NEI Nuclear Notes

The latest is up , below are three tidbits you may find useful: From January 2009 to August 2009, US primary energy consumption fell by 5.7 percent compared to the same time period in 2008. For the first eight months of 2009, petroleum provided 31.7% of US energy consumption, natural gas provided 24.6% of US energy consumption, coal provided 21.0%, nuclear 9.0%, biomass 4.1%, hydro 2.9%, wind 0.7%, geothermal 0.4%, and solar 0.1% (EIA’s Monthly Energy Review ). Uranium spot prices rose for the first time in six weeks to $44 and $45.50/lb U3O8 according to TradeTech and UxConsulting. “On the supply side, a number of sellers that came to the market in advance of the anticipated transfer of uranium by the US Department of Energy to USEC have successfully placed the bulk of their remaining 2009 inventory and are now looking towards 2010 and a potential increase in demand. As a result, sellers were less aggressive in pursuing buyers and responded to the new buying interest by raisi...

The latest is up , below are two tidbits you may find useful: Uranium prices continued their trend downward as prices fell to $42-$42.50/lb U3O8 last week. The EURATOM Supply Agency (pdf) “reported that, compared to 2007, total worldwide uranium production in 2008 rose more than 7% to 44,248 tU [metric tons of uranium]. Canada is still the world’s largest uranium producer (20% of world production) with a total of 9,000 tU. Contrary to 2007, Australia lost its position as the second largest producer and was replaced by Kazakhstan, which produced a total of 8,512 tU. For Kazakhstan, this represents nearly a 30% increase in production compared to 2007 (6,654 tU). Australia’s 2008 uranium production declined to 8,430 tU from 8,577 tU in 2007. After Kazakhstan, the second largest increase in uranium production came from Africa with a total of 7,926 tU (a 20% increase in comparison to 2007)” (UxConsulting, pages 1 and 3). According to data from Ventyx Velocity Suite , 42,000 megawatts of ca...

The latest is up , here's an interesting nugget from our report: “Year-to-date [through June], total net generation was down 5.0 percent from 2008 levels. Net generation attributable to coal-fired plants was down 12.8 percent. Nuclear generation was up by 1.4 percent. Generation from petroleum liquids was down by 5.0 percent, while natural gas-fired generation was up by 1.9 percent year-to-date. Despite the small drop in wind generation in June, the year-to-date wind generation total was up by 24.4 percent” (EIA’s Electric Power Monthly ).

It's been a year and a half since I last highlighted NEI's Energy Markets Report on our blog. We've still been writing the reports but it just fell by the wayside on posting the latest here. Since the last time I posted one, the report has become a little more meaty in the text and we've added the Baker Hughes rig count on oil and gas. I plan to start highlighting the report again on the blog but instead of pasting the whole text like I used to, I'll just throw out an interesting and useful nugget from the report and if you want more you know where to click . Also, if anyone would like to be put on the email distribution list to keep up in case I miss a post or two on the blog, my contact info is in the report. Hope you enjoy! From 1973 to 2008, total US energy consumption increased 31 percent, gross domestic product in chained 2005 dollars increased 170 percent, and total energy consumption per real dollar of GDP fell 51 percent - EIA’s latest Monthly Energy Re...

