European Union, member states and Agencies

[SolarisKenzo]

Historic EU-UK deal on Gibraltar status.

Access Restricted

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1932812651702165617

 

[SolarisKenzo]

EU unveils 241 billion euros (280 billion dollars) nuclear expansion plan.
The new strategy aims for a more than 50% increase in nuclear energy production, going from the current 98GW (EU only, the actual EU grid is also connected to UK, Switzerland and will be connected to Ukraine) to 109GW from large Gen III+ reactors (the plan also "selected" 3 designs: EPR-II, AP1000 and APR) and circa 50GW from SMRs.

EU's €241 Billion Plan for Nuclear Energy Expansion by 2050 - News and Statistics - IndexBox

The EU plans a €241 billion investment to expand nuclear energy capacity from 98 to 109 gigawatts by 2050, involving new financial strategies to attract private investors amid divided member state opinions.

www.indexbox.io

 

[kato]

EU unveils 241 billion euros (280 billion dollars) nuclear expansion plan.

There is no EU-wide strategy or plan for nuclear expansion. Those 241 billion are the required investment to realize both renewal and planned expansion of nuclear capacity (to those 109 GW, although considerable sums are simply for replacement of current capcaity) by member states of the European Union.

The European Commission simply reported on these numbers in their 8th "Nuclear Illustrative Programme" (PINC), a regular report they have to publish in accordance with Article 40 of the EURATOM treaty. Publishing this report does not mean the EC is planning, financing or even endorsing any of this. The publishing is part of the European Commission's role in ensuring nuclear safety in Europe.

Commission assesses nuclear investment needs by 2050 in view of decarbonisation and competitiveness goals

Delivering Member States\' plans regarding nuclear energy will require significant investments, of around €241 billion until 2050, both for lifetime extensions of existing reactors and the construction of new large-scale reactors.

ec.europa.eu

That diagram in your post is from a pro-nuclear, anti-green lobby group with an aim to redirect subsidies for renewable energy production towards new nuclear power plants.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

That diagram in your post is from a pro-nuclear, anti-green lobby group with an aim to redirect subsidies for renewable energy production towards new nuclear power plants.

How can a pro-nuclear lobby also be anti-green?

 

[Feanor]

How can a pro-nuclear lobby also be anti-green?

I don't know how it is in Europe but in the US the same political agents advocating for fossil fuels and arguing against green energy and global warming also often speak in favor of nuclear energy. My suspicion is that this has to do with the anti-nuclear stance of so-called green movements historically.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

I don't know how it is in Europe but in the US the same political agents advocating for fossil fuels and arguing against green energy and global warming also often speak in favor of nuclear energy. My suspicion is that this has to do with the anti-nuclear stance of so-called green movements historically.

Are they explicitly opposing green energy or just advocating for non-green as backups?
I personally very much support green energy - a nuclear baseline and combustibles as emergency backup, which some would definitely see as anti-green.

 

[Feanor]

Are they explicitly opposing green energy or just advocating for non-green as backups?

I haven't the foggiest. However you asked a specific question regarding how someone can be anti-green and pro-nuclear energy. This is not an uncommon political position. It's a nonsensical position, but not nearly the most nonsensical position we see in politics these days.

I personally very much support green energy - a nuclear baseline and combustibles as emergency backup, which some would definitely see as anti-green.

Well then... what do you mean when you ask "how"? Your statement implies you understand that this position exists.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

I dont understand how can someone be anti-green and pro-nuclear at the same time.
I mean, I know usually the "greens" are anti-nuclear, but my guess is that they are not able to understand basic math and have zero scientific background.
Their knowledge of nuclear power usually comes from greenpeace videos on Chernobyl or from episodes of The Simpsons.

Nuclear energy is carbon-free, the only continuative and programmable source that doesnt need fossil fuels (yes, hydro of course, but hydro is limited by geography and water supply. Geothermic is just basically irrelevant in most places.) and the amount of energy generated by nuclear power in the same space is several orders of magnitude higher than renewables.

 

[John Fedup]

I dont understand how can someone be anti-green and pro-nuclear at the same time.

I guess the the quote "you can't fix stupid" explains the situation. It also largely explains the current US political environment.

 

[kato]

I dont understand how can someone be anti-green and pro-nuclear at the same time.

The term "technology neutral" - also used in that chart by the nucleareurope lobby group - is an activist term for a particular energy-politics stance.

Specifically, it calls for subsidies for renewable energy - and other forms of energy production - to be rerouted towards nuclear energy.

This is not a new thing either, but this term has been used since the 60s for this purpose by nuclear lobby groups. Worldwide and translated across pretty much all languages.

Nuclear energy is carbon-free

Which is entirely irrelevant when nuclear waste products from power production result in a permanent storage problem which makes the entire process unsustainable for humanity as a whole.

Germany, over the heyday of its nuclear power production, simply dumped 126,000 barrels of radioactive waste into a former mine. Which was then discovered in the 90s to in the future leak that radioactive waste into the underground as salt water pressing into the mine is continuously corroding the barrels and washing out the concrete the waste is embedded in within those barrels. Cleanup is planned to start in 2033, spending 5 billion just to remove the barrels from the mine. Not that they really have any idea where to store them afterwards.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

The term "technology neutral" - also used in that chart by the nucleareurope lobby group - is an activist term for a particular energy-politics stance.

Specifically, it calls for subsidies for renewable energy - and other forms of energy production - to be rerouted towards nuclear energy.

This is not a new thing either, but this term has been used since the 60s for this purpose by nuclear lobby groups. Worldwide and translated across pretty much all languages.

