stance, environment groups are asking There is potential for significant effects letter, it refuses to make it public, saying how radioactive waste managed to get from particles like this." only that it raised "procedural past Customs and Excise with The 1984 particle was dismissed by questions". incomplete paper work. the regulatory authorities as an anomaly, However, industry sources say that this latest find, however, has set alarm the HSE, acting on behalf of the Nuclear • The Nil has told Dounreay to bells ringing. Arguing that "at this stage Installation Inspectorate (Nil) - a phase out use of its 'silo' for radioactive the danger to the public is considered subdivision of the HSE - is said to be waste disposal by the end of the minimal", SEPA said: "This find has angry about the early return clause century. called into question previous estimates because waste storage on site is its Management had wanted to of the likelihood of coming into contact responsibility. Sources also say the HSE' s continue using the silo for dumping with such a particle." position is backed by the Department of radioactive sludges from the site's new The Agency is becoming Trade and Industry, which fears the discharge filtration system. However, the increasingly impatient with the decision would set a precedent Nil said the silo contravened UKAEA's sloppy waste management applicable to the Sellafield's Thermal government policy opposing wet storage practices. In the 'final proof' of its Oxide Reprocessing Plant (Thorp). of intermediate-level nuclear waste. "Decision on the application by the SEPA has also approved continued With the exception of a concrete UKAEA to dispose of radioactive waste reprocessing of lining, the silo from Dounreay Caithness", it expresses spent fuel from is frighteningly "disappointment that the UKAEA, Dounreay's now similar to the despite considerable technical defunct Prototype site's notorious knowledgeandexpertiserequiredforthe Fast Reactor. waste shaft, operation of their nuclear plant, has not H o w e v e r , w h i c h yet, after 14 years, managed to trace the following last exploded in source of this contamination." One September ' s 1977. It houses hundred and seventy particles were breakdown at the the same found on the foreshore at the Dounreay fast reactor reprocessing plant, Dounreay deadly blend of highly radioactive plant between 1984 and 1996, according says: "We have to revisit the whole elements, and contains the explosive to SEPA. question of whether reprocessing ... is the mixture of sodium and water. Dewar most sensible option." Around 200 of the The Nil has also ordered a full people employed at Dounreay work on review of nuclear waste storage at the The controversial decision document fast reactor reprocessing. site, following the collapse of Nirex's has now been passed to the Scottish According to Nelson, the cost of plans to establish a waste repository at Secretary, Donald Dewar, who has the repair would be "significantly more" Sellafield. According to Roy Nelson: authority to accept, reject or amend the than the £10 million reported in the press. "Much of our planning at Dounreay in proposed authorisation. terms of a long-term waste management Dewar has been coming under German contrad strategy has assumed that their will be a increasing pressure from a number of Nirex repository sometime in the first nuclear industry organisations to reject In another battle with Dounreay, half or quarter of the next century. one of SEPA's key recommendations, SEPA issued a prohibition notice "It is now quite clear [it] ... is further which states that while the Agency finds preventing AEA Technology, a recently away and we are now going to consider the practice of overseas reprocessing to privatised off-shoot of the UKAEA, from what that means in terms of our strategy be justified it would only be so if the processing radioactive sodium coolant for all wastes at Dounreay, especially resultant nuclear waste was returned to from Germany's scrapped FZK reactor, intermediate level waste." 0

4 Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 NUCLEAR NEWS Cunningharn relinquishes rad brief

OLLOWING accusations by In a letter to the prime minister, Tony public consultation into BNFL's application FFriends of the Earth of being "fatally Blair, calling for Cunningham to be sacked, to massively increase aerial discharges of compromised", the new Secretary of the chair of FoE England, Wales and radioactivity from its Thermal Oxide State for Agriculture, Dr Jack Northern Ireland, Charles Secrett, said: ''The Reprocessing Plant. Cunningham, has given up his role in associations, payments and gifts raise very regulating radioactive discharges from serious issues of propriety and the ability to • Meanwhile, a 'plume' of radioactive the giant Sellafield nuclear reprocessing impartially carry out ministerial duties in the sea water from Sellafield has for the first time been picked up on the north western complex. public interest at a time when the nation as shores of Canada. Cunningham, a former chemistry a whole is anxious to clean up politics and leave the era of sleaze behind." After leaving Sellafield's discharge research fellow, and well-known Welcoming the transfer of responsibility pipeline, caesium-137 and iodine- 129 champion of Sellafield, which is in his for nuclear discharges to a junior minister, travel up the west coast of Scotland, then Copeland constituency, declared a Jeff Rooker, Secrett said: "it is not enough ... ride the currents through the Norwegian number of links with the nuclear and he should not be at agriculture or Sea, down the east coast of Greenland, into chemical industries in the Parliamentary environment, where decisions on the nuclear the Arctic Sea and then into the northern Register of Members Interests. The and chemical industries are made. waters of Canada. entries include a reference to "financial "He has supped at the nuclear table for According to Per Strand, of the support for travel and accommodation too many years. He cannot be asked to Norwegian Radiation Protection Agency, of in the USA" for Cunningham, and his regulate an industry he has been a paid the 40,000 billion bequerels released from wife, from BNFL Inc, a wholly owned US advocate for." Sellafield over the years, "so far, about subsidiary of Sellafield operators British A decision from the Environment 15,000 billion bequerels have reached the Nuclear Fuels. Agency is imminent on BNFL' s application Arctic. This is between two and three times As agriculture secretary, he is, in law, for a licence to operate the recently more than the contamination from one of the final arbiters on radioactive completed Sellafield Mixed Oxide Plant. Chernobyl, which is reaching the Arctic via discharge applications. The Agency is also about to embark on a the Baltic and North Seas." 0

dispose of its high-level nuclear waste Dump Nirex? (HLW), which was not part ofNirex's remit, the bulk of which is currently being stored IREX has decided not to launch a high Professor David Smythe, of Glasgow at Sellafield to allow it too cool for fifty years Ncourt appeal against former University's Geophysics Department, who before disposal. environment secretary John Gummer's had previously worked for Nirex and took The award of the £345,000 contract to rejection of its planning application for a prominent role in the case against the RCF Quantisci, Oxfordshire, which advised a Rock Characterisation Facility (RCF) at proposal, said: "Nirex's integrity has been Nirex on the Longlands Farm site, has been Longlands Farm near Sellafield. questioned by the result of the inquiry ... criticised by environment groups. Rachel Gummer' s decision, taken on the day Nirex should be wound up and replaced." Western, of Friends of the Earth (England, John Major called the general election, has His view is backed by the former chair Wales and Northern Ireland), said: "The thrown the UK's nuclear waste management of the government's Radioactive Waste whole Nirex programme has been plans into chaos, leaving the new Labour Management Advisory Committee, discredited, yet here we go again with the government to pick up the pieces. Professor Sir John Knill: "It has acted in a government starting to look for another While no decision has yet been taken secretive manner. Material which is of deep disposal site with the same people, on how to proceed in finding a final resting importance has been held back. The but this time for even more dangerous place for the UK' s low and intermediate­ management, the board of Nirex, has got waste." level waste, which the industry had hoped to be looked at and probably to a large The Environment Department, to send to a Nirex repository in the first extent replaced." however, maintained that Quantisci is "the quarter of the next century, many observers most qualified company around", adding now think that Nirex itself should be • Meanwhile, the government has that deep disposal on land remains the best dumped. ordered a study into how the UK should option for disposing of HLW. 0

betrayed the public's trust." Cap La Hague DSIN, the French nuclear regulator, has classified the event as level one on the REENPEACE has launched a court public. However, Cogema failed to act on seven-level International Nuclear Events Gaction in France against Cogema, the OPRI's advice. When contacted by Scale. OPRI warned that the dose rate on operators of the giant nuclear Greenpeace, and asked why no action had the surface of the pipe was around reprocessing complex at Cap La Hague, been taken, the Prefet said he could not 300mSv /hour "and thus liable to cause after it measured radiation levels at the remember the letter and that he could not abnormal irradiation of a person spending plant's discharge pipeline some 3,900 be bothered to respond as his office was several hours immediately next to the times background levels when on two too busy working on the up coming French exposed pipe." occasions a length of the pipeline was elections. While claiming there was no risk, exposed during unusually low tides. Following the second low tide on 8 Cogema said whether and how long the After the first low tide exposed the April, Damon Moglen, of Greenpeace pipe is exposed depends on weather pipe on 11 March, the French Office of International, said: "This is a very serious conditions, but having a few meters Protection against Ionising Radiation, scandal. The Prefet and Cogema have exposed during very low tides is not OPRI, wrote to the Prefet (government sought to protect their political and unusual. The company is now drawing up representative) in La Mancha and Cogema corporate interests rather than the public's plans for a "definitive" solution to the advising them to close the beach to the health and safety. These people have exposed pipe problem. 0

Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 5 NUCLEAR NEWS

Subsidising conventional DIRECT SUBSIDIES MILLIONS OF US$ 1995 Fossil R&D Gas and Oil 5.4 UROPEAN hand-outs for nuclear of carbon dioxide, increase the share Other subsidies gas and oil 10.7 Epower and fossil fuels are of renewable energy or its intention to R&D Coal 9.7 Coal production subsidies 1192.1 undermining its policies aimed at establish competitive energy markets," Total Fossil 1217.9 tackling climate change, according to say the report's authors. Nuclear a new Greenpeace International report, While cost comparisons using Nuclear fission R&D 87.8 Nuclear fusion R&D 30.2 Energy subsidies in Europe.* direct subsidies presents a picture of a Subsidy fossil fuel levy 2768.0 Compiled by the Institute for badly skewed market in favour of Total Nuclear 2885.9 Environmental Studies, Amsterdam, polluting and dangerous energy Renewables the report shows that every year of systems "they are the tip of the Subsidy fossil fuel levy 71.7 R&D renewables 23.2 over $15 billion of direct subsidies iceberg" warns Green peace: "A Total renewable 94.9 from western European governments multitude of hidden subsidies to fossil Conservation - European Union (EU) countries fuels and nuclear energy are likely to R&D Conservation Energy efficiency programmes 94.6 plus Norway and Switzerland- to the be far greater. Special taxation or Standard performance programme 39.4 local Authority investment programme 453.5 energy industry more than 90% goes royalty deals for oil exploration and Total conservation 608.5 to nuclear power (28%) and fossil fuels reduced liabilities for nuclear Electricity (63%). industries are two examples." 0 R&D electricity 3. 9 "Existing subsidies and historic Total electricity 3.9 subsidies to fossil fuels and nuclear * Energy subsidies in Europe: how Total quantified direct 4811. 1 Ratio renewable/non-renewable 2.% energy and the imbalance compared to governments use taxpayers' money to excltKlmg conservation and eJecmr:tty renewable energy do not support the promote climate change and nuclear risk, EU's policy goals to reduce emissions Greenpeace International, 1997. Direct subsidies on energy in UK Chernobyl replacements LEVEN years after the Chernobyl Khemlnitsky-2 at a cost of $1.2 billion is The Ukrainian government plans to Edisaster, plans for the notorious the only way to close Chernobyl by 2000, complete the reactors, using EBRD and nuclear plant's closure are still in as laid out in the Memorandum of other western finance, to minimal safety disarray. Now, however, the European Understanding with the G7. However, an standards with only a promise to Bank for Reconstruction and Independent Review Panel, established perform further upgrades after the plants Development (EBRD) is planning to by the EBRD, concluded that completing are operating, warns FOEI. ignore its own advice and hold an and upgrading the stations is A similar project to upgrade Temelin extraordinary meeting to consider a unnecessary and not the least cost in the Czech Republic has not only run plan to complete two unfinished solution to meeting Ukraine's electricity into strong political opposition but is Ukrainian nuclear stations to replace needs. between two and five years behind the power supplied by the remaining According to Friends of the Earth schedule and $1 billion over budget. Chernobyl reactors, which account for International (FOEI), which has Condemning the plan, John Hallam around 5% of the country's electricity "reviewed and analysed the safety of FOEI said: "Ukraine cannot be allowed supply. documentation associated with the to blackmail the EBRD, Euratom, the A central tenet of EBRD funding is project ... no satisfactory way exists to European Commission and the G7 by that any proposal must represent the make Rovono and Khemlnitsky conform saying it will close Chernobyl only if other "least cost" solution to alleviating to either current western licensing and almost equally unsafe nuclear plants are nuclear risk. Ukraine and a number of safety standards, or current Russian opened, particularly if there is doubt as to western nuclear companies are adamant safety standards, within a remotely whether it will actually fulfil its part of any that completing Rovono-4 and acceptable cost framework." such bargain." 0 Recycling radioactivity OME recycled products, such as forbids the addition of radioactive be incorporated in law. Sglass and plastic, could in future substances to food, toys, ornaments or According to Dr John Cooper of the contain very low level radioactive cosmetics. Other forms of so-called National Radiological Protection Board, waste, following a decision by the disposal, including recycling in plastics which helped the Commission draw up European Commission to allow small and glass, are permitted without the new directive, "exemption levels" quantities of radioactive material to be authorisation if the quantities are below have been formulated for some 300 disposed of without reporting or an levels to be set by regulatory agencies in isotopes, at which he believes any risk authorisation licence. European Union member states. would be "trivial". Accepting that there is no safe level In the UK disposal of very low level However, the proposed levels for of radioactivity, Augustin Janssens of the radioactive wastes from hospitals and some isotopes are higher than the Commission's radiation protection unit industry is currently regulated under the 1,000bq/kg limit in sheep deemed safe defended the new Directive, arguing that Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and for consumption in the wake of it is simply not practical to regulate for new legislation will have to be placed Chernobyl: for strontium-90 and very low levels. before the House of Commons before caesium-137 the permitted concentration However, the Directive expressly 2,000, when the directive is supposed to is to be around 10,000 Bq/kg. 0

