Baja California to develop wind, hydroelectric power

Wow... That's great, I guess... but amazing after the realization that the wind generating turbines kill birds and the noise scares away migrating species!

Why not use nuclear power...? It makes warm water that encourages sea life where the reactor's cooling water is released.

Too bad the geothermal plant south of Mexicali isn't expanded instead... That's clean natural energy, like hydroelectric.

$26 Million dollars to power 17,500 homes comes out to $15,000 per home. Doesn't make sense or maybe the numbers are wrong. They could crank out solar panels in under utilized maquiladoras faster and cheaper than that it would seem- without the environmental impact.


[Edited on 6-3-2009 by Woooosh]

Yeah, nuclear power...then we could put the nuclear waste in Oceanside And isn't there sea life in cold water?

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy Yeah, nuclear power...then we could put the nuclear waste in Oceanside And isn't there sea life in cold water?

I didn't say anything about nuclear power being bad.....

And I don't let the President do my thinking for me...thank you very much

Thinking about buying one of these for Baja:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/produc...


Birds will just have to take their chances...

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy Yeah, nuclear power...then we could put the nuclear waste in Oceanside And isn't there sea life in cold water?

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajaboy I didn't say anything about nuclear power being bad..... And I don't let the President do my thinking for me...thank you very much

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh $26 Million dollars to power 17,500 homes comes out to $15,000 per home. Doesn't make sense or maybe the numbers are wrong. They could crank out solar panels in under utilized maquiladoras faster and cheaper than that it would seem- without the environmental impact. [Edited on 6-3-2009 by Woooosh]

Hydroelectric power, in a desert? That'll be a neat trick.

I have always noticed that whenever a Baja official announces anything in regards to a mega project, it only happens about 20% of the time. There a bunch of windmills in Scorpion Bay that are just sitting there. I guess they were just ahead of their time ha ha .
Go nuke as its the only green energy if the do it right. The french can't be wrong, can they.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy Yeah, nuclear power...then we could put the nuclear waste in Oceanside And isn't there sea life in cold water? Quote: Originally posted by Bajaboy I didn't say anything about nuclear power being bad..... And I don't let the President do my thinking for me...thank you very much Then why do you want nuclear waste in Oceanside? Aren't we friends? I would never wish harm to you or your neighbors... Why don't you want open debate of ideas...? Isn't that why you posted Sandra's article here... so we could read it and discuss it? Free exchange of ideas is good for all of us... to hear both sides not just the state media sources on issues, right? Democracy will fail if only the big government/ anti-capitalism views are heard.

Working most of the time for many years...

The "System" has had it's ups and downs, but it continues to provide power to San Juanico. It works. There is a waiting list to be connected to "the grid". Many folks in town have their own solar, but that is a big upfront cost for many folks.
They are now installing "commerical" meters for businesses.

Windmills on my Mind

Great Post...A real good discussion and views to share for sure!

The system was put in place many, many years before anyone moved even close to the system in San Juanico. It was, “out in the country” way back then! People moved in around it as the property prices were very, very low and a lot of land speculation was going on by both Nationals and Non-Nationals. Those folks who purchased must be ok with it. Houses are being built around and below the system. Kinda like buying a home on a large, well paved boulevard with double/double yellow lines in front of your driveway and a stop signal down the same street. Your eyes/ears must be open when you buy. I agree that the SJ system, “whoops", but it is an "old system" stuck in a salt air environment. Technology has advanced over the past ten years for sure. You all know that Baja has the possibility to develope, "tidal power" in the future? A great , emerging technology that just is getting some traction for sure!!! Either way, good or bad, the fact that Baja has so many natural, renewable resources, is a golden gem(s)/nugget(s) for sure that is now being re-discovered! Who knew? (well, almost all Baja Nomads did!). Let’s see some more action on this thread for sure!

I don't have any professional experience with wind generators but I can only tell you what I know. They are buying up some land about 40 miles south of San Quintin and they seem to think they can make it work. Who knows?

I have several neighbors living near my new place out on the beach who power their homes 100% off batteries charged by wind generators. I guess it is possible to make it work on an individual scale where we are at. I can hardly remember a day without wind...

YMMV






[Edited on 6-5-2009 by BajaGringo]

Nuclear energy! All the negative BS regarding nuclear power is just that, BS, put out by who the heck knows. Probably the coal industry.

I "wish" I had that much hair!



The good news is that my wife tells me I make a good night light when the power goes out...

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Wow... That's great, I guess... but amazing after the realization that the wind generating turbines kill birds and the noise scares away migrating species! Why not use nuclear power...? It makes warm water that encourages sea life where the reactor's cooling water is released. Too bad the geothermal plant south of Mexicali isn't expanded instead... That's clean natural energy, like hydroelectric.

well Osprey, wouldn't that explain the clown shoes???

Flyfishingpam is correct in that I had the exact location wrong. It is just South of Puerto Lopez Mateos at a place called San Carlos on my map. So much for doing this from memory. I had heard that there was a oil based power plant on Mag. Bay but did not know the exact location.

The copy right date on the map is 2003-2004 and I have scanned a small section which shows what they call a "Thermonuclear Power Plant".



[Edited on 6-6-2009 by wiltonh]

THERMONuclear ?

Nuclear Power in Mexico

(July 2008)

* Mexico has two nuclear reactors generating almost 5% of its electricity.
* Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1989.
* There is some government support for expanding nuclear energy to reduce reliance on natural gas.

Mexico is rich in hydrocarbon resources and is a net energy exporter. The country's interest in nuclear energy is rooted in the need to reduce its reliance on these sources of energy. In coming years Mexico will increasingly rely on natural gas.

