Vodafone and Ericsson cut 5G energy bill by a third in latest ‘sleep mode’ trials

The trial focussed on powering down 5G sites when not in use, dramatically reducing their energy consumptionThis week, Vodafone UK and Ericsson have announced the successful completion of a new trial in London that puts 5G and 4G sites ‘to sleep’ when not in use.The trial focused on making better use of network downtime, introducing features that power down equipment when demand is low and reactivate it when needed. It aims to lower energy costs and carbon emissions without compromising network performance.The trial focussed on three power-saving elements: 5G deep sleep: Allows radio units to switch to a low energy mode during quieter periods, cutting power use by up to 70%.4G cell sleep mode: Optimises when 4G sites power down, improving efficiency without affecting coverage.Radio power efficiency map: Identifies sites where power savings can be made.Vodafone also confirmed it is looking at new mast designs that could reduce the number of physical sites and street-level cabinets needed in some areas.“By working with Ericsson to successfully apply these innovative software solutions...
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90% of All Power Grid Additions in American During 2024 Were Renewable–Solar Alone Made up 80%

– credit, energy.gov, released.In a staggering statistic, where it took a whole year to add one gigawatt of solar power in 2004, it now takes one single day.A gigawatt can power around 200,000 homes in the US, and in another staggering statistic, American businesses and governments funded the installation of 30 in 2024 alone.Indeed, 90% of all grid additions in 2024 were renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal.Solar accounted for 80% of all these additions alone, providing 30 gigawatts of electricity, or around 75% of the total renewable energy supply California has installed in the state’s history.New solar capacity added in 2024 is almost nine times that added by natural gas and nuclear power combined.There was also a respectable amount of capacity added by new wind power installations, which added 3 gigawatts to state grids. Additionally, 213 megawatts of hydropower, 51 MW of biomass, and 29 MW of geothermal steam were added, taking the total renewable energy footprint in 2024 to 90.5% of all new power sources.Part of this can be explained...
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Japan aims for increased use of nuclear in latest energy plan

In December, Shimane 2 became the latest Japanese reactor to be restarted (Image: Qurren/CreativeCommons)Japan is to "make maximum use of nuclear power", with about 20% of the country's total electricity generation in fiscal 2040 coming from nuclear, according to the government's latest Basic Energy Plan. Previous plans have called for a reduction on its dependence on nuclear power.The Japanese government revises its energy plan about every three years. The plan is formulated based on the Basic Energy Policy Law enacted in June 2002. The latest plan, like its predecessors, recognises the necessity of energy security for the country, which is poor in fossil fuel resources. The policy includes commitments to "clean energy" initiatives but places emphasis on ensuring stable and secure energy supplies. The Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy started discussions on the 7th Basic Energy Plan in May 2024 and presented the draft version of the plan in December. It has since gone through a public comment procedure and other processes.Adopted on Tuesday by the cabinet, the 7th...
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UK announces planning reforms to speed up nuclear projects

The Rolls-Royce SMR is one of four designs under consideration for the UK's SMR programme (Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)The UK government has announced plans to reform planning requirements and regulatory rules as part of measures to streamline the process of constructing new nuclear power plants in England and Wales, including small modular reactors."More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the prime minister slashes red tape to get Britain building - as part of his Plan for Change," the government said. "Reforms to planning rules will clear a path for smaller, and easier to build nuclear reactors – known as small modular reactors (SMRs) – to be built for the first time ever in the UK."The reforms include allowing new plants to be built anywhere across England and Wales, not just in the eight existing nuclear sites specified in current planning rules. However, the government said there will "continue to be robust criteria for nuclear reactor locations, including restrictions near densely-populated areas and military activity, alongside community engagement and...
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India’s non-fossil, fuel-based energy capacity reaches 217.62 GW: Centre

New Delhi, (IANS): India’s total non-fossil, fuel-based energy capacity has reached 217.62 GW (as of January 20), and addressing regulatory, financial and infrastructural challenges world be crucial this year towards meeting the clear energy goals, the government said on Wednesday.With continued policy support, increased investment, and a focus on emerging technologies, India is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious renewable energy targets and solidify its status as a global leader in the clean energy transition, according to a statement by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.In 2024, the country made significant strides in solar and wind energy installations, policy advancements, and infrastructural improvements, setting the stage for ambitious targets in 2025.With a commitment to achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030, India is emerging as a global leader in clean energy.The year 2024 saw a record-breaking 24.5 GW of solar capacity and 3.4 GW of wind capacity added, reflecting a more than two-fold increase in solar installations and a 21 per cent rise...
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TerraPower and Seaborg sign Korean cooperation agreements

(Image: South Gyeongsang province)The Governor of South Gyeongsang Province has signed agreements with TerraPower and Seaborg for cooperation in the design and production of next-generation nuclear power plants and research and development in the region.The agreements were signed at the Gyeongnam Small Modular Reactor International Conference, with the province saying it hoped the agreements would strengthen the region's position in the sector and provide opportunities to participate in technology development.Governor Park Wan-soo said in his opening remarks, at what was the first such conference: "Recently, cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence and big data are developing rapidly, and the demand for electricity is increasing worldwide. In the midst of these changes, small modular reactors, or SMRs, a carbon-free energy source that is stable and sustainable, are attracting attention from around the world. Last June, our province established a comprehensive plan to foster nuclear power ... and announced that it would invest KRW2.6 trillion (USD1.8 billion) by 2032 and...
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BRICS members set to increase nuclear energy cooperation