6 Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 NUCLEAR NEWS Nikitin absent for prize

ESPITE being freed from jail last position to contribute a section to the attempt to conceal information about DSeptember, the former Russian report about Soviet nuclear submarines. harmful impacts on people and Naval captain and senior inspector Foflowing publication of the report, the environment is a crime against humanity." with the Department of Defence and FSB accused him of releasing state secrets. Nikitin's wife, Tatania Chernova, Radiation Safety, Alexander Nikitin, is However, an investigation by Amnesty who accepted the Goldman Prize on his still facing charges of high treason for International has backed Nikitin's claim behalf, told Safe Energy she thinks "that his work outlining radioactive that all of the source information used had a special example is being made" of her contamination from Russia's Northern been previously published. The report is husband. While expected changes in the Fleet. currently the only book in Russia which Russian penal code should do away with Considerable confusion still is officially forbidden the charges levelled against Nikitin, she surrounds the exact nature of the charges. Speaking from St Petersburg, Nikitin is urging people to write to the Russian While treason can carry the death penalty, said: "The Goldman Prize is a welcome authorities demanding that the charges the maximum punishment now being acknowledgement of the work we have bedropped. 0 sought by the FSB, the Russian security done in Bellona. It is confirmation of the service (formerly the KGB), is believed to fact that the damage our planet suffered Letters can be sent to: be ten years imprisonment. The FSB still during the Cold war can only be repaired Prosecutor General Yuri Skuratov has Nikitin under close surveillance and through our acting together." 103793 Moscow has restricted his movements, preventing The Kola Peninsula, adjacent to the Bolshaya Dmitrova, 15 a. him from leaving his St Petersburg home Norwegian border along the Barents Sea, Fax: 00 7 095 292 07 79 to attend a ceremony in the US to receive has the highest concentration of nuclear the (US dollars) $75,000 Goldman reactors in the world. With 52 retired Environmental Prize in April. submarines still containing their fuel, The prize was awarded in along with 67 operating nuclear recognition of Nikitin's work with the submarines, the danger of catastrophic Norwegian environmental group radioactive contamination, especially Bellona, which focuses on the from corroded and leaking hulks, is considerable environmental problems in enormous. north-western Russia. Together with Despite ten months in prison - the Thomas Nilsen and Igor Kudrick, he first six weeks in solitary confinement­ produced a report: The Russian Northern Nikitin remains committed to the work of Fleet-sources of radioactive contamination. Bellona: "I am convinced that ecology As a former chief engineer on nuclear cannot be secret. Environmental openness powered submarines, he was in an ideal is an inalienable human right. Any Japanese prosecutions ENIOR management of Japan's the debris following the explosion. after the accident. If found guilty, PNC Sstate run Power Reactor and While PNC previously admitted that officials will face fines of up to 200,000 Nuclear Fuel Corp (PNC) are to be 37 nuclear workers had been exposed, it yen and six months in jaiL prosecuted after attempting to cover had claimed in its official accident report While the police were s till up details of a fire and explosion at the that the fire, which broke out in a investigating the Tokai incident, 11 PNC Tokaimura reprocessing complex building where low-level waste was employees were exposed to radiation earlier this year. being bitumized, had been put out and following an accident at the Fugen It has emerged that one of the visual checks were made.lt now admits nuclear power station. According to the company's top inspectors deliberately that no such checks took place. The fire police, PNC waited 30 hours before destroyed photographs of the 11 March re-ignited and caused an explosion some reporting the incident. PNC has also accident, and that eight cleaners were ten hours later. Such was the cavalier subsequently admitted to 18 other exposed to low levels of radiation when attitude of the Tokai management that unreported rai:liation leaks from the they were instructed to clean up some of they continued to play golf during and Fugen plant. 0 IAEA and North Korea HILE the International Atomic was raised by the IAEAlollowing its first said that North Korea had more W Energy Agency (!AEA) claimed, inspection tour of tl)e country in 1993. plutonium than it claimed when it signed in May, to have strengthened North Korea signed the Nuclear Non­ a deal with the US in 1994 to freeze its international safeguards, to prevent Proliferation Treaty, which committed it weapons programme in exchange for two the diversion of civilian nuclear to opening its nuclear facilities to pressurised water reactors. "We have materials towards clandestine international safeguards inspectors, in never said-and we don't know- how weapons programmes, it also said it 1992. Since then, the Agency has been much more than a few hundred grammes thought North Korea is hiding a stash involved in a cat-and-mouse game with they have." However, he added that some of plutonium. North Korea in an attempt to discover countries' security services believe North The question of North Korea's how much plutonium has been amassed. Korea has several kilogrammes or enough clandestine nuclear weapons programme lAEA Director General, Hans Blix, for one nuclear warhead. 0

Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 7 NUCLEAR WASTE

Half-lives after the RCF

HE dismissal by the Secretary of State for RCF are so comprehensive, despite this almost the Environment of Nirex' s plans for a Rock unlimited expenditure, that it would not be TCharacterisation Facility (RCF) at Sella.field credible if the Board were to stay in place much provides the best opportunity there has been, longer. Indeed in comparable circu.mstances in since the Flowers Report of 1976, 1 for a private industry such a Board would already have restructuring of national radioactive waste been restructured. management policy. However, this is not an issue which our new government can put on the back It was the Flowers Report that recommended the burner. Decisions need to be made soon. formation of a Nuclear Waste Disposal Corporation (NWDC) which has, in the event, Sir John Kni/1 Why is this so? Because on face value only two similarities to the Nirex structure except that the questions are involved, the future of Nirex, and NWDC would have fallen under the Department was chairman the need for longer-term intermediate level waste of the Environment (DoE), rather than the OLW) storage. Both answers might appear self­ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The of Rwmac evident. consequences of the RCF inquiry demonstrate that DTI has failed, through its golden share or when Nirex Tucked away in paragraph 44 of the 1995 white through its appointed directors, to maintain paper on radioactive waste management policy proper influence on Nirex. selected is the decision that, in retaining the government's golden share in Nirex, there would be a new New Nirex Sellafield for undertaking that Nirex "will abide by Government policy". Paragraph 87 then commits A new Nirex, N(ew)nirex, should fall under the an RCF. Now government to developing a new approach for DoE, be created with a new Board, and take over repository site selection when the next the inheritance of Nirex. Membership of the the famously opportunity arises. The consequence of these two Nnirex Board should balance out the knowledge, policy decisions is that further site selection experience and skill base required at any period dubbed cannot start until government has determined the of time together with the interests of those who procedures to be used, and that would probably need to dispose of radioactive waste. For such a ·rrojan horse• take at least two to three years. Nirex is hamstrung Board to be effective, it could not be totally in its objective to develop a deep repository. independent but should be seen to operate in an independent manner. The Nirex Board has been has been Does this all mean that there is no need for dominated by the interests of industry Nirex., and it should be closed down, starting shareholders and it has not contained appropriate found afresh sometime in the future? In 1981 the scientific, economic and social expertise. Not government stopped the EC research unsurprisingly in the circumstances, the Board lacking. programme into deep drilling of granite has not contained anyone experienced in real­ promising that studies into deep disposal world geological risks and uncertainty associated Sir John would continue. This promise was not with deep investigations and large underground followed through, so in 1987 Nirex's The Way excavations. contemplates Forward contained cartoons of geological situations perceived to be suitable for an ILW What would the agenda for Nnirex be? The a future for repository which had never been scientifically greatest urgency relates to establishing the future tested. The rest, as they say, is history, but it of the large investment made into borehole Nirex. would be foolish to make the same errors instrumentation and other geological again. Until ideas come forward for a investigations at Sellafield. This area should permanent solution to ILW and high level become a research site investigating deep ground waste (HLW) in line with sustainable water flow in fractured rock, a topic which is of development, and which are better than deep primary interest to the deep disposal of geological disposal, we need a Nirex. radioactive waste internationally, and regional geophysical methods. Nnirex should plan and But we need a new Nirex which will work to an manage a ten year programme of investigations, innovative agenda paced at the rate at which building on the studies already carried out, and public confidence can be established through co-operating with industry and universities, transparency of action and consensus building. nationally and internationally. Such a programme Nirex has signally failed to gain public would require local support and formal consents, confidence. The Nirex board chose to go to a public and it would fail if it were to be seen as another inquiry on the RCF, and selected the timing, dearly Trojan Horse. For this reason, the government confident that it would win. So confident was the would need to define an area within west Board that the construction contract for the RCF Cumbria which would not be used, in the future, was let at the end of 1996. Of the order of £200m for radioactive waste disposal. In parallel to these had been spent on investigations at Sellafield and continuing studies near Sellafield, the Nirex it is reported that Nirex spent about £12m on the research programme into the behaviour of waste inquiry. Government criticisms of the case for the forms needs to be continued and extended.

8 Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 NUCLEAR WASTE

In developing a site selection process designed British Nuclear Fuel's (BNFL's) proposals for to gain consensus, such as that set out in the substitution are a related issue, and will come Rwmac-Acsni group report of 1995,2 the under further scrutiny. Substitution involves the government would require t~chnical ~upport, return of a smaller volume of HLW to its overseas and this might be best provided by m-house customers for reprocessing in exchange for a expertise within Nnirex. Indeed, with t~e larger volume of ILW retained in the UK for experience from Sellafield, it would now be easier storage and eventual disposal. The lack of a "An adept to begin to assess more realistically the .ex~ent ~o disposal route will now result in pressure to which deep repository sites actually exist m thiS return all wastes. move would country which would have a less than 10-6 risk ceiling.3 Store-and-decay be for If Nnirex were to be established with the three A construction programme for ILW new stores is government functions of running a research site at Sellafield, inevitable but will that be all? The case for the continuing with its existing waste resear~h, ~d construction of a national long-term store-and­ to declare providing technical back-up to a r~~tio~ decay facility for short-lived ILW has now become of site selection procedures, existmg core very much stronger. Such a facility, which would spent fuel ... scientific and technological expertise in Nirex hold short-lived ILW until it was acceptable for could be retained and not disseminated. Nnirex disposal as LLW, could be of value to the nuclear a waste should continue to prepare the national waste power industry, and also to the many ''s~all inventory and might have the wider role of users" thereby resulting in significant reduction form" creating and monitoring a national plan for of the ILW volumes to be disposed of in any decommissioning. eventual deep repository. The government's 1994 discussion document on the white paper also of Nirex's responsibilities was An illogical feature raised the question as to whether that waste might that it only had the task of constructing and be sent "for disposal to Drigg which might operating a deep repository for low level waste otherwise be disposed of to a Nirex repository". (LLW) and ILW~ HLW would have to be disposed Although the white paper did not propose such of elsewhere. With the consequential delay that a change in policy, it might well be advanced by has now been imposed on the disposal of ILW, it BNFL as a response to the delays imposed by the would be more sensible for the Nnirex brief to RCF decision. However, the function of Drigg embrace HLW. And if HLW, why not spent fuel? should be LLW disposal, and it would be unwise The 1995 white paper states that it "should be a to risk exhausting its radiological capacity while matter for commercial judgement of the owner space still remains for LLW. of the spent fuel, subject to meeting the necess~ regulatory requirements" whether reprocessu~g If the concept of a national store-and-decay facility is carried out. No doubt the new government will were to be pursued, then this would provide a face calls for an end to reprocessing. An adept useful first test of the government's new site NOTES move would be for government to declare spent selection procedure in circumstances where the fuel to be a waste form which should be stored ability to achieve public reassurance would be on 1. Nuclear Power and the unless reprocessing can be justified on safe~y, trial, rather than geological uncertainty. Environment The sixth report economic, technical, environmental and social from the British Royal grounds. If government so determined, Nnirex Commission on Environmental When our new government grasps the nettle of Pollution. chaired by Sir Brian would therefore be looking, in the years to come, radioactive waste management, it should have the Flowers. 1976. for a single site for the eo-disposal of ILW, HLW courage and vision to put in place policies with and spent fuel. half-lives which will take us well into the new 2. Site Selection for Radioactive millennium and beyond. 0 Waste Disposal Facilities and The delay to the opening of a deep repository the Protection of Human Health. Study group drawn means that lLW will now have to be stored at from members of the the surface well into, and not totally CArtoon from Rad ioactive Waste inconceivably beyond, the next century. Some Tlo~ Way Management Advisory parts of the nuclear industry have anticipat.ed Forw..,d, Committee and the Advisory Sub-s~obed Committee on the Safety of such a decision, and are well prepared w1th Nuclear Installations. March outline planning permissions for stores 1995. extending up to 2050. Elsewhere, where a more rosy view of Nirex's pr~spects has be~n 3. 1 in 1 million risk of death. adopted, the impacts are senous and there will need to be a construction programme to replace existing facilities, as well as providing Sir John Knill is for the future. Existing waste will have to be former Chairman of monitored and quality controlled to ensure the Radioactive Waste that it can remain in storage without any need M anagement for repackaging. Pressure will n e~d to. be Advisory Committee maintained by government, and the licensmg (Rwmac) and the authorities, to ensure that this opportunity is Natural Environment not taken to slow down (rather than Research Council, and accelerate) the conditioning and packaging of is now a freelance raw wastes, some of which have been in store engineering geologist. for a long time.