Below are some provocative statements from Roy Innis' latest book Energy Keepers-Energy Killers: The New Civil Rights Battle . RedOrbit has the highlights : Roy Innis, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, has come out swinging against "elitist" environmentalists, politicians, and the nonprofit foundations that fund them for promoting "energy racism" by cutting off access to fossil fuels in the US and pushing up energy prices. "They cause poor families to lose their homes. They make life tougher for families who've worked, struggled, and sacrificed to join the middle class. Then they throw out crumbs that make us beggars at the American banquet," Innis said in his book Energy Keepers-Energy Killers: The New Civil Rights Battle, published by Merril Press. "The fight over energy is the critical civil rights battle of our era," said Innis. "Simply put, energy transforms the civil rights enshrined in our Constitution into civil ri...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices decreased $1-24/MWh at all hubs except for Entergy. PJM West fell to $64/MWh, the lowest price it’s been over the past four months, due to moderate temperatures. Entergy prices increased to $83/MWh, the highest price since the end of July 2006, due to hot temperatures at the end of last week. ERCOT peak prices fell less than $1/MWh last week; however, the ERCOT Houston and ERCOT South hubs “baffled” experts as the peak prices rocketed to $315-440/MWh last Friday – Platts, Megawatt Daily 5/27 (see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability increased to 88 percent last week. Three units finished refueling outages and three units began maintenance (see pages 2 and 4). Gas prices at the Henry Hub fell $0.04 to $11.31/MMBtu (see pages 1 and 3). According to EIA, the final leg of the Rockies Express West pipeline is in service. This 210-mile segment connects Audrain County, Missouri, with ...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices at the Western hubs increased $3-23/MWh and decreased $6-57/MWh at the Eastern hubs. According to Platt’s Electric Power Daily (5/16/08), ERCOT has seen “its share of volatility in recent months” due to “an influx of new wind generation and not enough transmission… In 2006, there were 75 15-minute intervals in which real-time prices fell below $0/MWh. So far this year [2008], there have been already more than 2,250 occurrences” (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.43 to $11.35/MMBtu. Working gas in underground storage as of May 9 was 1,529 Bcf, which is 0.2 percent above the five-year (2003-2007) average (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability increased to 83 percent last week. Five units finished refueling outages and two units finished maintenance. Salem 2 shut down for several days due to steam generator instrumentation problems (Pla...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $1-31/MWh last week. All hubs except for Entergy and ERCOT were above $90/MWh. Electricity peak prices in April 2008 are 18-31 percent higher than the same month last year. The average electricity peak price for the Western hubs for April 2007 was $62/MWh – April 2008’s average so far is $81/MWh. The average electricity peak price for the Eastern hubs for April 2007 was $72/MWh – April 2008’s average so far is $85/MWh (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.29 to $10.41/MMBtu. NYMEX gas futures traded around $11/MMBtu for the one-month and six-month ahead deliveries and $10/MMBtu for April 2009. Natural gas in storage was 1,285 bcf as of April 18, which is 1.9 percent below the 2003-2007 average (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability rose to 79 percent last week. Two units began refueling and three finished (see pages 2 and 4). Electricit...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices saw small changes at all hubs last week. All prices last week were higher than the previous four-week and last 52-week averages. The Palo Verde and SP 15 hub prices have steadily increased with the price of gas since the beginning of November. Their prices last week were about $20/MWh higher than the last 52-week average. In 2007, Arizona and California relied on gas for 34 percent and 56 percent of their generation (see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 77 percent last week. Four units began refueling while one finished. FitzPatrick and Pilgrim were down briefly on April 6 (NRC, see pages 2 and 4). Uranium prices fell to $69 and $68/lb U3O8 according to TradeTech and UxConsulting (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.21 to $9.81/MMBtu. After beginning the 2007-2008 heating season at a record level, underground natural gas storage levels decli...