(Image: Rosatom)The creation of the Nuclear Energy Platform is intended to share experience and support the development of nuclear technologies among BRICS+ member countries.The intergovernmental BRICS organisation's members are currently Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE, with more than 20 other countries also expressing an interest in joining the organisation which is widely seen as a counterbalance to the G7 grouping of industrialised nations.The presidency of what is now sometimes referred to as BRICS+ since its expansion from 5 to 10 members this year, is currently held by Russia, with its annual summit taking place in the city of Kazan next week. But ahead of that event, the BRICS+ Business Forum has been taking place, with the issue of collaboration in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear technology discussed at a meeting at Moscow Atom Museum.Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom director general, said that nearly all the organisation's members were implementing projects in the field of nuclear energy: "Today, many BRICS members are the technological...
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What are the fuel cycle challenges of tripling nuclear capacity?

Leading figures from across the fuel cycle say they are ready to meet increased demand, but set out areas where change is required to help make it happen, in a World Nuclear Symposium session. (Image: World Nuclear Association)The background More than 120 nuclear energy and technology companies and 25 countries have signed up to the pledge to aim to at least triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050. One key question is how fuel supplies will be able to expand if such a goal is to be achieved. Here are extracts of what key sector figures said during a discussion on the subject.Nicolas Maes, CEO Orano Nicolas Maes said that on mining Orano's current strategy was to expand existing projects, while in the medium term it was "revisiting our exploration policy and the means that we are allocating to exploration ... we believe that there are many areas in this world that have been vastly unexplored". It was also developing "mining techniques to make deposits that were today not so accessible, accessible - or non-conventional deposits that could make sense now". He used the analogy of...
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World’s Largest Battery to Revolutionize Renewable Energy Storage in Maine with ‘Reverse Rusting’

Artistic rendering to promote Form Energy’s battery tech. The company has also received DOE demonstration project funding elsewhere -credit Form Energy, released to the media.In northern Maine, a company is planning the largest battery ever made by humans with 8,500 megawatt-hours of storage.The purpose is to store renewable energy like solar and wind, produced but not needed, for times when the Sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.The batteries store and discharge energy via a novel process called “reverse rusting.” Inside the battery is iron, and as the battery stores electricity, it takes in oxygen from the air turning the iron inside into iron oxide—or rust. When it discharges, the oxygen is released and the oxide is removed, leaving the iron pure again.While unusable for everyday electronics, this method works at scale and is around one-tenth of the running and manufacturing costs of using lithium-ion batteries.Form Energy, the firm behind the project, received over $380 million in grants from the Department of Energy for projects all over the North Atlantic, of which $147...
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Indonesia calls for global collaboration on green energy transition

Jakarta, (IANS): The two-day International Sustainability Forum (ISF), gathering state leaders, decision-makers, CEOs and sustainability experts from 53 countries to build collaboration for a green energy transition agenda, began in the Indonesian capital on Thursday.At the opening ceremony of the forum, which boasts nearly 11,000 participants, President Joko Widodo said the forum would centre its discussions on the significance of energy resilience, the impacts of climate change, and the critical need for energy transition and sustainability, Xinhua news agency reported."I hope the ISF can serve as a platform where knowledge, experience, and resources converge to become shared assets and foster collaboration in addressing the challenge of climate change," he said.Highlighting Indonesia's vast potential for green energy and carbon capture, Widodo pointed to the country's 3.3-million-hectare mangrove forests, which he noted were 8 to 12 times more effective at absorbing carbon than tropical rainforests.However, he stressed that this potential could only be fully realised if developed...
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Viewpoint: Providing a platform for young nuclear professionals : Perspectives

Could you tell us about the current IYNC priorities?Kristine Madden, president of the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC), discusses the key challenges and opportunities for young nuclear professionals in the near future.IYNC is a global organisation of young nuclear professionals committed to bridging the knowledge gap between generations and fostering international collaboration. Through different initiatives, we not only support professional growth but also enhance public understanding of the potential of nuclear technologies.Since the last Congress in Japan in 2022, global interest in nuclear energy has continued to grow. Both the International Energy Agency (IEA Net Zero Roadmap: A Global Pathway to Keep the 1.5°C in Reach: 2023 Update) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Global Warming of 1.5°C, 2018) have reported the need for significant increases in nuclear power by 2050. Concurrently, we have observed a global rise in youth's favorable view of the role of nuclear science and technology in achieving net-zero goals. A survey conducted by YOUNGO, the youth...
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France sets out long-term nuclear recycling plans