Safe Energy Journal 113 June-Aug 1997 9 CLIMATE CHANGE

Lobbying for lethargy

N 1995, the Inter-Governmental 3. Responding effectively to climate change is Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) simply too expensive and will cost the US I - the official scientific body assigned to economy billions of dollars and hundreds of investigate climate change and comprising over thousands of jobs. There's just 2,000 of the world's best scientists- delivered a stunning verdict that "the balance of evidence 4. There's no point in the industrial world doing 1.6% genetic suggests a discernible human influence on global anything to curb emissions of heat-trapping climate" caused by the burning of fossil fuels. This gases, since developing countries like China and difference stark conclusion has stimulated a broad scientific India will produce most of the heat-trapping and political consensus that climate change is real gases in the future. between us and has to be tackled urgently. Despite this, the December Kyoto Climate Summit looks set to fail As the science has firmed up through the 1990s, and to agree on anything other than tokenistic action the first two arguments have effectively collapsed to fight climate change. and can only be used for public posturing before chimpanzees. poorly briefed audiences, while being effectively The delicate negotiating process that could abandoned within the negotiations themselves. Our leading lead to legally binding agreements is being Scientific consensus on climate change is now frustrated by a lobby that has clear, vested, essentially unshakeable. edge, financial interest in preventing any action whatsoever - the fossil fuel lobby. Arguing This has forced the fossil fuel lobby to re­ supposedly, in the face of scientific consensus, the fossil fuel emphasise their economic arguments and to lobby contend that climate change science is point an accusatory finger at the developing is an ability flawed, that the industrialised world will be world, especially those countries with the bankrupted if it takes early action and that the greatest industrial potential- India and China to look into developing world is the major villain. None (and this despite the fact that per capita emissions of these positions are true, and the real price of greenhouse gases in these countries are one the future of taking no action to combat climate change twentieth of those in the US). These economic will be catastrophic for our civilisation, arguments against combating climate change potentially leaving millions dead, homeless or inevitably conjure up extreme visions of and act impoverished. industrial collapse and widespread accordingly. unemployment (600,000 job losses annually is the The fossil fuel lobby favoured figure of the GCC), but show little grasp Or Patrick of real world economics. There are three fossil fuel industry groups which Green and specialise in intervening in the climate change As their strategy of trying to discredit climate negotiations: (i) The Global Climate Coalition change science has failed, so they have instead 8/ake (GCC), whose members include Shell, Exxon, switched to promoting junk economics. Models Texaco, Ford and General Motors; (ii) The used are deeply flawed and assume the only way Lee Harwood International Climate Change Partnership (ICCP), to reduce emissions is by an enormous carbon whose members include British Petroleum, tax. In reality, countries are likely to use a range Dupont and Dow, and (iii) the Climate Council, a of fiscal, research, informational, incentive and report on platform for Don Pearlman, of the US law firm regulatory policies to achieve cost-effective Patton, Boggs and Blow, whose clients include emissions reductions. The IPCC has itself pointed some DuPont, Exxon, Texaco and Shell. out that cost effective, win-win, energy efficiency measures could secure early emissions reductions evolutionary While they claim to present a balanced view, they of 10-30% were governments to agree their essentially share a common goal to ensure implementation. aberrants. maintenance of a 'business-as-usual' scenario for as long as possible, allowing their members to Despite their junk science and fantasy economics, maximise profits. This means the unimpeded arguments of the fossil fuel lobby carry particular production and use of fossil fuels. weight in the US. As a result, the US government (backed up by Canada, Australia and New Zealand) is now the principle block on agreement The arguments of early action to prevent dangerous climate The fossil fuel lobby has focused its efforts on four change. major arguments: Yet experience clearly demonstrates that industry 1. There is no real evidence that global temper­ always grossly overestimates compliance costs atures have risen as a result of human causes. of environmental measures and underestimates its ability to achieve the kind of technical 2. Computer models of climate change have innovations necessary. Once national standards predicted far more warming than satellite records have been set-whether to reduce air pollution, actually show. clean out rivers and streams, or protect the

10 Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 CLIMATE CHANGE

particular, insurance and reinsurance industries are not able to sustain the scale of economic losses severe climate change is expected to precipitate. However, whether these lobby groups can successfully counter the influence of the fossil lobby in 1997, fuelled as it is by millions of dollars, remains an open question. If they fail, dangerous climate change will be becoming increasingly inevitable

The overall objective of the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change is the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations stratospheric ozone layer - industry has in the atmosphere at a level which would prevent successfully implemented cost-effective dangerous anthropogenic interference with the solutions, creating hundreds of thousands of new climate system." While the IPCC. has not jobs and improving many companies' suggested specific emission reduction targets, it competitiveness in global markets. has stated that maintaining atmospheric C02 concentrations at present levels can only be Ignoring the alternatives achieved by immediate reductions in emissions of 50-70%. In the absence of such cuts, As recently as this February, 2,000 economists, concentrations will rise, and developed nations including six Nobel laureates, signed a will eventually need to reduce their carbon statement arguing that the US should join emissions by significantly more than 60% by the other nations to take measures to slow climate middle of the next century. change, and agreed that "preventable steps are justified". The economists, who are from World governments are currently negotiating across the political spectrum, argued: emissions reductions for developed nations of the "Economic studies have determined that there order of somewhere between 0% and 15% by 2010. are many potential policies for which the Environmental groups, including Friends of the benefits outweigh the costs. Policy options are Earth, have backed calls from the Alliance of Small available that would slow climate change Island States (AOSIS) for a 20% reduction in C02 without harming employment or US living emissions by developed nations by 2005. A standards, and these may be economically reduction of this magnitude is likely to be the beneficial in the long-run." minimum required as a first step to ensure that global climate change stays within ecologically The last argument deployed by the fossil fuel tolerable limits. lobby - that action is pointless in the face of growth in the developing world - is simply a It can be seen therefore, that if the fossil fuel lobby red herring. Firstly, it is obvious to all parties to is successful, dangerous climate change will be the climate negotiations that the developing inevitable. Fighting climate change in the long­ world will postpone action until convinced the term means reducing our dependence on fossil industrialised nations are serious about tackling fuel energy resources. Two basic avenues are climate change. International action must start open. The first is to do more with less and improve with the West. Secondly, developing nations the efficiency with which we use fossil resources. currently make relatively small per capita The second is to find other sources of high quality contributions of climate change gases, and are not energy that don't cause climate change, or, unlike responsible for the historic burden of carbon nuclear power, don't have other serious dioxide (C02) currently in the atmosphere. So environmental impacts. Such sources include from a perspective of political pragmatism, wind power, solar power and other renewable equity or simple justice, it seems clear that the sources of energy. industrialised world must take the lead in combating climate change by reducing emissions Ultimately, governments of the world must of greenhouse gases. decide whether to allow the suicidally short-term interests of the coal, oil and gas lobby to prevail or whether a sustainable future based on Lobbying for a future renewable energy technology is something worth working for. It is no exaggeration to state that the In contrast to the 'lobbying for lethargy' future of our civilisation is in their hands. 0 conducted by the fossil fuel lobby there are alternative business groupings actively working Dr Patrick Green is for real action to fight climate change. These websites: senior energy, nuclear groupings, including the US Business Council for http:/ /www.shell.com and climate campaigner, Slake Lee a Sustainable Eriergy Future (BCSEF) and the .ford.com European BCSEF, represent industries willing to Harwood is media co­ accept that action on climate change can be good .texaco.com ordinator, at Friends for jobs and the economy. There are also lobbyists .Exxon.com of the Earth England, working on behalf of those commercial sectors Wales and Northern which believe themselves to be particularly .General-Motors.com Ireland vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In http:/ /165.121.20.76 (BP)

Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 11 CLIMATE CHANGE

Oil's not vvell on the Atlantic Frontier

UST over 24 hours before British to rapidly increase investment in the alternatives Petroleum's (BP) Annual General Meeting, to fossil fuels. The question is not if, but when JGreen peace activists installed an array of 25 we phase out fossil fuels. Oearly an immediate solar panels on the roof of BP Exploration's end to the use of fossil fuels would be impractical. lt's carbon Aberdeen Headquarters and called on the But it is time oil companies recognised an end company to switch investment from oil exploration must come, in decades, beginning with an end logic. If we to its subsidiary BP Solar. BP is the lead oil to further expansion of oil development. company involved in the £826m Foinaven project are to avoid which will begin producing oil soon from the BP already has a profitable and expanding solar recently discovered field west of Shetland. This subsidiary, BP Solar, so it is well placed to find catastrophic could be the start of a new oil rush on the Atlantic profitable market-based alternatives to the Frontier, which stretches from west of Ireland to continued extraction of oil, compared to other oil changes in the Faroes and from west of Rockall to Norway. companies. But in comparison with BP's investment of more than £0.5 billion in the our climate, BP says it "regards global warming as a serious Foinaven oil field in the Atlantic Frontier, the issue and actively participates in the debate to company has only invested £60m in the 10 years 75% of the find solutions to this problem" .1 But at its core of BP Solar's existence.~ BP produces a fundamentally polluting product. world's fossil And it is planning to increase production, According to industry analysts, as of the end worldwide, over the next decade from 1.5 million of 1995, BP Solar was the third largest solar fuel reserves barrels of oil and gas a day to 2.Sm barrels.2 To company in the world, employing some 500 avoid serious, irreversible damage to our climate, staff worldwide with 10% of the global market must remain most fossil fuels will have to remain in the ground. and sales for 1995, earning BP Solar some The first step is to stop expanding fossil fuel $47.8m.6 However/ the vast majority of BP in the ground. reserves, which means an end to new oil Solar's business activities are taking place exploration. outside the UK. This is symbolised by a Pete Roche decision made late last year to invest $7m in a The United Nations' Climate Convention has solar manufacturing plant in California. BP Solar manufactured an estimated 100 000 solar elaborates committed governments, including the UK, to 1 work towards "stabilization of greenhouse gas panels in 1995, but not one of these solar panels on why concentrations in the atmosphere [to] prevent was made in Britain as all of BP manufacturing dangerous anthropogenic [human made] and assembly plants are based overseas in Spain, Green peace interference with the climate system". BP's major Australia, America, India, Saudi Arabia and investment in the Atlantic Ocean and its aim to Thailand. At most only 1% of BP Solar's increase oil and gas production by 5% per year production was actually sold in the UK is calling for are incompatible with this com.mitment.3 If the £826m spent so far on Foinaven had been a halt to oil Scientists on the Advisory Group on Greenhouse used for solar in the UK, it could have solarised Gases working for the United Nations some 100,000 homes. BP clearly gives priority and gas Environment Programme, found that to investing in new lJK oil production rather temperature increases beyond 1"C by 2100 may than opening solar factories in Britain and exploration lead to "extensive ecosystem damage".• The rate developing a solar market for Britain. These of change should be less than O.l"C per decade. misplaced priorities are symbolised by BP's in the Based on this, it is possible to estimate a 'budget' apparent failure to install any of its own solar for fossil fuels: how much we can extract and panels on its UK offices. Atlantic bum, while limiting the temperature increase to 1CC. The small amount of oil, gas and coal which Billion 1onnes of catbon Frontier. we can afford to bum could then be used wisely, 4500 in an orderly phase-out. 4000