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $4-32/MWh at all hubs. ERCOT increased $31.70/MWh as it returned to its average range from the depressed prices the week before. Colder temperatures at the beginning of last week for the Northeast and Southwest hubs increased electricity prices by $8-10/MWh (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub rose $0.58 to $9.60/MMBtu. According to EIA’s STEO, the recent upward price shift reflects a number of factors, including the drop-off in LNG imports compared to year-ago levels, high oil prices, and the drawdown in storage to the lowest levels in 4 years (see pages 1, 2 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 79 percent last week. Four units began refueling while only one finished. Perry 1 was down for a planned maintenance outage and Oconee 2 was briefly down due to a low condenser vacuum (NRC, see pages 2 and 4). Crude oil spot prices fell $0.70 to $104.49/barrel. WT...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices all decreased between $0.30-4.40/MWh. Though peak prices declined, prices at all hubs except ERCOT are still higher than their previous 52 week averages (see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 83 percent last week. Eleven reactors were down for refueling and nine were down for maintenance. Fort Calhoun’s turbine tripped while at 85% power due to a turbine control valve problem. Comanche Peak 2 tripped due to a broken sensing line. Wolf Creek 1 tripped due to a low steam generator level from the loss of a main feed water pump. Grand Gulf 1 scrammed due to an actuation of an RPS signal while the reactor was critical. Information is not yet available on why River Bend and Nine Mile Point 2 are down (NRC, see pages 2 and 4). Gas prices at the Henry Hub fell $0.56 to $9.20/MMBtu. Gas prices are 34 percent higher than the same time last year. According to a recent CERA repo...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices changed very little at all hubs except for ERCOT. ERCOT decreased about $18/MWh due to warmer temperatures and weaker spot gas in the region. The ERCOT hub electricity prices ranged from $28-73/MWh (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.41 to $9.76/MMBtu. Low LNG imports and a significant winter storm in the Midwest contributed upward pressure on gas prices. LNG imports so far this month are about 44 percent below the level of last year. The winter snow storm that buried the Ohio Valley added to gas prices in consuming areas in the Northeast and Midwest. Storage levels as of March 7 were still 4.3 percent above the 5-year average, despite the continuing relatively large withdrawals from storage in the past several weeks (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability remained at 88 percent last week. Calvert Cliffs 1 and Hatch 1 both finished their...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $1-3/MWh at the Entergy, Palo Verde and SP 15 hubs and increased $13/MWh at ERCOT. The NEPOOL and PJM West hubs decreased $10-13/MWh. Except for PJM West and NEPOOL, electricity prices at all hubs were higher last week than their four-week and 52-week averages (see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 88 percent last week. McGuire 2, Quad Cities 2 and Susquehanna 1 began refueling outages. Crystal River 3 shut down to repair a reactor coolant pump seal. While returning from a refueling outage, River Bend 1 scrammed due to an apparent malfunction in the turbine control system. Hatch 2 also scrammed due to a loss of condensate feedwater (NRC, see pages 2 and 4). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.33 to $9.35/MMBtu. High crude oil prices, cold weather across much of the country and lower working gas in storage all contributed to the increase in gas prices (...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $2-9/MWh at all hubs except ERCOT. The ERCOT hub decreased $10/MWh trading as low as $27/MWh on Friday the 29th (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.18 to $9.02/MMBtu due to a return of cold weather to most of the lower 48 states. According to EIA, prices in the Northeast region were the highest in the Nation, averaging $13.16 per MMBtu on Wednesday, February 27. The price increases in the Northeast region were by far the largest as a result of extreme cold in the region (see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 90 percent last week. Limerick 1 began a refueling outage and Turkey Point 3 and 4 shut down due to a power outage in Florida (see pages 2 and 4). Uranium prices were $73 and $74/lb U3O8 according to TradeTech and UxConsulting. According to UxC, there was a flurry of activity last week, punctuated by a large purchase from an in...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $3-9/MWh at all hubs except NEPOOL. The NEPOOL hub decreased $1/MWh (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability rose to 93 percent last week. Grand Gulf 1 was the only unit to shut down last week (see pages 2 and 4). Uranium prices were $75 and $73/lb U3O8 according to TradeTech and UxConsulting (see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.49 to $8.83/MMBtu due to frigid temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast. Henry Hub gas futures for one-month, six-month, and twelve-months ahead traded at or above $9/MMBtu. Low imports of liquefied natural gas to the lower 48 states are a factor in the recent increase in gas prices. LNG imports have averaged less than 1 Bcf per day this winter compared to more than 3 Bcf at times last summer. The EIA reports that the reduction in U.S. LNG imports reflects changes in LNG supply and demand across the world. F...