Clean-up teams are repairing minor damage to property at the site after storm-force winds swept Dounreay at the weekend. Some decommisisoning work was put on hold until the weather abated on Sunday.
Almost half the stock of nuclear fuel left over at Dounreay from its research role in the last century is to begin leaving the site next summer. Forty-four tonnes of breeder material from the Dounreay Fast Reactor will be moved by rail from Caithness to Cumbria over a 4-5 year period.
Week commencing 21st November 2011 Energy: Along with a number of other stakeholders, I attended two events this week related to the development of renewable energy. The first was the public consultation on the proposed Orkney-Caithness subsea cable link.
Like something out of the Tom Cruise movie War of the Worlds, the Kuka robot has a very important job to do. The standard industrial robot, built exactly the same as a typical car assembly line robot, will play an integral part in the demolition process of Dounreay's iconic fast reactor.
Please see the following information about low carbon transport loans which you may find useful: "Don't miss out on transport loans of up to £50,000 that are being offered by the Energy Saving Trust for a limited time only. Funded by Transport Scotland, all organisations in Scotland interested in making their travel arrangements more sustainable can apply, including government, private sector businesses, community organisations and the public and voluntary sectors.
As the final stages of work take place on the £3.8 million community centre for Wick, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's most senior staff have enjoyed a sneak preview. As part of a two day programme of meetings with ambitious Caithness and Sutherland businesses and social enterprises, the HIE Board visited the Pulteney Centre due to open in the new year and paid tribute to the achievements of the Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP).
FOLLOWING a report of an alleged dishonesty in Shetland, Northern Constabulary are reminding householder's about some simple steps that can be taken to prevent opportunity crime in the run up to Christmas. Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes said, "In the run up to Christmas people will have high value items in their house and may well have additional cash in their possession as they prepare to buy presents.
Week commencing 24th October: Energy: Following last week's announcement of a consultation on revised ROC bandings for renewable energy sources, further positive news for the wave and tidal industry in the form of a Scottish Government announcement that £18M is to be made available to "improve capability and infrastructure, as well as helping fund technology solutions and the roll out of marine arrays". The Scottish Government is to consult with the industry about the nature of projects to be supported by the fund.
Northern Constabulary is this weekend taking part in the national, ACPOS-led Get Ready For Winter Campaign. The awareness raising weekend begins concludes on Halloween (31 October 2011).
The Highland Council, Northern Constabulary and Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service are joining forces to reduce the number of unauthorised bonfires throughout the Highlands in the lead up to Bonfire Night and the inappropriate use of fireworks. Group Manager Robert Scott from Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service said that this was a good example of the Inverness Community Partnership working with partners and sharing information.
Week commencing 26th September: Enabling Activities: I met this week with Susan Johnston of JobCentre Plus, to discuss their important role in supporting the area's economy. I also introduced her to colleagues form Highland Council's Employability service in the area.
Week commencing 19th September: Energy: Together with Simon Coles in his role as Inward Investment manager on secondment to HIE I met with two representatives from a major UK company seeking to develop its involvement in the renewables industry. We were able to show them several key local facilities, and introduce them to several local companies.
Dounreay sets out what will stay and what will go Dounreay's decommissioning contractor today sets out what will happen to an estimated 300,000 tonnes of radioactive material from the clean-out and closure of the former nuclear research site. More than 99 per cent is expected to remain indefinitely at Dounreay.
A new company has been established to distribute £4m funding from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) for community projects in the Dounreay travel to work area. The Community Benefit Fund has been provided in association with the construction of a low level waste facility soon to be built at Dounreay.
Week commencing 22nd August: Energy: Graeme Rankin of the NDA Competition team and Anna MacConnell, the NDA's Stakeholder Relations and Socio-Economic Manager, updated several local stakeholders on current position with the Dounreay PBO competition. It was good to have the timetable for the remainder of the competition process laid out clearly, with the preferred bidder announcement due in late November and share transfer from current to new PBO scheduled for the beginning of April 2012.
From Eann Sinclair Programme Manager Week commencing 8th August: Energy: I met this week with Ian Couper, Chief Executive of Energy North (formerly North of Scotland Industries Group). We are making arrangements for a joint meeting of Highland Council and Orkney Islands Council representatives in the next few weeks, to discuss collaborative opportunities in marine energy.
From Eann Sinclair Programme Manager Week commencing 11th July: Energy: Together with representatives from Highland Council, Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Thurso & Wick Trades Council and Dounreay Stakeholder Group I met this week with consultants engaged by one of the companies involved in the Dounreay PBO Competition. They have been asked to help identify ways in which a new PBO at Dounreay can best add value to the economic and socio-economic future of the area.
Cairn Housing Association has a number of 1 bedroom flats and studio apartments available for Immediate Let in its sheltered housing complex Caberfeidh Court, Wick The flats have a living room, bedroom, entrance hall, separate kitchen, bathroom and storage area. The studio apartments have a combined living room/bedroom, entrance hall, separate kitchen, bathroom and storage area.
The NDA has published Preferred and Credible Options associated with the management of DFR breeder material, currently stored at Dounreay. The paper describes and discusses the relevant factors associated with each high level option, and draws conclusions based on the analysis.
"Significant progress" has been made to destroy one of the most hazardous legacies of Britain's nuclear research programme from the 20th century, according to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. "Significant progress" has been made to destroy one of the most hazardous legacies of Britain's nuclear research programme from the 20th century, according to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.