3500 Using computer models of the world's climate it Ultimately 3000 recoverable is possible to predict that, to stay within a 1"C f ossilfuel temperature rise over the next 100 years, the total 2$00 resou rce amount of carbon that can be released from the Fossil fuels 2000 ex:pe<:led to burning of fossil fuels (as C02) is around 225 To limit be burnl 1500 ecological gigatonnes of carbon (GtC). This means that damag;;. around 75% of the known, economically 1000 only 1. is much can Current recoverable reserves of fossil fuels can never be be oomed 500 economiCally (225) e~tractable burned. They must remain in the ground. f ossil fuel 0 fl!Serves Ecological IPCC World fossil The inescapable conclusion of this climate logic limits busin~ fuelr~rce asuwal base is that there is an overriding need to ensure most ~enarlc oil, coal and gas remain below the ground, and Total amounts of carbon In world fossil fuel reserves

12 Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 CLIMATE CHANGE

John Harford, of BP, has offered a public explanation for this lack of development of solar power in the UI<, which is effectively blocking further market expansion of BP Solar's operations. Writing in the November /December edition of Environment Business Magazine he states: "There are some really far-sighted programmes in PV [photovoltaic] systems taking place in other countries but here we are stuck in a short-term view of energy. Eventually that will have to change ... Those governments developing supportive and well-integrated PV programmes will greatly enhance the position of th.e domestic industry and enhance their share of world trade in PV products."7

BP Solar is a full member of the UI< Photovoltaic Association (UKPVA). In February 1997 the major oil exporting nations are very frightened NOTES UKPVA published a summary of its strategy about the outcome of this year's round of 1. A new frontier for Britain-Why document entitled Photovollaics: A Growth international climate negotiations " ... if the BP is backing the Atlantic FrontJer Industry for Britain. UKPVA describes a £lOOm countries which are limiting their emissions Project. BP Leaflet cApril 1997. investment programme by the industry, also start pulling back on their exploration and 2. "BP Signals Plans for Sustained which, if combined with a government new production that will mean that not all of Growth in Production" . BP Press investment of £18m a year up to 2010, will the reduction is taken off the current major Release. 12 March 1997. generate major economic and environmental (available on http:/iwww.bp.com/ energy exporters ... and that could make them press). benefits; create 40,000 new British jobs and (OPEC countries) feel as if they are being increase Britain's share of the world solar treated fairly". 3. BP Annual Review 1996. p6. market from 9% to 15%. This would result in 4. Rljsberman and Swart. 1990. annual sales of £750m.8 BP is not the only company involved in new oil UNEP Advisory Group on exploration on the Atlantic Frontier. One of the Greenhouse Gases (AGGG). Furthermore, this level of investment is necessary last acts of the outgoing government was to award 5. BP Annual Review 1996. p17, to enable BP Solar to increase its manufacturing licenses for 25 of the 68 tranches offered in the (the figure Is given as $1 OOm). capacity, reduce costs of the technology and 17th licensing _round. The majority of these 6. From: Strategies Unlimited. 1996 maintain its status as a leading solar company. tranches are located in the Rockall Trough, west Photovoltaic Industry Increasing manufacturing capacity is critical to of The Hebrides. Seismic surveys are expected to Competition Analysis. ensure BP Solar's share of the rapidly expanding begin this summer. A Statoil/Enterprise/Mobil Note, BP's chief executive John global market for solar, estimated to be worth consortium secured the largest number of Browne announced on 19 May 9 that the company aimed to some £5bn a year by 2010. licences, but the list of companies involved reads increase sales of solar equipment l.ike a roll call of all the world's major oil to $1 bn over the next decade Kyocera, Japan's leading solar manufacturer will companies. from $ 1OOm now. be investing $122m in new production facilities 7. John Harford, Planning Manager, over the next three years, resulting in a five-fold Waters of the north-east Atlantic Ocean hold an BP Solar. Environment Business increase in. their production capacity, allowing the immense richness and diversity of wildlife. They Magazine, Nov/Dec 1996. manufacture of around eight times more solar are the richest habitat in Europe for whales. For 8. Photovoltaics: a growth industry panels than BP Solar shipped in 1995. 10 bird life, the seas and coastal habitats are of for Britain (Executive Summary). world wide importance. Off the Scottish British Photovoltaic Assodation. BP's activities at the Climate Change Convention continental shelf, the deep ocean is an area of February 1997. also raise questions about its claims to be unique ecology about which very little is known. 9. The Solar Letter, 14 February concerned about climate change. It is a high Dozens, if not hundreds of new species are 1997, Vol7, No.4 p71 . Note profile active member of two industry lobby Kyocera intends to increase its expected to be found there. manufacturing capacity to groups, whose main intention at the climate 1,2MW by year-end 1997, to negotiations is to delay action by governments Seismic testing, routine and major oil spills, double to 25MW shortly after, to set early col emission targets. and pollution caused by drilling operations and to Increase it further to will all have significant impacts upon the 60MW of manufacturing BP also plays a major political and market role in capacity by year 2000. In marine ecosystem. Yet BP is producing so­ comparison BP Solar shipped promoting the use of oil. It will be the first to called 'environmental assessments' at the same 7.2MW in 1995. develop deep-sea extraction of oil in the Atlantic time as developing an oil field in the Atlantic Ocean-a much more hostile environment than A SO page briefing and short Ocean. There is minimal public consultation, summary are available from anywhere this technology has been used before information is kept 'confidential', and there is Greenpeace Sane Energy - setting a precedent and opening the way for no provision for halting development if Campaign, Canonbury VIllas. other companies to enter frontier areas such as damage to the environment is found to be London, N1 2PN. Phone Pete Roche the Arctic and Antarctic seas, and increasing the on 0171 865 8229. Or visit our new unacceptable. web site: http://www.greenpeace. threat to the climate. org.uk/atlantic Sooner rather than later we are going to have to Dr Mike Grubb, head of the climate programme stop exploring for new fossil fuel reserves, if we at the Royal Institute for International Affairs, are going to avoid serious irreversible damage to Pete Roche is Atlantic told The Scotsman newspaper "if it is opening up our climate. It is madness to start opening up Frontier campaigner a whole new global area and capability then it is pristine marine environments like the Atlantic at Greenpeace UK. effort being put in the wrong direction". The Ocean for new oil developments. 0

Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 13 RENEWABLES

Renevvable Energy Life Cycles

IFE Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers a After characterisation, comparison of each robust procedure for quantifying the net renewable technology against its counter­ Lenvironmental benefits of renewable factual enables the net benefits of each energy projects. A preliminary study has renewable project, in terms of avoided LCA is being recently been conducted for the European emissions, to be calculated. Significant Commission IX;X:VII' s Thermie Programme to emissions savings (for instance greenhouse used in the investigate the application ofLCA to renewable gases and acidification precursors) were found and energy efficiency projects. to result from the adoption of wind and PV development technologies (see table 1). Why LCA? While some renewables may be of EC eco­ emission-free during operation, associated Final valuation entails aggregation of manufacture and transport do have impacts. environmental effects, expressed in Eco­ labelling Likewise, conventional technologies have indicator points, giving a relative measure of the significant impacts outside those associated overall environmental impact of each system criteria. As with generation. Since LCA studies are (see figure 1). Note that the gross environmental conducted on a comparative basis, differing burden of the PV facade is significantly higher renewables energy technologies can be set side by side and than the wind farm, due to the energy intensive net environmental benefits calculated. manufacture of silicon cells, 1 but that its multiply counterfactual (UK generating mix plus avoided LCA' s are conducted according to standardised cladding materials) is also high, resulting in a energy codes of practice. An initial scoping exercise and net difference similar to that between the wind subsequent inventory-quantifying all system farm and its counterfactual (Spanish generation options, LCA inputs and outputs - gathers data to be fed mix). into the four main impact assesment stages: 1, might similarly classification: groups data into environmental Applications: LCA is a scientifically based effect categories; 2, characterisation: accounts environmental assessment tool which could be of use in for relative potencies within effect categories; provide sound information upon which to base 3, normalisation: accounts for relative plans and policies. It has already been adopted making magnitudes of effects between categories; and by the European Commission as a means of 4, Valuation: uses value judgements to establishing eco-labelling criteria. In determine the relative importance of different formulating energy policy, LCA could be appropriate effects. Finally, improvement analysis audits useful in determining renewables' role in the results and identifies areas with the greatest achieving emissions reductions. On the energy potential for reduction of environmental ground, it could aid project planning by burden. providing data on environmental benefits of choices. renewables projects, and evaluating the merits Among the examples chosen for the Thermie of alternative sites or technologies. 0 Tertia Waters study were a wind farm in Spain and a photovoltaic (PV) facade in the UK. Each was For further information please contact Tertia Waters or reports on a compared to an appropriate conventional Robert Forrest at: Energy Unlimited, Cloney Cottage, generating mix (and for PV, cladding materials Kippen, Stirling, FK8 3EZ, Tel: +44 (0)1786 870770, pilot study. avoided by building-integration of modules) Fax: +44 (0)1786 870828, email: [email protected] displaced by the particular project - the Note: 1. This assumes the energy used to manufacture 'counterfactual'. renewables is itself geneated by conventional means.

Table 1. After Characterisation:- Net benefits of wind farm and PV facade, per MWh. environmental equivalent unit wind farm avoided PV facade avoided effect emissions per MWh emtssions per MWh Figure 1 Greenhouse Eco indicator points per MWh effect C02 414 449 Ozone layer depletion CFC-11/12 7.16x 10·5 6.7x 10·5

Acidification 502 3.037 1.09 Eutrophication Phosphate 0.162 0.14 Heavy Metals Mercury 8.36x 10·3 1.02 X 1Q-2 Carcinogens PAH 1.9 X 1Q-4 7.98 X 1Q-4

Winter Smog 502 2.28 0.34 26 Summer Smog Ethene 7.98x 10-2 3.30 X 1Q-2 CF1 PI/ CF2 Wind Facade Farm

14 Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Paltry policies on efficiency

