By Susan Hess

This question was the topic of a lively discussion at the 81st LULAC National convention held in Albuquerque, N.M.  The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) invited AREVA to speak at this important annual event about clean energy, including nuclear and renewables, to help educate their members about the truths and myths of this timely topic. 

Climate change and clean energy have been of growing interest over the past several years because of its direct and indirect impact on the Latino Community, which is now the largest and fastest growing minority population in the United States. For instance, children of Latino families develop asthma at a rate 2.5 times more than other minority and Caucasian children.  


The discussion covered renewable energy options such as offshore wind, biomass and solar power as well as nuclear energy. Understandably, several in the audience did not consider nuclear energy a “clean energy” source. Our discussion centered mostly on facts and fiction about nuclear energy, recycling used nuclear fuel, and how each voter can help to rebuild the nuclear energy industry by contacting their Congressional members and encouraging them to support increased nuclear energy in the United States. 

When the session ended, everyone appreciated the discussion and the new perspectives.  One person remarked, “I thought this was about clean energy.  It was mostly about nuclear energy. If you had said nuclear in the title of the session, I would not have attended, but I did.  I learned a lot and I am glad I came.”
 

by Curtis Roberts, Renewables Communications Manager, North America

AREVA’s recent agreement with the province of New Brunswick and the utility NB Power reveals an innovative approach to meeting current and future carbon-free energy demand.

As you would expect from AREVA, the agreement includes building a nuclear power plant, in this case, one of AREVA’s mid-sized light water reactor designs. What you may not have expected in the proposal is the generation of carbon-free power from two sources in AREVA’s renewable energy portfolio: offshore wind and forest energy.

You’re not familiar with AREVA’s renewable energy portfolio?

AREVA was the first company to develop and install 5 MW offshore wind turbines specifically designed to operate in the harsh sea conditions. AREVA is the global leader in developing and generating power from biomass energy sources. In solar thermal energy, AREVA’s CLFR technology was recently selected to build the world’s largest solar booster at a plant in Australia.

This marrying of nuclear and renewable carbon-free energy generation into a comprehensive AREVA Clean Energy Park is becoming the wave of the future, and is the third example of AREVA’s concept.

Back in April 2010, AREVA and the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group (FNEG) in California announced a Memorandum of Understanding to build a Clean Energy Park with an AREVA U.S. EPR™ nuclear plant, but also a solar plant to generate energy and power an onsite desalinization facility producing clean agricultural water.

In June 2009, AREVA joined with Duke Energy, USEC, UniStar Nuclear Energy, and the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) in an ongoing Clean Energy Park proposal at a Department of Energy site in Ohio combining nuclear with biomass power from regional sustainable forest energy sources.

There’s another benefit with AREVA’s approach: regional economic stimulus. Along with energy, AREVA sees the Clean Energy Park concept as an effective producer of local investment and employment through construction activities, ongoing operations and domestic supply chain development.

As the challenge and demand for carbon-free energy continues to increase, the solution looks less like a single hammer response, and more like the toolbox of customized carbon-free sources in an AREVA Clean Energy Park.

While it is not summer solstice quiet yet, it is Global Wind Day. As part of an event designed to raise worldwide awareness of the benefits of wind energy, the American Wind Energy Association is encouraging people to learn more about this renewable energy source. More info here.

For another look at wind, this video offers a great view of the offshore, 5 megawatt wind turbine developed and built by AREVA. As part of our commitment to a portfolio of CO2-free energy solutions, AREVA recently confirmed its commitment to developing this important, renewable energy source.

Along with building a new business unit focused on offshore wind (read announcement below) and helping build a global industry in offshore wind (now also in the U.S.), how exactly does one build a wind power generator nearly 28 miles from shore in 98-foot-deep water? Watch the video.

AREVA also announced its purchase of the remaining 49% of Multibrid, a German wind turbine manufacturer, which becomes AREVA Wind, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the group. (AREVA previously owned 51% of Multibrid.) This acquisition will allow a fast ramp-up of its production capacity to address the growth expected in this burgeoning industry. This new platform will also include the rotor blade manufacturing division, formerly PN Rotor.

Read more.

As an established provider of offshore wind turbines, AREVA applauds Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s approval of the United States’ first offshore wind park.

“The Cape Wind offshore wind project is a long-awaited first for this country,” said Anil Srivastava, President of AREVA Renewables, “and we congratulate them and Interior Secretary Salazar for achieving this milestone in establishing a new renewable energy industry.”

AREVA fully supports this important step forward in realizing the Obama administration’s support for tapping a significant, carbon-free energy source. AREVA encourages the administration to further energize the offshore wind industry by streamlining the permitting process and maintaining current investment and production incentives.

“This approval is significant today for many people,” said Jean-Paul Crouzoulon, Vice President of AREVA Renewable Inc. “Offshore wind developers now see a way forward to building this domestic industry. Offshore wind component manufacturers, like AREVA, have more confidence to make the necessary investments to develop domestic supply chain relationships to serve the market.”

“With the federal government’s continued leadership,” added Crouzoulon, “this will happen sooner than later.”

Through its subsidiary company Multibrid, AREVA manufactures the first 5 MW wind turbine specifically designed for withstanding harsh offshore environments.