OUT OF THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE

NuScale signs agreement with new Polish partners to replace coal

24 September 2021

NuScale has signed a second agreement to consider its small reactors as a general replacement for coal units in Poland. The US small reactor vendor will support two energy firms, Poland-based Unimot and USA-based Getka, in their joint work to explore the possibility.

The heads of Getka, NuScale and Unimot yesterday (Image: Unimot)

Poland uses coal as fuel for over 70% of its electricity, as well as half of its heat supply to district heating networks and industry, but is still to announce a definitive policy to fully transition away from this fossil fuel. In recent months Polish industry has taken the matter into its own hands, showing increasing interest in nuclear power.

The latest Polish energy player to consider small reactors is Unimot, which imports liquid and gas fuels as well as electricity for sale on Polish retail and wholesale markets. Unimot already works with a USA-based company called Getka, and yesterday the two signed an agreement with NuScale to explore whether its 77 MWe NuScale Power Module could be deployed "as a coal repurposing solution for existing coal-fired power plants in Poland."

"We are pleased that this is another area to develop low-emission projects in Poland, where we can be as involved as the Unimot Group in decarbonisation," said Adam Sikorski, president of the management board of Unimot.

"Our role will be promoting SMR technology as a reliable alternative for coal technologies, and acquiring business partners in the Polish market, said Sikorski. "Ultimately, we also intend to create a platform of collaboration with Polish academic centres and potential Polish component suppliers to develop this technology in our country. Because of this, we can actively support the energy transformation of Poland, simultaneously diversifying our group's business," he said.

Dariusz Cichocki, chairman and CEO of Getka Group said, “This project aligns with our commitment to decarbonise and diversify Poland’s energy infrastructure.”

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The agreement was announced yesterday after a similar deal between NuScale and Polish copper and silver producer KGHM, which will analyse technical, economic, legal, regulatory, financial and organisational factors in using NuScale plants as replacement for coal units.

Marcin Chludziński, president of KGHM's management board, said climate change is forcing "decisive actions", with the impact already being felt financially through increases in energy prices. "The construction of small nuclear reactors by 2030 is a solid declaration and an element of our energy transformation. We are pioneers in Poland, as we expect that the first of our nuclear power plants will come online in 2029," he said.

Another collaboration is underway regarding GE-Hitachi's BWRX-300 reactor design as a potential replacement for larger coal units and to power industrial sites. Synthos Green Energy, a subsidiary of the Polish chemical group Synthos, is GE-Hitachi's partner and is looking to support the deployment of nuclear units at power plants and energy intensive chemical plants.

Polish companies sign MoUs on SMR deployment and supply chain

23 September 2021

Two separate agreements have been announced between Polish companies and North American small modular reactor (SMR) vendors and suppliers. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Cameco, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), GEH SMR Technologies Canada, Ltd and Synthos Green Energy (SGE) will see those companies evaluate a potential Canadian supply chain for a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors in Poland. Separately, NuScale Power, KGHM Polska Miedź SA (KGHM) and Piela Business Engineering (PBE) are to explore the deployment of NuScale's SMR technology to repower or repurpose existing coal-fired power plants.

GEH's vision for BWRX-300 (Image: GEH)

SGE is a member of the Synthos group, one of the biggest producers of chemical raw materials in Poland, which is interested in obtaining affordable, on-demand, carbon-free electricity from a dependable, dedicated source. SGE and GEH have previously agreed to collaborate on the potential deployment of the BWRX-300 in Poland.

SGE President Rafał Kasprów said the company is, in addition to the MoU, working closely with GEH to identify "supply chain opportunities" in Poland that complement the export capabilities being developed in Canada for the BWRX-300.

Uranium supplier Cameco also supplies uranium refining and conversion services to the global nuclear industry and in July this year agreed with GEH and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas to explore several areas of cooperation to advance the commercialisation and deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs in Canada and around the world.

"We believe nuclear energy will play a major role in helping countries and companies around the world achieve their net-zero emission targets," Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel said. "This MoU is a great example of the kind of innovative solutions businesses like Synthos Green Energy are exploring and how SMRs could contribute to industry-driven efforts to decarbonise."

The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's US Nuclear Regulatory Commission-certified ESBWR.

Repurposing coal plants

 

(Image: @NuScale_Power)
The MoU announced today by NuScale Power, copper and silver producer KGHM and business engineering advisory consultancy PBE will see the three companies explore the deployment of NuScale's SMR technology as a repowering or repurposing solution for existing coal-fired power plants and electricity and heat for KGHM's industrial processes in Poland. "This agreement demonstrates international interest in utilising NuScale's SMR technology to produce clean, reliable, and affordable energy," the companies said.

Under the MoU, NuScale will support KGHM and PBE's examination which will include an analysis of technical, economic, legal, regulatory, financial, and organisational factors.

NuScale Chairman and CEO John Hopkins said the retirement of ageing coal-fired power plants is leading to changes in power generation, infrastructure needs, and workforce opportunity. "NuScale's SMR technology is an ideal flexible clean energy solution to repurpose retiring coal fuelled power plants and most importantly, retain and retrain the skilled power plant workforce already in place in these Polish communities," he said.