'C LIMATE change is a subject which reduce energy imports and increase security of concerns us all. The overall situation on supply, whilst creating related jobs." Importantly EuroACE climate change will be affected by our it adds: "Energy consumption does not have to current behaviour on and policies in the energy grow, even if GDP is growing." field." So begins the long-awaited strategy paper A new EC on climate change and energy policy, The energy So far, so good. But while the paper rightly dimension of climate change, finally published by describes the Save2 programme as "an important strategy paper the European Commission (EC). 1 It identifies the element of the Community's C02 reduction enormous chasm emerging between the official strategy", it is somewhat muted when it comes highlights the Community target of reducing emissions of to describing how the programme has been greenhouse gases, and what will occur without emasculated. It mentions agreed efficiency gaping hole any policy changes. regulations for refrigerators and freezers, and domestic gas boilers, but it does not concede how between This spring the Council of Ministers committed much these were watered down before being Europe to 15% fewer greenhouse emissions by adopted. Nor is there any recollection of the intent and 2010, than in 1990. Relying upon business-as­ commitments given to the European Parliament usual to deliver these savings would, according as recently as 1990 to have no fewer than 11 action on to the EC, be most unwise. Under prevailing further such measures in place by 1995, none of circumstances, rather than falling, there is every which ever saw the light of day ("Hopes pinned climate likelihood that emissions of C02 will increase by on Save-2," SEJ 110). at least 8%. Leaving a carbon chasm of at least 23%. The Commission is overtly fed up with the Council change. Even that may be understating the problem ahead. of Ministers regarding their hostility to providing Following the The business-as-usual forecasts assume efficiency much in the way of funds under Save for pump­ improvements far higher than we have enjoyed priming schemes. Such was the horse-trading over the past decade. By convention, progress in during the relevant budget negotiations that the dilution of energy efficiency is evaluated by comparing Council eventually ended up voting resources energy consumption growth with growth in Gross which worked out at the grand total of £350,000 one efficiency Domestic Product. This measures energy intensity. per country per year-absolute peanuts when the In ten years between 1975 and 1985, Europe's potential for energy saving is acknowledged. initiative energy intensity improved by 20%. (Japan managed a 34% reduction over the same period). One other draft directive, now in the public and the domain, is intended to provide gas and electricity So in 1986 we set ourselves the reasonable target suppliers with incentives to help customers save obstruction of of a further 20% improvement over the ensuing fuel. This directive, to promote 'rational planning decade. And we came nowhere near meeting it. techniques', has received the whole-hearted another, In the end we managed just a 9% improvement support of the European Parliament. In a survey by 1995-and most of that occurred during the we undertook of those 34 utilities around Europe An drew later 1980s. In several years Europe's energy who are already implementing such measures, the intensity actually worsened. directive received a thumbs-up. But it is bitterly Warren joins opposed by Brussels-based trade associations Yet despite this salutary experience, the EC Eurogas and Eurelectric, who have succeeded in the authors in forecasters have blithely assumed a 14% delaying its progress for over two years already. improvement over the next 10 years. Quite how calling for and why such an enormous increase in Europe's Interestingly, the EC paper does offer one energy efficiency can be expected to occur imaginative way of kick-starting achievement of miraculously from the present paltry set of policies these targets. Sadly it is heavily camouflaged in "serious is far from clear. What is certain is that if this heady Euro-jargon, but it effectively points the way to optimism is factored out of the EC projections, we finding necessary funds for grant and loan schemes reflection". are more likely to be facing a 30% gap between - proven to be the best way to get energy aspiration and reality on climate change. conservation measures installed. Juxtaposed with NOTES £400bn as the annual expenditure on energy in Whichever is right, one conclusion is clear: we Europe, it talks about levying a "minimum 1. A press release can be found on are going to have to introduce a whole raft of new contribution", to fund savings schemes. Earlier http://europa eu.int policies throughout Europe to promote drafts of the EC report were less mealy-mouthed. I 2. Save: Specific Actions for Vigorous sustainable energy. have an earlier (French language) version which Energy Efficiency. unequivocally refers to levying between 0.1 and Inevitably the EC document is rather less 1% of expenditure. prescriptive on action. It sets out a series of Andrew Warren is potential areas for action in energy policy. The energy dimension of climate change dryly Director of the Beginning inevitably, and quite rightly, with concludes, "new commitments for emission European Association energy saving. "Unused energy sources," the reductions must lead to serious reflection on how for Conservation of paper states, "correspond best to the concept of to go well beyond what has been achieved in Energy sustainable development. In addition, they recent years for energy saving." Quite so. Q

Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 15 RENEWABLES POLICY

Rene\Ning the Rene\Nables Orders

HERE are going to be big changes in the Industry and government are keen to move into Electricity electricity industry in 1998. Firstly, the the potential multi-billion pound export market Telectricity market will be opened up to full for renewable energy - but know that the UK privatisation competition in supply. Domestic customers will will be able to compete more effectively abroad be able to purchase electricity from whoever they from a strong home industry. AEP is playing a transformed want. Second, there's no government part in export development by working with commitment for renewables orders after 1998, other trade associations and assisting with the the industry, although the new government has a commitment formation of the British Renewable Energy of 10% of UK electricity to come from renewables Federation, to promote UK exports of renewable by 2010. Thirdly, contracts awarded in orders 1 energy technology and expertise. and further and 2 under the English and Welsh Non Fossil Fuel Obligation (Nffo), and Scottish contracts upheaval is arranged in 1991, will end, and it'snotclearwhat Post-1998 just around the will happen to the projects generating under these In its discussions, AEP has identified a number contracts if they are left to compete in the market. of problems with the current arrangements: corner with Characteristics of the present Renewables Orders 1. Current Nffo legislation places its obligation 1998's are not wholly suitable for the post-1998 open on Public Electricity Suppliers (PESs). That may electricity market. In 1990, the Nffo was relatively be less appropriate after 1998, when current PESs straightforward. In 1998, it would be an obligation are due to face more competition from new planned full upon whom and to do what? suppliers as the market is fully liberalised. liberalisation. The Association of Electricity Producers (AEP) 2. Technologies at different stages of development represents a wide range of electricity producers, do not fit equally well into the current orders. Nicola Steen large and small. They represent most of the generating technologies used in the UK. About 3. Financial resources are limited. Levy funds explains half of the members are involved in the appear to be restricted by a judgement on what production of electricity from renewable energy customers should be required to pay. why the AEP sources. Some develop and run projects, others Continuing the orders as they are has risks: provide services to the renewable energy industry. resources could be wasted; funding near­ is calling for Between them, they have immense experience of market projects perhaps capable of standing renewable energy and the operation of the on their own feet could deny support for changes to the government's renewable energy orders, enacted deserving, but more expensive technologies; under the Nffo in England and Wales, the Scottish and some existing schemes might cease current Renewables Obligation (SRO) in Scotland, and the generating when contracts expire in 1998. NI-Nffo in Northern Ireland (see box 1). renewables 4. The current obligations stimulate After privatisation generation. The efficiency of this approach, support compared with stimulating demand for 'green' Government support for renewables research & energy, has not been tested. mechanisms. development, in the form of direct grants, has been falling. In recent years, support has 5. Although competitive pressures have driven concentrated instead on encouraging prices downwards, some technologies may find technologies to move towards commercial it difficult to maintain the rate of price reductions, viability, through the Renewables Orders. In not least because the most attractive sites have providing a market place for renewable­ been taken up in previous orders. Price pressure generated electricity, the orders have been is also driving some technologies towards successful. Since 1990 they have attracted environmentally sensitive sites, sometimes substantial private investment into renewable leading to planning problems. energy, bringing to developing technologies an awareness of commercial pressures. Some So, it seems that legislative and administrative 440MW of contracted capacity is built and changes will be needed. The post-1998 obligation operating to date. Renewable energy is now taken must address these five points. more seriously by the electricity industry, opinion formers and energy users-not least because the In addition, AEP is promoting, through the Office price of electricity from renewable energy has of Electricity Regulation (Offer) and the fallen considerably and some technologies are Department of Trade and Industry, the case for almost able to produce electricity competitively. price better reflecting suppliers' cost savings from This has been achieved at little cost to the 'embedded' generation (embedded in the local electricity customer, and in the challenging low voltage system). Generation near to the point business environment in which investors expect of use saves on transmission losses, reduces the high rates of return (even from investments need to use high voltage transmission and helps attractive over the longer term). preclude line reinforcement.1

16 Safe Energy Journal 113 June- Aug 1997 RENEWABLES POLICY

Possible responses and remedies to the problems competitive and efficient use outlined above have also been identified. For to be made of renewable The 1989 Electricity Act set out the Nffo. Arrangements ore similar for instance, the obligation could be on all suppliers, resources. If this approach SRO ond NI-Nffo. which would probably mean new legislation. were adopted, developers of There should be differentiation between new projects would still have Nffo obliges the Public Elechidty Suppliers (PESs) - in effect the technologies at noticeably different stages of to meet the concerns of Regional Elechidty Companies (RECs) - to buy specified amounts of development. Those closest to the market financiers who, before electricity from non-fossil sources. Nuclear generators were paid o warrant only a simple support mechanism-and lending money, require long­ premium price for contracted output until the 1996 floatation of British representatives of those technologies favour this. term power sales contracts to Energy, while renewobles still receive o premium price. Renewobles Less-developed technologies require more be in place. If necessary, electricity costs the RECs more thon much fossil fuels electricity, but the substantial support, including long-term within a percentage RECs oren't allowed to poy higher prices-they hove to show the regulator contracts, while more expensive technologies obligation there could be a they hove bought power economical~. They poy o price similar to !hot might benefit from capital grants. It should also more specific allocation of for fossil fuel electricity, the bolonce coming from o 'Fossil Fuel levy' be remembered that it is in consumers' interests capacity to particular (FFl). Electricity customers poy the FFl, which in England ond Woles is that any levy to support the obligation is spent technologies. currendy 2.2% on each bHI (about 58% of this years levy will go towards as efficiently as possible. renewobles, the remainder covering nuclear payments postponed from previous yeors). The logistics of the Nffo ore os follows:- There are various mechanisms that could be put Outside orders in place after 1998. The AEP' s overriding concern Some generators are already • Orders begin with the Government inviting bids for contracts. is that procedures be transparent and non­ trading outside the support bureaucratic. • The Electricity Regulator mokes sure the bids meet PESs' obligation mechanisms of Nffo, SRO to buy non-fossil fuel electricity. and NI-Nffo, and further One option could be a similar process to the options will develop post- • The regulator advises the Minister for Energy about the most economic current Nffo process, with rounds of bidding, and 1998. Price will partly hinge woy in which contracts might be oworded. government-set capacity (and effectively, price). on the price of conventional • Deportment of Tmde ond Industry onolyses the bids ond the Minister If this were considered a way forward, having generation and tightening of announces the Order- the copocity to be token ond the price paid. acknowledged the importance of Nffo, SRO and environmental legislation. NI-Nffo, it is only fair to say they have a number • An organisation coiled the 'Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency' buys the of failings. The AEP has written to government AEP is pursuing the electricity for the PESs. suggesting improvements to deal with, for continuation of the Non­ example, problems related to: the cost of making Pooled Generation Scheme in an application for a contract; the effect of the Electricity Pool. Introduced in April1996, it Box 1 intermittent orders; and the unclear nature of allows pooled suppliers to buy from non-pooled project scrutiny conducted by Offer, when the real producers. AEP is trying to ensure it remains test of a project is financiers' scrutiny. effective in the 1998 framework. Arrangements will also be proposed by the AEP to allow small Some technologies are close to meeting the producers not wanting the full burden of pool government's requirement that renewable energy membership, to join the Pool in a special associate prices should eventually converge with market membership category. prices. The next round of Nffo, and perhaps future support mechanisms, could include a In Scotland, the Scottish Supply Forum and rolling 'open' band, available to any proven Scottish Trading Arrangements Group, have been project able to provide electricity below a set up, and under the eye of Offer, are deciding specified price, obtain a system connection how the Scottish supply market should be opened NOTES agreement and demonstrate secure financing up in 1998. AEP is involved in these groups. arrangements in all respects bar a power 1. AEP has published a guide to embedded generation, purchase agreement. The Non-Fossil Purchasing The possibility of running a green pool is being Electricity Production Connected Agency could be the buyer of last resort for studied, while green supply companies are to the Local Network, which producers' un-contracted, 'spill' power. already in operation. 2 In 1998 there will be greater helps producers understand scope for such companies, when all consumers what they ought to be asking A second option is for government to set a price will be able to vote with their pocket. This is for in negotiation with suppliers. and impose a 'must-take obligation', as happens something the Association has welcomed and 2. For a few pounds extra on larger in Germany and Denmark. encouraged. consumers bills, green supply companies ensure their money A third possibility is to oblige suppliers to take a In conclusion: the current orders for renewable buys electricity from renewable certain percentage of their electricity from energy have helped encourage development of the sources. renewables, a percentage (or trading volume) industry. However, there is the ongoing problem Ideas about future markets for obligation. This idea is among the possibilities that in the competitive market the value of local renewable energy come from AEP's the Association would like to discuss with generation and less environmental impact is still policy document, Renewable Energy: government and the regulator. Licensed suppliers not paid for. We need to improve market Building on Success, published May could be notified in advance of an obligation to 1997. Free from AEP. 1st Floor, 41 imperfections where possible, and where it's not Whitehall, London, SW1A 2BX. Tel. secure a certain percentage of electricity from possible, there will need to be intervention by 0171 930 9390. renewable sources, which would increase over government, to counterbalance market bias. time. Clearly, this would give an initial advantage Different technologies are at different stages of to the most competitive technologies but, as development. A continuation of a statutory support Nicola Steen is Policy cheaper capacity was taken up, less competitive mechanism for renewable energy- some form of Analyst at the technologies would move into consideration. obligation- is needed. This may not sound easy, Association of Credits for renewable energy could probably be but it is achievable and there will be pressure for it Electricity Producers. traded between suppliers, thus enabling the most from producers and customers. 0

