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Five Things the “Nuclear Bros” Don’t Want You to Know About Small Modular Reactors

Union of Concerned Scientists

Even casual followers of energy and climate issues have probably heard about the alleged wonders of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The failure of these projects to come in on time and under budget undermines arguments that modern nuclear power plants can overcome the problems that have plagued the nuclear industry in the past.

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German Atomic Energy Act Amendment Illegal - Case Comment BVerfG 1 BvR 1550/19

Energy and Climate Law

The background of the case goes back to the year 2011. By that time the nuclear power plant in Krümmel had several safety issues and small-impact incidents were discovered. The residual electricity volumes are a key-instrument of the Atomic Energy Act and the German nuclear phase out.

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Is Russia Helping China Expand Its Nuclear Weapons Program? 

Union of Concerned Scientists

Cooperation between Russia and China on fast breeder reactors Civilian nuclear agreements and cooperation between countries are not uncommon, especially between nuclear supplier countries and those looking to expand and develop nuclear power programs. U-235) for China’s CEFR.

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Germany’s Role in Climate Policy

Legal Planet

Germany decides to phase out nuclear power, complicating efforts to decarbonize the power sector. Germany has dragged its feet on EVs because of its powerful car industry. How much did ending nuclear power impede German climate progress? New rates are large enough to spark expansion of renewable industry.

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Tornadoes and More: What Spring Can Bring to the Power Grid 

Union of Concerned Scientists

The rail infrastructure to transport coal from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming–the country’s primary coal source –was proven to be vulnerable to extreme floods in the spring of 2011 , and even more extreme floods in the spring of 2019.

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Can the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Avoid a Major Disaster?

Union of Concerned Scientists

Depending on the nature and extent of the damage, the plant could experience one or more core meltdowns or spent nuclear fuel pool fires, which could trigger a radiological release rivaling that of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident or even the larger release from the 1986 Chernobyl accident.

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Germany’s early nuclear shutdown came with a heavy carbon price?

A Greener Life

The Grohnde plant is one of the German nuclear power plants which is due to shut down at the end of 2021. A recent report has shed light on the scale of the climate cost of Germany decommissioning its nuclear power plants. Photo credit: Preussen Elektra. By Anders Lorenzen.