The average capacity factor of Japan’s nuclear power reactors over the past year has improved slightly with the return to service of two earthquake-affected reactors. Meanwhile, nuclear is expected to increase its share of Japanese electricity generation from 30% to around 40% over the next decade.

According to figures released by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), the weighted average capacity factor of the country’s fleet of 54 power reactors, with a combined capacity of 48,847 MWe, was 65.7% during the year to the end of March 2010. This compares with an average capacity factor of 60% in the previous year.

All seven units at Tokyo Electric Power’s (Tepco’s) at Kashiwazaki Kariwa were shut down in July 2007 following a violent earthquake, removing some 7965 MWe from available capacity. After extended shutdowns for inspections and repairs, units 6 and 7 resumed operation in August and May 2009, respectively. The remaining five units remain offline.

JAIF notes that, excluding Kashiwazaki Kariwa units 1 to 5, the average capacity factor for Japan’s reactors in fiscal year 2009 would have been a more respectful 74.2%.

Some 277.5 billion kWh of electricity were generated by Japanese nuclear power plants in FY2009, up 7.5% on the 258 billion kWh generated in FY2008. It is the third consecutive year in which generation has been less than 300 billion kWh. Historically, nuclear power has provided about 30% of Japanese electricity and this is expected to rise to 40% by 2017.

Germany has long been a leader in “green” technologies, but it’s facing growing competition from around the globe. In a special report for The Local, Sally McGrane examines the energy challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

When it comes to renewable energy, Germany is a perfect ‘10’ – at least during 2010.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of Germany’s comprehensive Renewable Energy Act (EEG), which has helped cover over 10 percent of the country’s total energy consumption from sources like wind, solar, water, or biomass.

And renewable energy in Germany isn’t just about fewer carbon emissions or energy independence, either: along the way, Europe’s largest economy has built up an industry that leads the world in exporting renewable energy technology, providing some 280,000 jobs worth an annual turnover of €40 billion.

In what is widely considered a success story for developing renewables in the industrialised world, Germany has demonstrated that a strong political will can kick-start and sustain a “green” technological revolution.

“The public really supports renewable energy,” said Claudia Kemfert, energy expert at the German Institute for Economic Research. “There’s no political party in Germany that doubts it’s a success.”

There have, of course, been hiccups. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s centre-right coalition has back pedalled on Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power and aims to cut feed-in tariffs subsidising solar power by 16 percent starting in July, which could lead to a wave of insolvencies in the domestic photovoltaic industry. Citizen groups have also sprung up lamenting how wind and solar farms are a supposedly a blight on otherwise bucolic Teutonic landscapes. But none of these issues change Germany’s fundamentally green credentials.

With laws first passed in 1990, Germany pioneered the feed-in tariff system as a political tool for encouraging the development of renewable energy. Under a feed-in tariff, producers of renewable energy are guaranteed that they will be able to sell the electricity they create at relatively high prices that remain fixed for twenty years. The additional costs are spread to all electricity consumers, who pay about €0.011 cents per kilowatt hour as a ‘renewable energy surcharge.’

“Critics might say it’s an intrusion into the free market,” Jörg Mayer, director of Germany’s Renewable Energy Agency, told The Local. “But supporters say that climate change can’t compete on the free market. That the real external costs are not covered by the amount we are otherwise paying.”

Read more……

Article from: www.thelocal.de

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- U.K. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne told the Sunday Times in an interview that new nuclear power plants will be built, despite the government’s opposition to subsidize the industry.

He said the rise of gas and oil prices in the coming years will make nuclear energy more attractive to private investors, despite government budget restrictions.

“It is very clear from the coalition agreement that there will be a new generation of nuclear power,” Huhne said in the interview.

However, Huhne has expressed skepticism towards nuclear energy, and said “I am simply a skeptical economist about the record of nuclear power on delivering on time and to budget in a way that can make returns for investors,” he said, reported the newspaper.

Forward Networking is delighted to announce between the 19th – 23rd April the live international broadcast of international mobile child safety webinars. These sessions will compare and analyse children’s use of the internet through computers and mobile phone technologies. Our expert speakers will review the different relationships children have with their phones and computers, and looking forward will review the challenges and opportunities offering better control, monitoring and management of use and will bring together leading associations, providers and thought leaders to discuss the current and future status of this critical key market.

