UK government report urges alternative nuclear development, including thorium

[wtmusic]

"A key report by the UK government on the future of nuclear power will recommend a big increase in nuclear generating capacity by 2050, and will encourage the development of reactors that can burn waste and and breed fuel instead of leaving waste, the Weinberg Foundation has learned.

The “Nuclear Research and Development” report for 2050 and beyond, led by chief scientific adviser Sir John Beddington in response to a query by the House of Lords, will come on the heels of scathing criticism today that the country’s nuclear waste maintenance operations operates over budget and has spent £67.5 billion ($106.4 billion).

Reactors that “close” the fuel cycle – breed new fuel – will be key, the report will suggest, as will new fuel cycles based on thorium instead of uranium, which can also run in a “closed” cycle in a molten salt reactor. The report will also call for advances in conventional reactors, or “LWRs” (light water reactors)."

http://www.the-weinberg-foundation.org/2013/02/04/uk-government-report-urges-alternative-nuclear-development-including-thorium/

[drm604]

1. I've been intrigued by some of what I've read regarding thorium fuel cycles.

Not being a physicist, it's difficult for me to judge the real safety and efficiency.

[wtmusic]

3. Very promising.

LFTR in 5 Minutes

[kristopher]

2. That's shameful

In common parlance "The Weinberg Foundation" has long been equated with The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation - a premier, world renowned philanthropic organization.
http://hjweinbergfoundation.org/

The "Weinberg Foundation" you cite is a sham outfit created to promote thorium in the UK by capitalizing on the fame of the original.
http://www.the-weinberg-foundation.org/

This is a typical example of the morally bankrupt, deceitful practices employed by this dying industry. And now that the decision about waste disposal by locals in Cumbria has pretty much killed the Conservative govt's push for nuclear we see the lunatic nuclear fringe coming out on force.


Nuclear Power: Why the Grass is Always Greener
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/431163/20130204/nuclear-cumbria-county-council-bp.htm

Centrica pulls out of UK nuclear power plant construction, citing uncertainty of overall cost
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/centrica-pulls-out-of-uk-nuclear-power-plant-construction-citing-uncertainty-of-overall-cost/2013/02/04/6d4eaa30-6ebc-11e2-b35a-0ee56f0518d2_story.html

[FBaggins]

4. Yeah! How low can you go!

They even went back in time a century and made sure that one of the key players in the Manhattan Project and studying the Thorium fuel cycle would be born to parents named Weinberg! That way the organization named for him a couple years after his death would be able to steal the reputation of "a premier, world renowned philanthropic organization"



And that government report will probably put some pretend names in there too.. right?

BTW - is this the fifth time you're eroneously predicted the end of UK nuclear or the sixth? I can never remember.

[kristopher]

5. Right, that was the only possible name this group promoting thorium could find...

Having an "excuse" of that nature doesn't excuse the obviously duplicitous intent of their act.

As for the end of nuclear in the UK...

Nuclear expansion plan thwarted after Cumbria no vote to underground store
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/30/nuclear-expansion-thwarted-cumbria-no

There is no question that the conservative government is dedicated to centralized power like nuclear but the trends are not looking good for their unrelenting efforts.

[FBaggins]

6. Yep... had to be intentional deception.

Is there some reason why a group promoting one energy solution needs to avoid names similar to a charitable org? Do you think it adds some credibility if people think that, say, the Getty Trust likes it? That anyone but you is confused by the name?

Hardly.

As for the end of nuclear in the UK...

And as with your previous such pronouncements... you're way off base. Cumbria's votemay not only be temporary... and there may be any number of other choices that previously opted out of consideration when it seemed that Cumbria had the site locked up. Ultimately it's irrelevant since the government can just site it there without their approval. It hardly keeps them from moving forward with new construction.

There is no question that the conservative government

This being the same coalition government that you originally told me would be the end of UK nuclear power?

[PamW]

7. BS - Kris!!

Among scientists and the people that the foundation is targeting to support the thorium fuel cycle.
the name of Dr. Alvin Weinberg is much more prestigious and well known than a real-estate businessman
like Harry Weinberg.

As a non-scientist, Kris, I can believe that you didn't know about Alvin Weinberg.

However, I knew about Alvin Weinberg for DECADES before I ever heard of Harry Weinberg.

This is kris' old ploy of implying something sinister without any evidence, and when it clearly wasn't the intent;
all fueled by his total lack of knowledge of science and its towering figures.

PamW