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices fell $0.09-$7/MWh at the Entergy, NEPOOL, PJM West and SP 15 hubs. The ERCOT and Palo Verde hubs increased $4-7/MWh. EIA projects summer weather will be milder, resulting in about 10 percent lower cooling-degree-days and less power demand for air conditioning. This is expected to lower the growth in residential electricity sales (EIA STEO, see pages 1, 2, 3 and 5). Gas prices at the Henry Hub decreased $0.06 to $7.89/MMBtu. The Henry Hub spot price is expected to average $8.18 per mcf during the first quarter of 2008 compared to $7.41 during the corresponding period in 2007. Total natural gas consumption is expected to increase by 0.9 percent in 2008 and by 1.0 percent in 2009 (EIA STEO, see pages 1, 2, 3 and 5). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 89 percent last week. Two units began refueling outages, Hatch 1 and La Salle 1, and Clinton completed its refueling outage. D.C. Cook 1 w...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices fell $20-33/MWh at the PJM West and NEPOOL hubs as temperatures returned to normal. The ERCOT and Entergy hubs both decreased around $12/MWh and the Palo Verde and SP 15 hubs increased about $1/MWh (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub decreased $0.18 to $7.96/MMBtu due to moderating temperatures and easing pipeline constraints. Natural gas in storage was 2,062 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as of February 1, which is 3 percent above the 5-year average (2003-2007). At 200 Bcf, the net withdrawal from storage last week was the second-largest withdrawal reported during the current heating season (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability fell to 92 percent last week. Fermi 2 was manually scrammed after the trip of both reactor recirculation pumps. Limerick 2 shut down automatically due to an indication of a fault on the electrical turbine distribution side of the...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices decreased $3-7/MWh at the ERCOT and Palo Verde hubs. The other four hubs increased $2-12/MWh. Colder temperatures at the NEPOOL and PJM West hubs elevated prices by more than $10/MWh (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub decreased $0.13 to $8.14/MMBtu. The holiday week and above average gas supplies contributed to the spot price declines. During the first 76 days of the heating season (began November), a net volume of 964 Bcf of natural gas was withdrawn from underground storage which was significantly higher than for the same period last year. If withdrawals for the remainder of the heating season equal the drawdown for the comparable period of last winter, storage would be about 16 percent below the previous end-of-March stocks (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability advanced to 95 percent last week. Seabrook automatically shut down due to a turbine ...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices increased $22-32/MWh at the Entergy and NEPOOL hubs. The four other hubs increased $8-10/MWh. Cold weather at the end of last week was to blame for the increased electricity prices (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub increased $0.51 to $8.27/MMBtu due to colder temperatures. This is the second highest weekly price over the past 12 months. Plentiful supplies of natural gas in storage and declining crude oil prices likely mitigated the extent of the price increases at many market locations (EIA, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability remained at 94 percent last week. Grand Gulf 1 scrammed due to an electrical failure with the transformer cooling system. Palisades was shut down after one of its two main feedwater pumps tripped. Point Beach 1 declared an unusual event after an electrical transformer malfunctioned. Sequoyah 1 manually tripped due to lowering s...

Here's a summary of what went on in the energy markets last week: Electricity peak prices decreased $10-50/MWh at the Eastern hubs as temperatures returned to normal. The Western hubs increased only $1-2/MWh (Platts, see pages 1 and 3). Gas prices at the Henry Hub rose $0.23 to $7.75/MMBtu. The Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) last week began providing interim service with a capacity of about 1.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day to a gas delivery point in Kansas. By 2009, the proposed 1,679-mile gas pipeline is expected to reach Ohio from Colorado and will be the first pipeline to directly supply gas from the West to the Eastern markets (EIA and REX LLC, see pages 1 and 3). Estimated nuclear plant availability remained at 94 percent last week. River Bend 1 began a refueling outage. Dresden 3 shut down for maintenance on a steam line after receiving low steam pressure indications (Platts and NRC, see pages 2 and 4). Crude oil prices rose $2.78 from the previous week to $98.90/barrel....