19th of April, 11.00 – The impact, opportunities and risks in eLearining & Education

SPEAKER: Mike Short ~ Mobile Data Association / O2

• Impact of Mobile now 5 Billion are in use
• Opportunities for Connected learning
• Addressing risks for Children; role of UK CCIS and Government
• Opening up the eBooks and the eLibraries
• Applications, anywhere anytime

19th of April, 15.00 – Mobile phones: “a bridge for digital inclusion and being online”

SPEAKER: Catia Candeias ~ IBM – Sys Project

• Video Presentation: teenager testimony on his relationship with his mobile phone
• Young People expectations and communication needs
• Mobile Phones: the online alternative
• Internet: Risks and Opportunities
• Parental Control and Industry’s role

20th of April, 11.00 - Online risks for children and adolescents

SPEAKER: David Šmahel ~ Masaryk University

• Cyberbullying ~ The risk & the reality
• Addictive behaviors ~ Understanding modern e-behavioral trends
• Risky Communities ~ Managing security within online youth communities

20th of April, 15.00 - Clarifying the boundaries of E-Culture

SPEAKERS: Marie Griffiths / Rachel McLean, Academic Fellow, University of Salford, UK

This presentation explores the effects of the blurring of “public & private” family life through the increasing use of technology in the home. It is now normal for homes to contain a networked gaming console, web enabled I-Touch, individualy owned computers and numerous mobile phones.

We explore these eroding boundaries and whether it is considered a side effect of the domestication of technologies, or a conflict between family members over how much of their lives are made public?

Through examples of data in multi media format, we will offer insights into these issues in consensus with the appropriate individuals.

21st of April, 15.00 - Youth, online commerce and mobile phones

SPEAKER: Remco Pijpers ~ Mijn Kind Online

• Children go younger online, more and more
• What they see is getting more commercial
• More and more children have mobile phones that serve as the new wallet: very easily you can pay for virtual goods with your mobile phone for example
• How do you reach children online in a responsible way?
• What can policy makers, marketeers and professionals do to help children and parents do the right thing – online and with cell phones?

23rd of April, 15.00 - A providers perspective

SPEAKER: Annie Mullins ~ Vodafone

• Understanding the challenges of the convergent landscape in protecting minors
• The value chain of responsibility – from handsets, mobile networks to social networking services
• Education and media ~ the cornerstone of enabling users, parents and teachers to create safer digital environments

INDUSTRY EXPERTS JOINING:

Uwe Hasebrink ~Hans Bredow Institute

PROGRAM & BOOKING PDF | KPN – SPONSORS | WEBINAR BENEFITS

Forward Networking is delighted to announce between the 19th – 23rd April the live international broadcast of international mobile child safety webinars. These sessions will compare and analyse children’s use of the internet through computers and mobile phone technologies. Our expert speakers will review the different relationships children have with their phones and computers, and looking forward will review the challenges and opportunities offering better control, monitoring and management of use and will bring together leading associations, providers and thought leaders to discuss the current and future status of this critical key market.

19th of April, 11.00 – The impact, opportunities and risks in eLearining & Education

SPEAKER: Mike Short ~ Mobile Data Association / O2

• Impact of Mobile now 5 Billion are in use
• Opportunities for Connected learning
• Addressing risks for Children; role of UK CCIS and Government
• Opening up the eBooks and the eLibraries
• Applications, anywhere anytime

19th of April, 15.00 – Mobile phones: “a bridge for digital inclusion and being online”

SPEAKER: Catia Candeias ~ IBM – Sys Project

• Video Presentation: teenager testimony on his relationship with his mobile phone
• Young People expectations and communication needs
• Mobile Phones: the online alternative
• Internet: Risks and Opportunities
• Parental Control and Industry’s role

20th of April, 11.00 - Online risks for children and adolescents

SPEAKER: David Šmahel ~ Masaryk University

• Cyberbullying ~ The risk & the reality
• Addictive behaviors ~ Understanding modern e-behavioral trends
• Risky Communities ~ Managing security within online youth communities

20th of April, 15.00 - Clarifying the boundaries of E-Culture

SPEAKERS: Marie Griffiths / Rachel McLean, Academic Fellow, University of Salford, UK

This presentation explores the effects of the blurring of “public & private” family life through the increasing use of technology in the home. It is now normal for homes to contain a networked gaming console, web enabled I-Touch, individualy owned computers and numerous mobile phones.

We explore these eroding boundaries and whether it is considered a side effect of the domestication of technologies, or a conflictbetween family members over how much of their lives are made public?

Through examples of data in multi media format, we will offer insights into these issues in consensus with the appropriate individuals.

21st of April, 15.00 - Youth, online commerce and mobile phones

SPEAKER: Remco Pijpers ~ Mijn Kind Online

• Children go younger online, more and more
• What they see is getting more commercial
• More and more children have mobile phones that serve as the new wallet: very easily you can pay for virtual goods with your mobile phone for example
• How do you reach children online in a responsible way?
• What can policy makers, marketeers and professionals do to help children and parents do the right thing – online and with cell phones?

23rd of April, 15.00 - A providers perspective

SPEAKER: Annie Mullins ~ Vodafone

• Understanding the challenges of the convergent landscape in protecting minors
• The value chain of responsibility – from handsets, mobile networks to social networking services
• Education and media ~ the cornerstone of enabling users, parents and teachers to create safer digital environments

INDUSTRY EXPERTS JOINING:

Uwe Hasebrink ~Hans Bredow Institute

PROGRAM & BOOKING PDF | KPN – SPONSORS | WEBINAR BENEFITS