Marcin Chludziński, president of KGHM's management board, said climate change is forcing "decisive actions", with the impact already being felt financially through increases in energy prices. "The construction of small nuclear reactors by 2030 is a solid declaration and an element of our energy transformation. We are pioneers in Poland, as we expect that the first of our nuclear power plants will come online in 2029," he said.

"SMR technology will not only help us to protect the environment but will also substantially reduce the costs of operating our business," he added. "This is one of the recently-announced initiatives aimed at growing the company, and we plan to generate power commercially in order to assist in the green transformation of Poland and bring down costs for the average household."

Modular energy sources will play an "exceptionally important role" in the energy sector, PBE Managing Partner Piotr Piela said. The SMR, he said, is not only a crucial component "fitting energy transformation of Poland and many others fossil fuels-dependent EU countries", but also a 'technology of common interest' essential to the successful implementation of the "Pan European Green Deal".

NuScale's SMR features a 77 MWe Power Module using pressurised water reactor technology, deployed in power plants housing up to four, six or 12 individual power modules. In August 2020, it became the first, and so far, only, SMR design to receive approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Polish chemical producer Ciech recently announced it will consider nuclear technologies to replace coal burnt for power and process heat in its plants, and signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate with SGE.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

Dalhousie turbine turning former mill water supply into power

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Hydroelectric project to generate up to $100,000 in annual revenue

Alexandre Silberman · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2021 

Dalhousie Mayor Normand Pelletier shows the town's new micro hydroelectric turbine, which generates power using excess water supply. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

The steady hum of machinery is back on Dalhousie's waterfront, a welcome sign of new activity in New Brunswick's northernmost town.

An underground hydroelectric turbine started operating earlier this month, generating power from the water pipe once used to supply its former paper mill.

Mayor Normand Pelletier said revenue from the turbine will allow the community to explore additional green energy projects and help offset a declining tax base. 

"It's a win-win for Dalhousie and the citizens of the town," he said.

Once a hub of industry in northern New Brunswick, mangled fences and thick weeds now surround the empty tract of land where the mill operated. 

The town of about 3,000 people lost the pulp and paper industry, a chemical plant and a generating station between 2008 and 2011.

Dalhousie's pulp and paper mill shutdown more than a decade ago. The town's water supply pipe was built to supply the operation. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Dalhousie's water pipe was built to supply the now-demolished paper mill from the Charlo Dam. Without the operation, it carries far more water than the town needs.

"We were utilizing one third of that water," Pelletier said. "The rest was being dumped into the Bay of Chaleur."

After the mill closed, the town began conducting studies on the possibility of installing a turbine in the pipe.

 

New Brunswick's northernmost community is using extra water supply from a former paper mill to generate enough power for 50 homes. 2:27

The project took six years to complete and cost about $1 million, with $600,000 from the federal government and $280,000 from the province. The Town of Dalhousie covered the remaining $120,000.

It was expected to start generating power last year, but construction was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The turbine is expected to last 50 years.

Powering 50 homes

The electricity is being sold back to N.B. Power. It's only the second project of its kind connected to the utility's distribution system, according to spokesperson Marc Belliveau.

Hargrove Hydro, commissioned in the late 1960s, is the other project and is located near Florenceville-Bristol.

Pelletier said the turbine produces enough electricity to power 50 homes in the community for a year.

It is expected to generate revenues between $85,000 and $100,000 per year, which will initially be used to pay off the project.

Dalhousie's new hydroelectric turbine generates about 100 kilowatt hours, enough energy to power 50 homes in the community for a year. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

The mayor said Dalhousie is starting to look at other possible green energy projects for the community, including wind and solar. 

"We can use that money for future projects that we're looking at," he said.

"It feels awesome to have this up and running."

 

Climate change: Whisper it cautiously... there's been progress in run up to COP26

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Steam rises from a coal fired power plant in South Africa - an announcement from China may mean fewer such plants are built

With just five weeks left until world leaders gather in Glasgow for a critical climate summit, the BBC's Matt McGrath and Roger Harrabin consider progress made at this week's UN gathering and the outstanding issues that remain.

Climate change was the dominant theme at this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA) as countries recognised the seriousness of the global situation.

All across the planet, the hallmarks of rising temperatures are being keenly felt with intense wildfires, storms and floods taking place on scales rarely seen.

• World on course to heat up to dangerous levels
• World now sees twice as many days over 50C
• Wildlife and plant species decline 'a crisis'

Against this backdrop, Boris Johnson told the UN it was "time to grow up" on the climate issue.

The prime minister fought to bring November's UN climate summit to Britain, and it's clear he sees himself and the UK as global leaders in tackling this planetary threat.

His bizarre if powerful speech at the UN harnessed the Greek tragedian Sophocles and TV's Kermit the Frog to accuse some other leaders of behaving like adolescents waiting for someone else to tidy up their mess.