So you are saying that to subsidize renewables (non programmable, non continuos, very low energy-generating, suffering from dunkelflaute) is ok but when you simply ask to look at all the co2 free source with the same conditions then thats an "activist term"?
To me the ridicolously high subsidies granted to renewables are a political stance.
Tech neutrality means you have to choose the best source, not the one NGOs like the most.

100% renewable is fisically not possible. The grid needs inertia, which means it needs turbines to continuosly run.
If you exclude nuclear by political choice (the same stupid choice Germany and Italy made, and, what a coincidence, look at who's got the highest co2 emissions and the highest electricity bills in EU) you will always need to burn coal or gas to grant the baseload and the inertia the grid needs.

Which is entirely irrelevant when nuclear waste products from power production result in a permanent storage problem which makes the entire process unsustainable for humanity as a whole.

Germany, over the heyday of its nuclear power production, simply dumped 126,000 barrels of radioactive waste into a former mine. Which was then discovered in the 90s to in the future leak that radioactive waste into the underground as salt water pressing into the mine is continuously corroding the barrels and washing out the concrete the waste is embedded in within those barrels. Cleanup is planned to start in 2033, spending 5 billion just to remove the barrels from the mine. Not that they really have any idea where to store them afterwards.

Nuclear waste is so little that it's basically irrelevant. Modern Gen3+ plants use so little fuel that you can easily store it in the same site of the plant itself.

If Germany was unable to manage its nuclear waste (which, btw, if you are talking about Asse, then you are completely misleading since none of the waste came from nuclear plants but all was generated from research reactors and medical nuclear facilities) it doesnt mean nuclear waste is dangerous.

Most european plants have inner storage sites, with absolutely no problems.
Nuclear fuel can also be recycled in metal-cooled fast reactors, a tech that is decades old and absolutely proven.

Geological repository sites or permanent storage sites are also an easy solution for those country that are unable to deal with their own waste.
You can build it pretty much anywhere underground and build offices on top of it. A permanent storage site has the same radioactive emission of some bananas.

Anyway, we are talking about nothing. Italy joined today the EU nuclear alliance (news came while I was writing this message) and nuclear power will be inevitably be the backbone of EU energy independence.

 

[Redshift]

How can a pro-nuclear lobby also be anti-green?

It can, but it doesn't have to be, it all depends on your definition of green!

 

[SolarisKenzo]

EU-Canada signed a Security and Defence Partnership in Brussels this week.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1938447195092472207

 

[SolarisKenzo]

The European Union will likely enforce mandatory age-verification for social media, adult online gaming, porn websites, video-chat websites and several other platforms, such as some modding communities in the videogaming world.
Gambling websites are already obliged to check the age of their users, but more controls are likely for them too.

EU-wide rules are coming after some member states obscured or banned certain websites, causing protests mainly from the US.
Age verification will also work for ukrainian citizens currently in the EU thanks to the temporary protection.

Showing your ID to get online might become a reality - European Digital Rights (EDRi)

The European Commission is close to a ‘solution’ that could force people to use their government-issued ID to get online.

edri.org

EU age verification app to be delivered in July - Identity Week

A new EU age-verification app is to be delivered in July, according to reporting by The Financial Times. The tool is designed to enable users to confirm their age without revealing sensitive personal data to online platforms, signalling the EU’s intent to strengthen enforcement around child...

identityweek.net

The EU already has strict rules on online advertising, cookies, data sharing and much more; policies that deeply irritates american big tech companies that are forced to develop and operate "parallel apps" in the US and the EU, with the latter (according to rumors and other sources) going to also order a stop to data transfer outside the EU (for example to the US) building the facto a "parallel internet".

TikTok Activates Latest EU Data Center as Authorities Issue New Data Sharing Fine

TikTok's set to be hit with a $552 million penalty just as it takes its next steps in separating EU user data.

www.socialmediatoday.com

The European Union Court of Justice (The EU Supreme Court) set a new precedent by ordering the European Commission to pay damages to an individual after their data was unlawfully transferred to the U.S. without adequate protections.

CURIA - Documents

curia.europa.eu

 

[SolarisKenzo]

In an act of deep friendship and extreme collaborative spirit, Trump announced 30% tariffs on the EU.

EU ready to retaliate after Trump hits bloc with 30 percent tariff

“We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests,” says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

www.politico.eu

 

[John Fedup]

In an act of deep friendship and extreme collaborative spirit, Trump announced 30% tariffs on the EU.

EU ready to retaliate after Trump hits bloc with 30 percent tariff

“We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests,” says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

www.politico.eu

That is today, tomorrow +/- 10-90%, or a delay or WTF knows. Soon it will WTF cares anymore.

 

[SolarisKenzo]

That is today, tomorrow +/- 10-90%, or a delay or WTF knows. Soon it will WTF cares anymore.

Also the fact that Donald Trump always announces tariffs when the markets are closed isn't suspicious at all, is it?

 

[MARKMILES77]

Interesting article from the British Daily Telegraph.
Very optimistic about the future of European Defence and that this will give the Europeans
more autonomy as the U.S. loses it's influence over them.
Will also give them much more say in the outcome in Ukraine.
I did not realize that the European manufacturing base is so much larger than that of the U.S.A.

Trump is losing his grip as Europe loads up

While Donald Trump still commands the daily news cycle, he no longer commands the West nor the fate of Ukraine.

www.theage.com.au

 

[MARKMILES77]

Had to check (with Grok) , is the author of this article correct, does Europe really manufacture so much more than the USA?

 

[MARKMILES77]

And Russia's for comparison is puny!

And the Europe amount does not include the UK.