INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Europe: 4.5 billion Euros to develop CO2 storage and renewable energies
The European Commission, European Investment Bank (EIB) and Member States are proposing to provide about 4.5 billion Euros in direct funding for innovation in sustainable development. This grant is to finance two initiatives: the advancement of capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS), and innovative renewable energy technologies
This grant, named 'NER300' (New Entrant Reserve), corresponds to 300 million tonnes worth of CO2 emission allowances (rights to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide) in the New Entrants' Reserve (NER) of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The financing of the grant will come from the sale of these emission rights at 15 Euros per tonne, which it is estimated will raise 4.5 billion Euros. This amount will cover 50% of the investments in sustainable development schemes.
Interested countries must submit their projects to the EIB before the end of 2010; the final decision will be made one year later. The proposed programmes should be operational by the end of 2015. A second call for projects will be launched in 2013.
The EU directive highlighted the importance of Risk Management for CCS projects. Oxand will support some of the applicants to the NER 300 to ensure they are compliant with the ISO 31000 standards.
New international standards for managing risk
After ISO 31000, which dealt with the design and implementation of global risk-management systems, new international standards are appearing to complete the picture. The objective: to better anticipate the threats facing organisations.
This is the case for ISO 31010, which provides a catalogue of available risk-analysis methods. Or standard 26000*, which is close in scope to ISO 15288: both aim to provide management frameworks, the former for organisational responsibilities, the latter for the life cycle of large industrial projects.
Not forgetting the British Standard Pass 55, specially designed to structure and improve the management of industrial assets.
At the heart of businesses today, we are seeing a strong demand for the implementation of these constantly evolving international standards.
This is one of Oxand's competencies. The solutions that its experts develop are all coherent with these standards.
* Publication of ISO 26000 is expected towards the end of 2010
A growing number of countries are choosing to extend the lifetime of their nuclear power plants.
From Spain to Belgium, passing through France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States, nuclear security regulators have decided to prolong the operational lifetime of their existing nuclear sites. On the world scale, this includes over 400 reactors.
The countries that chose nuclear power, principally in Western Europe and in North America, have run into difficulties in new nuclear power station projects. Reticent public opinion, the heavy investment required, and political tendencies have persuaded numerous governments to prolong the use of existing power plants beyond their predicted lifetime of about 40 years.
Today, nearly a third of nuclear power plants across the world have been in use for 30 years. Plant operators who are preparing dossiers to justify lifetime extension are confronted with two questions: is it possible to extend the lifespan and, if so, what is the required plan of action?
These are questions answered by Oxand's experts on a case-by-case basis. Oxand is steering several extension projects in different countries and has intervened in North America since 2010.
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Europe: The European Commission is supporting geological storage of CO2
The EU has recently approved a grant for over one billion euros in financial assistance to 15 European sustainable development projects. Six of these involve the geological storage of CO2 (CCS). As for all high-stakes projects, an analysis of site safety and containment risks is necessary.
Oil and gas operators, as well as electricity companies concerned about their environmental impact, are required to demonstrate the safety of CO2 geological storage sites throughout the entire life-cycle of a project and beyond (often in terms of millennia).
Special importance is attached to the performance and safety aspects of containment. It is therefore indispensable to develop sound methodologies for qualifying the long-term performance of cements used in the wells, and also to evaluate the risk of leakage. This approach is now a necessity, since it is a requirement of the European CCS Directive that satisfactory CO2 confinement is demonstrated by a quantitative study of the risks within a storage complex.
Whatever the sector concerned, the viability of all projects must be demonstrated as much in political, financial and social terms as on an environmental level (especially when the approval of an official safety authority is required).
A management-aid system adapted to the risks involved in this type of project must therefore be developed. This system will need to provide information to aid in the design process (design choices, material specifications, etc.) and the formulation of management strategies and optimized interventions (maintenance work, monitoring, etc.).
It is in this context that, since 2002, OXAND has been adding long-term value to these types of projects by continuing the development of programs such as SIMEOTM-STOR. OXAND's solutions have already won over various major electricity, petrol and gas companies.
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The Netherlands: Extension of the Port of Rotterdam
In launching the new "Maasvlakte 2" extension programme, the port of Rotterdam is showing its commitment to continuously grow and improve its service. The most eye-catching project is the construction of a new port and industrial complex in the North Sea, with 1000 hectares of industrial land enabling access for the largest ships, and 750 hectares set aside as a natural reserve. The new complex will be located west of the current Maasvlakte.
Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) will operate the first container terminal on Maasvlakte 2 with a plot area of 156 ha.
Construction is expected to start in 2011, and the new complex should become operational in 2013. The extension will enable client organizations to increase their competitiveness on a global scale. The main purpose of RWG is to create a major European through port for clients: a safe, reliable, predictable, sustainable, and competitive container terminal for the coming 25 years.
To support RWG in this ambitious enterprise, Iter Fidelis, member of the Oxand group, will undertake a risk analysis of the client stakes and the potential failure modes of the system, enabling expected future maintenance costs to be taken into consideration during the design phase. The benefit for RWG is the increased guarantee on the availability and safety of the operational structure.
Great Britain: EDF pursues its plan to construct EPR nuclear power stations
EDF has launched its project to build and operate new EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) nuclear power plants in Great Britain. The design and construction principles for these plants are currently under evaluation for licensing by the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
By buying out British Energy in 2008, EDF group consolidated its position as the market leader in global nuclear operations, with 66 reactors and a total nuclear production capability of 72.5GW.
The French energy operator is now hoping to develop, invest in and operate four EPR nuclear reactors in Great Britain, with the aim of having two of them in service by 2017. The sites chosen for these two third-generation power stations are Hinkley Point (Somerset) and Sizewell (Suffolk), both coastal sites.
The British safety authority (the Health and Safety Executive - HSE) is currently evaluating a request for licensing made by EDF for the design and construction of components for these power stations.
The certification will involve a detailed examination of the codes used for the design and construction of the civil structures and equipment which form the EPRs. The code – the ETC-C (EPR Technical Code for Civil Works) – was developed by EDF.
Oxand has been appointed by EDF, via its EDF-SEPTEN (Thermal and Nuclear Design Services) division, to provide assistance with the licensing process. Oxand's mission is to bring its technical expertise in civil engineering to the project to support the current assessment process, which is an essential phase in acquiring the licensing necessary to build and operate the EPRs.