 

   

Britain's prime minister addressing the UN this week

Did it encourage or annoy them? That's not yet clear.

But how's Mr Johnson faring with his own policies?

Well, even the most grudging environmentalist would give him high marks for target-setting. The UK pledges to cut 78% of its emissions by 2035 - that's from a 1990 baseline.

That doesn't include emissions created abroad in the process of manufacturing the goods bought in the UK - but leave that to one side for the moment, because Britain is not on course for that 78% target anyway.

A report showed its current plans are projected to deliver less than a quarter of the cuts needed to meet the goal. The government didn't deny that.

It warned little progress has been made recently in areas such as agriculture, power, and waste (a major source of emissions).

Students and young people take to the streets to protest against climate change

The government has promised to put effective policies in place before the November conference, known as COP26, is held in Glasgow. But it's had policy rows over gas boilers, farm subsidies, aviation - and especially over how the zero-carbon revolution will be funded.

What's more, several of Mr Johnson's current policies will send emissions up, not down.

He's not opposing a coal mine in Cumbria or oil drilling off Shetland; he's cutting taxes on flying; and he's building new roads and the HS2 railway despite the massive amount of CO2 created to make the infrastructure.

Environmentalists warn these will prove embarrassing during the Glasgow summit.

What did major emitters China and the US say?

Both the US and China used the UN platform to take important steps forward.

President Biden underlined his commitment to a multilateral approach to climate change by announcing a significant increase in the US financial contribution to climate aid.

The US will in future pay $11.4bn per annum in climate finance, doubling the amount they previously committed to at a leader's summit in April.

"It's welcome but not sufficient," said Jennifer Tollman, who's with E3G, a climate change think tank.

IMAGE SOURCE,

POOLimage captionFor the second year in a row, China's President Xi used the UN meeting to make a major climate announcement

"This still needs to get through Congress. And even if that happens, the doubling wouldn't actually be happening until 2024."

The other big climate story was China's statement that it would not build any more coal plants overseas.

It's the second year in a row that China's President Xi Jinping has used the forum to announce significant climate policy.

While critics have pointed out that China was already in the process of slowing down these projects, there has been a general welcome for the step.

"China's overseas moratorium is a big deal," said Li Shuo from Greenpeace.

"Beijing has been the last man standing in supporting coal projects across the developing world. Its ban on these projects will significantly shape the global energy landscape in the years to come."

There are still no details on what the new commitment will mean, or when it comes into force and what exactly it . But analysis suggests that it would result in the cancellation of 11 coal projects across eight countries in Africa alone.

While applauding the move, many experts said they wanted more clarity from China on reducing its domestic reliance on coal.

China's dependence on coal is such that the country has increased its share of global coal-fired power generation to 53% in 2020.

"The main event is for China to pledge a major cut in its emissions now, in this decade, as US, EU and others have," tweeted former US climate envoy Todd Stern.

"China counts for 27% of global CO2 emissions. No chance to keep 1.5C alive unless China steps up for real," he wrote, referring to the key temperature threshold that scientists believe is the threshold of highly dangerous warming.

Where else was there progress?

IMAGE SOURCE,

Whisper it cautiously, but there were a few announcements at UNGA that suggest progress is being made.

According to analysis carried out by E3G, some of the highlights included:

• The US, EU and others pledging to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030
• Denmark and Costa Rica launching a Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance to phase out fossil fuels.
• Turkey committing to ratify the Paris Agreement and is said to be working on a carbon cutting plan.
• Brazil indicating it would not block negotiations in Glasgow on carbon markets, one of the stickiest of the outstanding issues from the Paris agreement.
• India is said to be moving towards submitting a new NDC before Glasgow.

What main challenges lie ahead?

Despite the cautious sense of progress at the UN meeting, some major questions remain.

Many countries including China and India haven't yet submitted new carbon cutting plans, as they are expected to do before the summit.

Just as important, the developed world is still scrambling to come up with the $100bn per annum that's meant to flow to the developing world from 2020.

With just five weeks left until Glasgow, diplomats are working hard to try and secure a figure that has become a symbol of trust between rich and poor nations.

To get to the key number may require some creative accounting.

"One of the things that is floating around but is by no means certain to land, is this idea of $500bn over five years," Jennifer Tollman told BBC News.

IMAGE SOURCE,

image captionClimate change is a key issue in the German federal election

"It's something I've heard come up more and more frequently, it's not going to be $100bn in 2021, but maybe that needs to be $120bn by 2022."

Coal is one of the other major questions.

It will be part of the discussions next week in Milan at what is termed the Pre-COP meeting. But critically it will also be on the agenda when the heads of the G20 group of countries gather in Rome, just days before Glasgow.

The G20 nations represents 80% of global emissions - if they can agree a strong statement that signals that coal has no future, this will be a major boost for COP26.

"The next 5 weeks are key," said Laurence Tubiana, from the European Climate Foundation and a key architect of the Paris agreement.

"In particular we need G20 countries to deliver when they meet in Rome, and for those countries yet to submit stronger plans to do so - now!"