Lescure (second from left) and Le Maire (centre) pictured with La Hague Site Director Stéphanie Gaiffe (far left) and Orano CEO Nicolas Maes (on the right) during the visit (Image: Orano)Minister for the Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Bruno Le Maire announced the decision to continue with France's treatment-recycling strategy for used nuclear fuel beyond 2040, with plans to extend the life of existing recycling plants and to launch studies for a new MOX fuel fabrication plant and a new used fuel processing plant.The announcement was made during a visit by Le Maire and Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy Roland Lescure to Orano's La Hague recycling site, days after France's Nuclear Policy Council (Conseil de Politique Nucléaire) said on 26 February that the country would continue with its closed nuclear fuel cycle strategy.Le Maire announced three measures that will be taken towards this goal: a sustainability/resilience programme extending the life of the La Hague and Melox recycling plants beyond 2040; the launch of studies for a new MOX fuel fabrication...
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US Puts Solar Panels on Old Nuclear Weapons Sites for Powering 70,000 Homes

The Idaho National Laboratory – credit, DoEAcross the nation, land set aside for the purpose of possibly destroying the world is now welcoming infrastructure meant to save it.Sites managed by the Dept. of Energy’s nuclear weapons division are now playing host to solar farms that should be able to power thousands of homes.As part of a government program called Cleanup to Clean Energy, the Idaho National Laboratory, though never having hosted nuclear weapons itself, will soon be the site of a 400-megawatt solar farm spread across 2,800 acres.Though the project timeline hasn’t been released, a lease was negotiated for the INL project with Massachusetts-based solar developer NorthRenew Energy for 300 megawatts of solar power.Another developer called Spitfire was awarded a lease for 100 megawatts and another 500 of battery storage, according to Elektek.Other locations including the Hanford site in Washington state, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, the Nevada National Security Site in Nevada, and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, are all considered strong candidates...
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India embarks on clean energy journey amid billions of dollars investments opportunity

New Delhi, (IANS): As India begins its ambitious journey to fulfilling at least half of its energy requirements via renewable energy by 2030, the country is set to attract over $500 billion worth investment in clean energy by that time.According to Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, India offers over $500 billion investment opportunities, particularly in the clean energy value chain including renewables, green hydrogen and electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030.At the 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26), India announced its target to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.Before that long-term goal, India is set to achieve its short-term targets under the ‘Panchamrit’ action plan -- reaching a non-fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030; fulfilling at least half of its energy requirements via renewable energy by 2030; reducing CO2 emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030; reducing carbon intensity below 45 per cent by 2030; and finally pave the way for achieving a Net-Zero emission target by 2070.India’s long-term low-carbon development strategy...
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India's data centre capacity to double to 2,000 MW by 2026, green energy is the key

Mumbai, May 8 (IANS) India's data centre capacity is set to double to reach 2000 MW by 2026, as the country transitions towards a developed market economy amid a rise in 'green energy' solutions, a report showed on Wednesday.The growth plans have also created substantial investment prospects, with a likely capex of Rs 50,000 crore in this space over the next three years till 2026, according to the report by CareEdge Ratings.The data centre industry is expected to clock a revenue growth of 32 per cent during FY24-FY26.While India generates about 20 per cent of global data, in terms of data centre capacity, it has a share of just 3 per cent.However, the wave of digitisation, driven by the expansion of e-commerce, fintech platforms, online streaming, and gaming services, is anticipated to increase the number of internet users and boost internet penetration - generating a robust demand for data centres."The capacity addition of 1.1 GW in data centre space needs to be corroborated with increased absorption in future/medium term, as cashflow stability is an important consideration for the...
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Nuclear's flexibility is the 'magic' to create a clean energy future

(Image: CEM11)The nuclear industry has merely scratched the surface of the flexible benefits of nuclear power, according to panellists in a conference held this week ahead of the 11th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM11). The CEM11 side-event, Flexibility in Clean Energy Systems: The Enabling Roles of Nuclear Energy, included high-level speakers from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as government officials from Canada, the UK and the USA. Hosted by Saudi Arabia, CEM11 will take place on 22 September.The panellists all agreed that, in tandem with renewable energy, the flexibility of nuclear - from existing large-scale plants to advanced designs for small and medium-sized reactors of the future - will enable the transition to a cleaner world and a stronger global economy.Chairing the panel discussion, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said: "Flexibility is the magic word if we want to have a secure but at the same time clean energy future. Nuclear power can both provide clean electricity and...
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Polish ministry approves plans for Rolls-Royce SMRs

How a Rolls-Royce SMR might look (Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)Polish industrial group Industria's plan to construct a power plant based on Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor (SMR) has been approved by the Ministry of Climate and Environment.Industria submitted its application for a decision-in-principle in December last year to Polish Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska. The application concerns the construction of a nuclear power plant using Rolls-Royce SMR technology - a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor - and a used nuclear fuel storage facility as an integral part of the power plant.On 10 May, Hennig-Kloska issued the ministry's decision-in-principle, saying that she believes the investment would be in the public interest and in line with Poland's energy and climate policies. The application was positively assessed by the Head of the Internal Security Agency and the Minister of State Assets.The decision-in-principle represents official state approval for the planned investment in accordance with the assumptions and concept presented by the...
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