Safe Energy Journal 113 June - Aug 1997 17 ENERGY NEWS Corporate affairs s an example of how not to win resolution on Shell's environmental and Speaking on 20 May, the day over the public, Brent Spar is a corporate responsibility policies. Lodged Greenpeace launched its Atlantic Frontier A nagging reminder for all oil by Pensions & Investment Research campaign, the Managing Director of Shell company execs as they face continued Consultants, a shareholders' advisory Expro, Heinz Rothermund, told the attacks over pollution and human rights, group, it requested Shell to designate Institute of Pertroleum: "they and more fundamentally, climate change responsibility for environmental and [environmentalists] ignore the economic worries which question their very reason corporate policies to high-level realities of the energy market and for being. management, and for such policies to be overlook the operational limits of a Companies are hoping to learn from externally audited and regularly reported. commercial enterprise." past mistakes in deflecting an ever There was also specific mention of Seeing no alternative to fossil fuels in escalating tide of criticism. In a series of Nigeria. Amnesty International, the World the foreseeable future, Rothermund exchanges between environment groups Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the nevertheless conceded that Greenpeace and oil companies over the past few Church of England backed the motion. "raises a key question: 'In how far is it months-in which both are claiming the The Shell board opposed the motion, and sensible to explore for and develop new pragmatic high ground - the oil giants block institutional voting overturned the hydrocarbon reserves given that the are this time arming themselves with resolution by a comfortable 8:1. atmosphere may not be able to cope with media awareness, environmental reports But as Shell knows to its cost, an the greenhouse gases that will emanate and reasonableness. endorsement from allies is academic in the from the utilisation of the hydrocarbon The crux of the green argument is the face of bad publicity. A report published reserves discovered already?' inevitability of massive reductions in fossil two months before the AGM is Undoubtedly, there is a dilemma". fuel use which climate change predictions disparaging of Shell's continued failure to The day before, John Browne, BP's necessitate. In its 'sane energy' campaign make any significant progress in Nigeria Chief Executive, also referred to launched in May, Greenpeace is calling for since the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa in environmentalists when he told a Stanford an orderly phase-out of fossil fuels. Taking November 1995. University audience that "actions which limits to ecological change identified by Shell in Nigeria, published by sought, at a stroke, drastically to restrict the United Nations' climate change Environmental Rights Action, documents carbon emissions or even to ban the use advisers (a 1oc temperature increase and broken promises and slow progress. For of fossil fuels would be unsustainable a 20cm sea level rise), Greenpeace put the instance, a liquified natural gas project because they would crash into the realities earth's long-term carbon budget at 225 ostensibly developed to utilise otherwise of economic growth". However he also Giga tonnes of Carbon. ''The logic of this flared gas associated with oil extraction announced BP's intention to increase BP is that 75% of the known, economically will, according to the report, get two-thirds Solar sales to $1bn over the next decade. recoverable reserves of conventional fossil of its gas from specially developed gas Over the past two months, Shell has fuels (as carbon) can never be used as deposits. The project will use 950 million published revised business principles and fuel," says Greenpeace. The entire fossil cubic feet of gas per day (mcf/d)- 2,000 a health and safety report, both fuel industry is being asked to undergo a mcf/d is flared in Nigeria. (The 30-year­ incorporating environmental and human sea change to adapt to this "climate old project faces further delay following rights issues. Shell Nigeria has an reality". the recent dissolution of its board by environment report and Shell UK In the UK, British Petroleum (BP), and Nigeria's oil minister). Shell has promised published an independently audited some thirty other companies involved in to eliminate unnecessary gas flaring by environment report a day after its parent new oil extraction in the stormy waters of 2008. Community projects are described oil company had rejected the necessity of the North West Atlantic, were expecting as being "tailored to public relations external verification at its AGM. classic Greenpeace action following the concerns." The report concludes with the A theme throughout Shell's new arrival of one of the campaigning group's recommendation that Shell undergo a publications is a stated desire to consult boats near BP's Foinaven field. Using new "cultural revolution of its management interest groups. FoE Norway met with equipment developed with the help of the structures." Shell so-called Corporate Affairs staff in UK government, oil will soon flow from April, describing the meeting as a "useful Foinaven, an area rich in whales, cold Oil Offensive and interesting exchange of information water coral and as yet undocumented sea­ and points of view". There is a revolution of sorts WWF Canada has nominated Shell bottom dwelling communities. occurring in the oil community as it True to form, on 10 June, three Canada for the 'British Columbia wakes up to the spotlight of public Minister's Environmental Award for 1997' Greenpeace activists landed on Rockall­ interest. for giving up marine exploration rights a 75 ft granite outcrop 250miles into the Brent Spar caught Shell in a self­ around the Queen Charlotte Islands. Atlantic - claiming her seas for "the confident mood, while the company But despite welcome gestures, green planet and all its peoples." Rockall's last holds that continuing troubles in Nigeria groups are yet to be convinced. visitors, two Royal Marines plus sentry are largely outwith its control. Shell's In a letter to Shell International, box, occupied the rock briefly in 1975. confession is to concede a slowness in FoE Norway states that "a certain They were staking a UK claim for the recognising the need to consult with degree of correlation between the top potentially oil-rich waters. interest groups as well as government. management's policy statements and Compounding climate change According to Cor Herstroter, Shell the strategy and practice of the concerns, Shell is charged with continued Royal/Dutch president, Shell "were national companies is imperative if environmental negligence and human somewhat slow in understanding that one wishes to be taken seriously." In rights abuses in Nigeria. these [environmentalist and consumer] his 20 May speech, Rothermund Dressed as devils and wearing groups were tending to acquire himself admitted: " In recent years we 'shareholders from hell' badges, Friends authority." have all become adept at green talk. of the Earth (FoE) protested at Shell Echoing Greenpeace's climate reality, But examples of clear actions which Transport and Trading Companys AGM both Shell and BP say their actions are a match up to those words are less easy on 14 May, urging attendees to support a reflection of economic reality. to come by." 0

18 Safe Energy Journal 113 June - Aug 1997 ENERGY NEWS Nevv ministers, nevv lobbying EW appointments are settling in, dismiss them out of hand," but that the Simon's appointment as Minister for Nwith Meacher set to press for UK was "not going to agree flexible Competitiveness in Europe. Sir David's multilateral greenhouse gas emission options just to enable some countries brief includes corporate affairs. reductions. to avoid having to take difficult John Prescott is Deputy Prime measures and substantive measures at • The government has announced it Minister and Secretary of State for the home." will explore the possibilities for Environment, Transport and the Margaret Beckett heads the meeting Labour's promised 10% of Regions. After his first environment Department of Trade and Industry from electricity from renewables by 2010, speech, he admitted "there's quite a the cabinet. John Battle has responsibility and in the meantime run the Fifth Non few things I don't know enough about for energy and environment issues at the Fossil Fuel Order. yet," adding that he needed to DTI, with support from Nigel Griffiths In a written parliamentary answer "translate ... technical language into on the environment. published on 6 June, John Battle said: "I something people can understand." Green transport groups are more anticipate reviewing policy including After just a month in office, on 11 June, than happy with Gavin Strang and considerations of what would be he merged the departments of Malcolm Chisholm. Cabinet Minister for necessary and practicable to achieve 10 environment and transport. transport Strang has been a member of per cent of UK's electricity needs for Minister for the environment, the Edinburgh cycling campaign Spokes, renewables by the year 2010 apd how outwith the cabinet, is Michael for over 10 years, while Chisholm, renewables can make an effective Meacher. He appears to have been Scottish transport minister, doesn't hold contribution to meeting requirements for handed the climate change brief, a driving licence. future greenhouse gas reduction reiterating Labour's pre-election 20% Lord Sewell is the Scottish commitments." He went on to say that C02 reduction by 2010 at his maiden environment minister, and as Scottish consultations with Offer on Nffo-5 will speech as a minister on 4 June. There industry minister, Brian Wilson has begin shortly. were strong words for the global responsibility for energy in Scotland. In a separate written answer on the climate coalition and certain Jack Cunningham, MP for inclusion of other forms of energy in developed countries stalling on their Sellafield' s constituency, was a Nffo, Battle said extending the scope of duty to take action. On emissions controversial appointment ("Cunningham Nffo will require primary legislation and trading and joint implementation, relinquishes rad brief" this issue, p5), as clearance from the European Meacher believes "we should not was former BP chairman Sir David Commission. 0 Negotiating for a change XASPERATED by the lack of instead of moving forward with Furthermore, Australian Prime Eprogress since Rio's promising concrete targets and timetables, we find Minister John Howard said in May that beginning, environment groups are we are compelled to defend already the country would rather withdraw from hoping to be surprised when heads of established agreements and prevent the UN Framework Convention on state meet in June for the world's faithless backsliding by governments in Climate Change than accept reduction second earth summit. On the agenda every region." targets that could damage Australia's is the whole panoply of issues falling Going on to list specific economy. The remarks followed talks under the environment banner, with weaknesses in addressing global with Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro climate change set to be the most issues, the statement concludes: Hashimoto aimed at gaining Japan's divisive item. "World leaders must recognise that support for a flexible approach that sets Five years on from the world's first they cannot expect to turn up in New reduction targets based on each Earth Summit, Earth Summit 11 or Rio York in June, make fine speeches and country's circumstances. plus five - or Rio minus five as non expect glowing reviews. There is a Detailed climate change governmental organisations (NGOs) crisis of confidence ... They must negotiations will take place half a year now prefer to call the impending top­ provide targets, timetables and free up on from Earth Summit 11, in Kyoto, level gathering- kicks off in New York resources to reinvigorate the process Japan ("Climate negotiations," SEJ on Monday 23 June. with a sense of urgency ... Our eyes are 112). However, as world leaders will NGO attendees at two weeks of on you." not be attending Kyoto, Earth Summit pre-Earth Summit 11 talks in April, Climate change is a case in point. 11 is an opportunity for differences to under the auspices of the New York While the US is, and has been, a major be settled at the highest level of face based UN Commission on Sustainable greenhouse gas emitter, Clinton's to face discussion. To this end, Development (CSD), expressed their summit speech is widely expected to President Clinton is being urged to concern over the failure of contain little more than fluff on the speak on the first day of the Summit. governments to reach consensus on issue- no emission reduction targets, As Safe Energy went to press, he was global issues - exactly what Rio was nq new money on the table, no rumoured to have postponed supposed to achieve. In a statement concrete efforts, just showmanship. attendance to the 26 June, when most issued by 'the CSD NGO community', Shirking its responsibility, the US is on leaders will have gone home. it says it is "utterly dissatisfied at the a collision course with several manner in which political commit­ European countries prepared to agree • During the Earth Summit, Friends of ments made in Rio have been reduced significant action, but not, in the words the Earth International will highlight to perverse politicking by regional of the UK's Environment Minister climate chnage with an ice sculpture. blocks in the pursuit of narrow Michael Meacher, so that others can do Entitled 'Melt', the event will take place economic interests at the CSD ... less. in New York on Wednesday 26 June. 0

Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 19 ENERGY

11 1 Green paper a111bitious '

AVING elicited the whole range of Members of the European choices at national government level. Hresponses during consultation, the Parliament's committee on energy, Electricity producers' association European Commission's (EC's) research and technology (CERT) also Eurelectric doubts the economic viability renewable energy green paper was want the paper strengthened. of "most" renewables, describing 12% as described as "useful guidance" by Recommendations in a paper by MEP "more than ambitious" and "unrealistic energy ministers at a May meeting. Mechtild Rothe include a 15% 2010 target unless very large economic sacrifices are Ministers didn't endorse the paper's and the creation of a fund to research made by society". It also wants waste centrepiece 12% target by 2010, renewables in the field, while MEP Eryl incineration to be considered equally as although they were agreed on the McNally is pushing for a 'Eurenew' desirable as hydro, wind, solar and desirability of a renewables strategy. treaty to match nuclear's Euratom treaty. biomass. Ministers have also given the go­ A resolution passed by Parliament calls Energy ministers meeting in Brussels ahead to Altener II, allocating Ecu30m on the Commission to endorse Rothe' s on 27 May urged the Commission to for its first two years-Ecu10m short of 15% target and to consider an energy draw up a renewables strategy, saying Altener I's opening two years. chapter in the new European Treaty. in a resolution that it could provide Issued in November '96, the EC's Meanwhile, two industry "useful guidance for increased efforts at green paper on renewable energy is associations are alarmed at the prospect EU and Member State levels." The 2010 anything from too ambitious or not of targets. CEEP, representing European target was however "ambitious". ambitious enough, according to state-owned companies, regards the 12% Approval from ministers of consultees. The paper outlines aim as inflexible and overly ambitious, continuation of the EU's renewable mechanisms for promoting renewables favouring instead an approach in the energy research programme, Altener, growth and proposes a target of 12% of vein of the illustrative nuclear was also given at the May meeting. In a gross inland European energy programme, which promotes energy subsequent June meeting, the energy consumption to come from council settled on a Commission­ renewables by 2010. recommended budget of Ecu30m Responding to the green paper, for Altener II's first two years, less both Greenpeace and Friends of the than the Ecu40m allocation for Earth welcomed the paper for Altener I. promoting discussion, raising the MEPs regard this decision as profile of renewables among EU hypocritical against the recent EU strategists and favouring a target­ commitment to a 15% cut in based approach. Recommendations greenhouse gases. Parliament would for improvement include: like to increase Altener funding to consideration of the adverse nuclear's take, around Ecu630m. impacts of large-scale hydro; waste However, for Altener funding to get incineration to be considered anywhere near this level, it first inferior to true renewables; and needs to be given a much stronger non-near market renewables such legal grounding. At best, this would as wave power to get increased mean something akin to Eryl attention. Friends of the Earth MeN ally's Eurenew treaty. suggest increasing the target to 15% ALTENER PROGRAMME The Commission plans to while Greenpeace wants a target produce a renewables white "significantly greater" than 12%. paper by this Autumn. 0 Ger111an lNind up SCALATING a row over wind falling instead just on those utilities with In an effort to reach agreement on Epower prices in Germany, the head wind farms in their area, some utilities future premium payments for wind of a wind company tore up are more rattled than others. generation, a meeting was called documentation at a meeting with an Pressenelektra' s supply area has between the renewables industry and the economy ministry official. Renewables experienced Germany's biggest Federal Economy Ministry. industry representatives subsequently expansion in wind. Following the unceremonious end to refused further talks with the Federal Countering accusations of excessive the meeting, renewables associations were Economy Ministry, and the German money making, the German wind questioning the Ministry's impartiality, Wind Energy Association, GWEA, industry insists profit margins are tight. with the GWEA accusing it of reducing accused the Ministry of "representing An analysis by Wind Power Monthly EFL payments "to the point where the the interests of Pressenelektra," a suggests the price differential between wind industry in Germany collapses." German utility. Germany and Britain is due to Britain's A 29 March newspaper job German utility tempers have been higher wind speeds and lower turbine advertisement from a Pressenelektra flaring over the Electricity Feed Law and infrastructure costs. subsidiary is an indication of struggles (EFL), which obliges them to purchase Turning the tables, Power in Europe to come. According to the advert, the wind energy at a premium price. At cites a German coal giant investing in successful applicant will be required to Ecu0.05/kWh, German wind power is foreign mining and German utilities secure "company sales by preventing around 80% more expensive than British buying stakes in foreign power independent power generation (for wind power. And because the cost of the companies as the embodiment of example by recognising potential danger EFL is not spread equally among utilities, profiteering through subsidisation. areas of independent generation)". 0

20 Safe Energy Journal 113 June - Aug 1997 ENERGY NEWS SRO projects surface HILE official decree on project (it already has planning permission). Developers will have spent about W details of the second Scottish However, clinical waste is relatively high £15,000 per megawatt submitting a bid Renewables Order (SR0-2) is yet to in PVC, incineration of which is linked for a renewables contract. issue from the Scottish Office at the to the formation of suspected cancer­ One tentative interpretation of the time of going to press, some of the causing, gender bending dioxins. apparent turnaround is a desire to secure winning bidders are beginning to a token biomass project at the cheapest emerge. Three developers share the overall cost. Going for a larger biomass seven wind contracts, a contentious Biomass project would have been cheaper per Dundee waste to energy scheme has a Meanwhile, earth moving biomass KWh of electricity delivered, but over the contract, and there is surprise for 15 year contract would have taken a news is the Scottish Office decision to biomass - the sole contract has been award the sole biomass project to the larger chunk of the total SRO budget. awarded to the most expensive bid. smallest, most expensive bid. A local Choosing the smallest biomass project Of the seven SR0-2 wind contracts Office to spend the consortium with support from Borders enables the Scottish announced by George Kynoch three Biofuels are behind the proposal for a least amount of money on the biomass months ago (SEJ), Scottish Power has 2MW wood-fired combined heat and band, while target capacity is made up two, Powergen two and Ecogen three. power plant in Brodick, Arran. It will with wind and waste bidding at some 2- Scottish Power's two contracts comprise utilise local forestry waste. 3p less than the cheapest biomass bid. one development on the Kintyre Out of a total of three biomass bids, However, developers are rejecting peninsula of a 30MW wind farm (50, two were under 6p. The successful this possibility out of hand, attributing 600kW turbines). application bid in at around 6.88p. At much more noble motives to the Scottish A 10MW municipal waste about 12MW apiece, the cheaper bids Office. Surprised but nevertheless incineration scheme at Baldovie, pleased with the Scottish Office's were also considerably larger than the Dundee, is intended to take the place of successful 2MW scheme. decision, John Seed of Borders Biofuels a previously retired incinerator on the told Safe Energy: "All three of the SR0-2 Unsuccessful bidders could be same site. Proposed in 1993, it is badly biomass bids were commendable, needed by Dundee district council as forgiven for being a little surprised at the deserving schemes. The successful bid, part of its waste management strategy, outcome, bearing in mind all the a community based scheme, is ideally but opposed by some locals on health indications to date have pointed to low suited to Scottish conditions. Evidently, grounds. Dundee has contracts giving it bid price as the foremost consideration we shall have to revise our outlook now responsibility for the disposal of clinical for gaining a contract. Economies of scale the Scottish Office has indicated a waste from three Scottish health boards. is the only way to get prices so low, preference for such schemes and come The contracts are potentially very which is why the lower bids are so much SR0-3, we shall be ready and waiting to profitable if the plant becomes a reality bigger in size. give the Scottish Office what it wants."O Solar marches on HEAP silicon solar cells, of the kind random distribution in amorphous generated in the cells - are soaked up Cused mostly for low grade silicon - is the most common material by these 'dangling' bonds, hence purposes, are set to break into the solar for solar panels. Although manufacture reducing the cell's efficiency. panel market. is lengthy and consequently relatively A combination of ideas to Amorphous silicon cells are cheap costly, crystalline silicon works with an overcome this problem, such as and easy to manufacture, with a huge efficiency of 12%. capping free bonds with hydrogen and market in common applications such as Now researchers from Japan and using thinner silicon layers to allow calculators. But with a conversion America believe they have solved the electrons more chances to escape, has efficiency of just 6%, falling to 4% within main problem dogging amorphous a few months exposure to sunlight, it has silicon. resulted in an amorphous silicon cell not been suitable for use in the majority Because of the disorder in of a reported 14.6% efficiency of solar panels. Instead, crystalline silicon amorphous silicon, atoms can be left (declining to 13% after 1,000 hours in - where the atoms of silicon are in a without a bonding partner. Migrating use). Fifteen per cent efficiency is the rigid ordered state compared to the electrons - the electrical current researchers' ultimate target. 0 Third Irish Order third Irish Alternative Energy run to the end of 2014. gaining two separate 15MW contracts on A Requirement (AER Ill) will There is a subdivision of the wind the same site. The precise wording of the contract for 90MW of wind (installed category: 25MW will be reserved for Irish requirement is that "maximum capacity), 7MW of biomass and 3MW SOOkW to SMW, while the remaining installed capacity per wind project will of hydro. Energy minister Emmet 65MW has an upper 15MW size limit. All be 15MW per site." Inevitably it is a grey Stagg made the announcement on 24 projects submitting to the Scottish area, but an upper limit of 20MW per March. Renewables Order similarly have a developer will further prevent wind Bid prices are capped at IR£0.039 15MW ceiling, although developers have farms over 15MW-unless there is some and power purchase agreements will bypassed this with relative ease by creative company offshooting 0

Safe Energy Journal113 June- Aug 1997 21 REVIEWS

The Plutonium and HEU Bible

negotiations, this reviewer is more Plutonium and highly enriched concerned about how much still needs uranium 1996: world inventories. to be done. For example, the authors capabilities and policies report: "Over 3:000 tonne~ of plutonium by David Albright, Franz Berkhout and highly ennched uramum have been and William Walker produced since the birth of nuclear technology. The majority is still outside Sipri & Oxford University Press, international safeguards, and a 1997, 502pp, £40 (hb) significant proportion may be inadequately protected. Furtherm_ore, events in the 1990s - the revelations UCH has changed since about the Iraqi and North Korean M Albright, Berkhout and Walker clandestine weapon programmes, the produced their fir~t invento_ry of huge arms reduction programmes plutonium and highly ennched mounted by the USA and the FSU uranium in 1993. (former Soviet Union), the threats posed They believe "much has been by nuclear smuggling, and the achieved in lessening the threat of emergence of large overhang of surplus nuclear war, reducing the scale of nuclear weapon material- have sh?wn up armament and preventing the spread of inadequacies in the present regime. It IS nuclear weapon capabilities." In the last acknowledged that they cannot be few years we have seen the conclusion overcome solely through incremental of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty adjustments: they are systemic in origin (CTBT); the incorporation into in opposing commercial plutonium and demand major reforms." The authors conclude on a international non-proliferation treaties of separation in reprocessing. plant. Any many former Soviet states; the nation will now be able to Cite US MOX cautionary note: "Achieving the goals of renunciation of nuclear weapons by nuclear disarmament and non­ activity to acquire plutonium under the proliferation will also depend, as always, South Africa; the destruction of the Iraqi guise of civilian nuclear power. weapons programme; progress towards As the book demonstrates, by the on the reduction of tensions in several arms reduction under START; and the turn of the century the amount of parts of the world and ~n the jud,~cious exercise of power and diplomacy. permanent extension of the Nuclear non­ separated military plutonium from proliferation Treaty. nuclear power stations will be greater The result of painstaking research, The world would appear to be than the 260 tonnes produced for the this is a vital text and reference book for all involved in the nuclear power and becoming a safer place. But, how much military during the cold war. A: decade safer? Is the trend reversible? And, how later, while military stockpiles are nuclear weapons debate, although at £45, far do we still have to go to eliminate the an expensive one. expected to remai~ .s~able or e~en threat of nuclear proliferation and decline, so-called civilian plutomum Mike Townsley mutually assured destruction (MAD)? from reprocessing will have almost Optimist or pessimist? Do current doubled to 437 tonnes. developments really represent a sea In producing an inventory of change in the "salience of n'!~lear "plutonium and h~gh~y enri~hed weapons as instruments of military uranium" and surveymg mternatlonal strategy and great power politics", as the policies, Albright et al, have made a authors propose? valuable contribution to the While they manage to maintain their disarmament debate and are to be optimism in believing significant congratulated. ~oweve~ as_ with any advancements are being made, it is clear major undertakmg of this kmd, some that these are only the first faltering steps. things slip through the net. The The US and Russia have agreed to authors say that the unirradiated dispose of around 50 tonnes of ~ilitary plutonium fuel from the abandoned plutonium each, in order to establish_ the German fast reactor at Kalkar is irreversibility of START-I. In so domg, "presumably still stored at Dessel and they are committed to usin~ the military Hanau." Fuel from Hanau was plutonium in Mixed Ox~de Fuel for transferred to Dounreay for storage conventional reactors. This represents and possible reprocessing. the reversal of over twenty years of US However, one thing is made clear, hostility to the 'plutonium economy' or there are no magic tricks which will commercial trade in weapons usable make the threat of nuclear materials. It will lead to plutonium being proliferation disappear, and only held in an accessible form at a number openness and honesty about of fabrication plant and power stations stockpiles and programmes can create world-wide providing possible a climate in which nuclear diversion routes and extra targets for disarmament can be taken forward. terrorist attack. It will further undermine While the authors take heart from US non- proliferation policies and its lead international disarmament

22 Safe Energy Journal 113 June Aug 1997 REVIEWS

A guide for future energy policy

know more about the prospects for The future for renewable energy: renewable energy and the wide range of prospects and d irections technologies and processes which exist, EU Renewable Energy Centres' Agency or may be developed, to exploit the various resources. James & James, 1996, 209pp, £35 (hb) My only serious (but not too serious) criticism of this book is that there is an inconsistency in coverage of different HIS book, really a report in AS technologies. With each chapter having T format and with a hard cover, is a different auth or or authors, crammed full of useful information. inconsistency in approach is a fairly With each chapter devoted to a inevitable problem. But issues like different energy source (or group of environmental impact receive widely sources) there is a summary of the varying consideration, even allowing for available resource, the different the different stages various technologies technologies, the current state of have reached. Wave power, for instance, research and development, is given less coverage than it deserves: environmental impacts, and specific just 6 pages compared with 42 for solar proposals for future development, thermal systems (and another 34 for including: areas for research and players in the development of modem photovoltaics). development work, targets for wind turbines, a lack of government There were also a few minor points: resources and commitment saw us 1 is deployment, and recommendations doubt that there no noise pollution overtaken by countries like Denmark from marine current turbines; and wind for policy makers. which are now able to exploit growing power in the UK is not "nearly According to the blurb on the back export markets. The UK's failure cannot competitive" it is competitive with fossil of the book, it is aimed primarily at be pinned solely on the old Tory and nuclear plant. energy policy makers and planners - government. Innate conservatism, a big­ The concluding chapter is especially which doesn't bode well for UK sales. is-beautiful mentality and a long-lived interesting as it addresses the need to Fortunately for James & James it is love affair with nuclear power were integrate the various renewable energy also aimed at a wider readership: "all hallmarks of the energy establishment technologies, with their widely varying those involved in the research, (industry and civil servants as well as benefits and problems, into an overall development and implementation of ministers). And it was an approach energy supply system. This is an issue renewable energy in any way." It is a which went back to well before the last which is often overlooked but which will book which deserves to be more widely 18 years of Tory rule. Wm New Labour become increasingly important as the read than I suspect it will be. It should want, and be able, to change things? proportion of our energy supply from be compulsory reading for whoever has Ironically, the Tories' privatisation of the intermittent sources grows. cabinet responsibility for energy industry wm have helped. This final chapter demonstrates the (Margaret Beckett?), her /his junior As can be seen from The future for realistic, forward-looking approach of ministers and their civil servants. renewable energy, the UK remains at the the whole book. The goals set are Without government support, most of forefront of R&D in wave power, no ambitious but attainable, and the the content of this book is next to thanks to government. Having failed to recognition of the role for governments worthless for all but EU-funded see the way the wind was blowing, Jet us and policy makers in helping to drive renewable energy researchers. hope the UK doesn't also miss out on the forward the necessary advances in Anyone who sees renewables as forthcoming sea-change in energy supply. renewable energy technology shows an peripheral to 'real' energy sources like Though written in a rather dry, understanding of the real world not coal and nuclear ought to be impressed academic style and often in Euro­ always apparent in scientists. by the sheer range and diversity of the English, the book should prove an renewable energy sources and interesting read for anyone wanting to Graham Stein technologies. It is clear that renewable energy will play an increasing role in meeting the world's energy needs in the coming century. The authors refer to studies by the World Energy Council, Shell and the United Nations, which forecast a total renewables contribution by the middle of next century in the range of 20-50%. The EU is likely to be at the forefront of research, development and deployment of new renewable energy technology, but whether the UK wm play a major role remains to be seen. This country's track record on renewables is not good. With the best wind resource in Europe, and leading solar thermal parabolic trough Safe Energy Journal 113 June - Aug 1997 23 ------___.::LITTLE.::...::__.:.._---.:..______BLACK RABBIT _ _ ___- Rabbit~ drawn hv W1lf PltuJ

Boy blunder Think of a hole New ministers 1.13 R ha~ rt•t'l•i \'l'd l ilt' u>n tinuing tncklv ••I '\!l'\\ mini..,lt•r ... , th'l\' reports ol ,, 1.111-. n udt•ot r 11'.1!->ll' m b­ ''l'l'w·tunitit•.., t't•r , ,1\·ing ~~·u gh·en in ,\pril thi .... m,tn,\~t·nwn t rt•,·,·l,,t it llh ktW\\' a go\'l'1'11111l'lllmini-.tl'r veR t1 i .tn in tlw dim ,md di .... t,mt J1•1"l. .icffrey, ch,lirm,tn ~''JWnt·nn • ll'ith lt>hnn;. with tlw phott>" l1> pnll't' it. .1nd lhil'l e"~cl' Cutivc ~~r Scottish 1 uck·.tr ,111d 'think tl l ,, mnnht·r' B.1ll. \Jot 1\',\lltlllg to bL' r111\' dl'J'lll\ dt,tirm,\11 o f its pMt·nt romp.tn\· I.BR \\'ob in the pMti,il'•' lorv ,wdit·ncv o l ,, '''Cl'ption to thl' popul.tr Bril i .... h Ftwrgy l.1l1.' night di-.,·u ... .,iun .,h,l\\ , .llhl tl11· nwod. I HR i .... n' l .1h>l'l' .,,·uuring tlw P•'"' llw lurl-.1 rn· ipit•nt~ tlf idtrcy·-. 1\'0rd .... tll t'hildlwod k1111 w,\ .... \'lhon•u..,ly dl'knding l11r o1 f<'\\' -.nil'lll'h. 1\'l'odom ,,·,•n• thl' lnstilute o l l)irecto rs, the motion 'r,tdi.tlion i!'> good tor n1u' . ')cotl,tnd. ktfrev, ct>tKt'rnnl .1bout ..:lim.llL' 13r.lltdi..,hing .111 lntt'rtl.ltit>n,t l ·\t11mic LI~R "'·'~ l'l'mt·mhcring tlw ,,llwr dav 1 l'IMngt•, ln1ll1'1i t>ul llw ll:-tt.tl lit1L' abou t Agt•ncy 1'<'pnrl, )t1hnnv implllrt·d u .... totru... l l'lt,lllinglo RuhinC11t>k,1t tlw 1!/'1 li>nw-. .... renl·w,tbflo .... ht•tng ,1 g•H>d idl'.l, - but. in thl' ,1t1>mit -;dt•nti .... t.... lht'\ ll'nuldn'l dt• lll'J111!1\-.[1',1: 1\111 - t he• IHH' 1\'lll'l'l' ll' l' ,111 ,limb,•d o\'l'r tlw tt•tKt' u .... ing h.t\' bait•-. it ifil 1va~n 't ~ate. ( )n thi .... nCl',l"ion, lw conju n•d up tlw pidurt• prt>\' kh-d h1 l1lt ,1( f,unwr-.. Th.t t ol ..,p(,H· f'i\1\'l'rt•d tr.1ins un.tbflo to run .tftl'l· LI3R will htl\\'<.'\'t'l' h,1\ t•lot,tl-.l' i...,...,l1l' with dt•mtln-.tr.ttion "'•'" llnll· lll'1l d,l\·-. .ttlt-r d,trk. T lw ~.· on,ll.H\ ' of I hi .... i.; llllt IL-.n tlw jnllv .... \'it'I1L'L' junkk, .md ,·pnll'nd th,tl \ \,1 ~git· J'h,ctdwr gtll d,·,lt•d. Rohm \\',\ .... 1'''\\'t• r~.·d l't>mmull'r tr.1in~ running :-:tupidity int'iltr.tll'"" thl' .llt~miL "l ierH'l' .... ,yin~ " it'., gt>ing to hl' dn·,,dlul" ,,r \\'t>rd., p.,~~t·ngt·rles!-o d,,,. •tnd night, ll'ith their community ju!'>t ,b .m\ t•llwr. ltllh,ll L'fft•d, ,md '>llllmlin~.tllt•gdlwrtlllill' nu1 k•M'J\'.lClnr-. un.1bll• ltl ,1 d ju:-t o utput to To pick ju .... t l\\'o l'l'Ct'lltL•>.,tmplv..,: th-p r~.•-. .... ,•d .1hout lilt' l'l'"ult. I.BI{ pi]'vd up nw,•tl h.1nging dL·m,,nd. - " tlwl''n· .1lltlw ..... H1lt' .li'L'n' t tlw\' ,·ou r\ 1\',llt•r-filkd ..,i Jo ,\ t Dotlnre,w i .... to bt• nnJidn't p<>!-o!->ibh gl'l much ,,·nr.... v th,1n kill\'\' '''1·nt on lt> n1.1J..e ,, virtlll'l'ltlw J,wt t.tk~.•n t~ul 111 ll'>t' at tlw in...,i .... ll'tll't' 111 tlw C:.t ll,lgh.t n ?". th.ltlit• "'''" .1bout tolw.1d dtt\\'n tnl.tlndon Scottbh l:nl'ironment,tll'r, llc,"liIL'ril\ pn >I'L•d right. r.tdilhll.'lii'L' 11 .1 .... ll.' u1nt.1ining .... uduim, lt' -. prob,1blv jtht rl!-o \\'L•IItiMI r.tl,bih L<111 't tlw n·~u l t,w t ~,· ,nhtll1 bl'ing dumpl'd intP w,tlt•r. (Tiw I ir-.t b,· h,r,•ign '1t•nd.tr~ . In ,\11\' l.'ohl' littk bl,\t k t•mt ...... ion-.. l''•""f'k•. tlw inl.lllHlll,.. 1\',hlc• ,;h,tfl. r,t bbit II'p••kt"-.per-.ol1 \l11 l'llltksting tlil right.., thl' r.tdio, tlwn• \\'cl ~ "an .11\'lul lot ot holt• I ,,ll'r in hi!'> lt·cturc, Jeffrey cited E11c1~·.:,v in tlw \Jorth d igging ,1 nd hurling th i ng~ duwn lwlv:-". 1'11!'•'1' (>.), dL'!->lTibing it n::. "thL' DTI'-. bible". A tlantic, it ,tppeMs <.;tr,lngl' tl1(1t1gh thnt he mnke:-: tlll nwnti11n . o m,lltl'l' h1>\\' hnrd vou thinl-. "l'llll' thing~ tlwS,·otli:-h '\Jntion.ll tilt he prl'tiiction therein uf no nell' nude.tr ju~ t don't cldd up. l'ctrlv will h,l\.l' llwl l il it wnnb to d,tim ;\11>rth The torl'cn:,.t~ of mpid energy growth arc Ctlllt·.,gu,·-. .11 s,,fe 1--.m•rgy nHH'l' to Jcifrt•y'!-> liking- lw wns ,1ftcr nil St'•' o il. I IQ had one of their mort• pr1 >jL•..:l mnn,tgcr for Tornes:'> m1 ckar powl'r llntt ~u.ll~.· nquirie~ l'L'l'L'ntlv. Willi.1111 W.tldl'gra,·c .1dmitted in j,ll\ll,try .... talion, built ltl nwd ,, mnssiVl' growth in T h l' ~l·n t h:·m,tn ,·a I 11• r th,1l if,, -.hMt' tli 1 tlrlh Se.1 l'l'\'t'11lll'!-> 11\ 1!-> Sn,tti!'>h l'kctricity dt•nlilnd which 11l'\·er Wtmd,:rcd ii lw ..:ould m.1kt• lndudt•d, Scotl,tnd h,,., bL'l' n ,, n~.•t cl p('t'c1 l'l'd. good Li"L' ol hi~ energ1 .:ontributnr 111 J.:26hn to the Tr~,•,,;.u1Y !->ill<.:L' J{ohin in bnv-wondcrlnnd's clinching tc•xpe nd~,•d in notching up tlw tlw Toril'!'> took offin•. · o~rgumcnl, d~monstratcd by graph-; or 111 1 es on his excrri!-ol' bikt•. Tht.• bikL' i-, t>n t•twrgy U"l' .1gain:-:t life expectancy and his o.;i\i ling bo.1t, .1nd h~.· \\',tnh to u-.Ul'f' In ,, p.Hli.ll11l'nt.11'y .1th\\'l'r ttl I urt lwr ~:'\I' 111t.1nt mortality, is: "with a ,·,ti labk· .1nd fos:..il poll'l'r with mu:-clc po\\'cr. ljlll'!->I\On ing, W.tldq;r.t n• l'' pl.t i m•d just \\h) l'L'f,ill11oll ,\t'l'Ollnh tlmil thi.., con\'l'nienlt•ncrgy you lii'L' ... clnd w ithuut Askt•d if Ill' W h~.·::-idc-; llw C\l'l't'ist• bik1.•, he l'rlgl•rl_v rcplini th,ll prl'""" .... lwlf b il st•pcHnlc rl'gwn 11' 1111"'' C.()l' cannot bt• c•stim.1tcd .1!-> tlwn: b no l'l'"idt·nl TIMl Jdfrcy -;hnuld s~wut up!-> wcrl' <1bo in hi!-> ,•xerci:-.c rl'pertoirl'. p11pulc1tinn. lt'!-> GDf' bd,lng~ 111 lll'i tlwr this f,tmiliar nuclear Do~.·~ .tnyom· kilO\\' oi .lnything to hdp ""'(· St'llt l.tnd, f7 ngl.1nd, VV.tl,·-. 11r :'\ ortlll'rn indu:-try propag,mdlcXcll11- i::. not ::urpri-.ing, but similar Mr.11lf,C111L'nl it'r \\',Itching tlw T\'. i!pp.trently -;onw of his A::. WL'II ,\!-> Tt'l'l'"•'' !-o t'lll'rgl I r,·ak., ("Cnnct•nwd, of Bilkrit',ty", SEI·I-11) tlwrt,., t•mincnt iludiencc Wl're ciCtually C011Vi1Kcd by it. ,m on•;tn ol health trcak:-. nul thctT.

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