Energy growth was very rapid in the decades to the late 1990s, but then levelled off for a few years. From about 2007 electricity demand is expected to grow again at an average rate of almost 6% a year. In 2007, 257 billion kWh was generated. The electricity supply is quite diverse, with gas supplying 126 TWh (49%), oil 52 TWh (20%), coal 32 TWh (12.5%) and hydroelectric dams 27 TWh (10.5%) in 2007. Per capita power use is about 1800 kWh/yr.

In 2007 Mexico got about 10 billion kWh net from nuclear, about 4.6% of the electricity used.

Of total 54 GWe capacity in 2006, nuclear was 1.37 GWe (gross), hydro 10.7 GWe, geothermal 960 MWe and the balance fossil fuels.

Nuclear industry development

Mexico's interest in nuclear energy was made official in 1956 with the establishment of the National Commission for Nuclear Energy (CNEN). That organisation took general responsibility for all nuclear activities in the country except the use of radioisotopes and the generation of electric power. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), one of the two state-owned electricity companies, was assigned the role of future nuclear generator.

Preliminary investigations to identify potential sites for nuclear power plants were begun in 1966 by CNEN and CFE and in 1969 CFE invited bids for proven power plant designs with a capacity of around 600 MWe. In 1972 a decision to build was made, and in 1976 construction began at Laguna Verde on two 654 MWe General Electric boiling-water reactors (BWRs).

Although Mexican industry did not supply major components for the Laguna Verde plant, Mexican companies undertook the civil engineering work and Mexican staff maintain the reactor and train to operate it at CFE's simulator.

CNEN was later transformed into the National Institute on Nuclear Energy (INEN), which in turn was split in 1979 into the National Institute of Nuclear Research (ININ), Mexican Uranium (Uramex) and the National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS). Uramex's functions were taken over by the Ministry of Energy in 1985.

Operating Mexican power reactors

Laguna Verde 1 & 2

CFE shows 1365 MWe gross

In February 2007 CFE signed contracts with Spain's Iberdrola and also Alstom to fit new turbines and generators to the Laguna Verde plant at a cost of US$ 605 million. They will then produce 20% more power - about 280 MWe. With approval from the CNSNS, the reactors could be uprated progressively from 2008 to 2010. Meanwhile 11.6 MWe uprates to both units were achieved in 2007 through better flow control.

High-level government support exists for an expansion of nuclear energy, primarily to reduce dependence on natural gas, but no plans exist as yet. However, a committee has been established to recommend on new nuclear plants and the most recent proposal is for one unit to come on line by 2015 with seven more to follow it by 2025 to bring nuclear share of electricity up to 12% then. Cost studies show nuclear being competitive with gas at about US$ 4 cents/kWh in all scenarios considered.

In the longer term, Mexico may look to employ small reactors such as IRIS to provide power and desalinate sea water for agricultural use.

ININ have previously presented ideas for a plant consisting of three IRIS reactors sharing a stream of sea water for cooling and desalination. With seven reverse-osmosis desalination units served by the reactors, 140,000m3 of potable water could be produced each day, as well 840 MWe.

Fuel cycle

Since its absorbtion of Uramex, the Ministry of Energy has had responsibility for uranium prospecting, which it delegates to the Mineral Resources Board. Mexico has identified reserves of about 2000 tonnes of uranium but this has not been mined to date.

A uranium milling plant operated on an experimental basis at Villa Aldana, in the Chihuahua region at the end of the 1960s but has now been decommissioned. Tailings were disposed of at Pena Blanca.

Under Mexican legislation, nuclear fuel is the property of the state and is under the control of the CNSNS.

Used nuclear fuel from the Laguna Verde reactors is stored underwater at the site. The storage pools have been re-racked to provide enough space for the reactors' entire lives. About 1000 tonnes of used fuel was there as of 2003. The same strategy is employed with used fuel from research reactors.

Radioactive waste management

The government of Mexico, through the Ministry of Energy is responsible for the storage and disposal of nuclear fuels and radioactive waste irrespective of their origin.

The Energy Ministry is beginning to take administrative and budgetary steps to create a national company to manage its radioactive waste. It is also planning to sign the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.

An engineered near-surface disposal site for low-level waste (LLW) operated at Piedrera between 1985 and 1987. In that time, 20,858m3 of waste was stored.

A collection, treatment and storage centre for LLW has operated at Maquixco since 1972.

Regulation and safety

The 1984 Act on Nuclear Activities states that the government, through the Ministry of Energy, is responsible for establishing the framework for the use and development of nuclear energy and technology, in accordance with the national energy policy.

The National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS) is a semi-autonomous body under the authority of the Ministry of Energy which takes the role of regulator. CNSNS is responsible for ensuring the proper application of regulations and safeguards for nuclear and radiation safety and for physical protection of nuclear and radiological installations to ensure public safety.

CNSNS is also responsible for revising, evaluating and approving the criteria for the siting, design construction operation and decommissioning of nuclear installations, proposing the relevant regulations. It has the power to amend of suspend the licenses of nuclear facilities, which are granted on CNSNS approval through the Ministry of Energy.

R & D

The main nuclear research organisation in Mexico is the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI). NNRI have operated a 1000kW Triga Mk III research reactor since November 1968.

The University Autonoma de Zacatecas has a subcritical Chicago Modelo 900 assembly used for training, commissioned in 1969.

A Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between Mexico and Canada was signed in 1995 for the exchange of information in R&, health, safety, emergency planning and environmental protection. It also provides for the transfer of nuclear material, equipment and technology and the rendering of technical assistance.

Non-proliferation

The Mexican Constitution states that nuclear energy may only be used for peaceful uses and this is reiterated in the 1984 Act on Nuclear Activities.

Mexico ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1969 and the Additional Protocol in 2004. It is also party to the 1979 Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, ratified in 1988. Furthermore, Mexico is the depository of the 1967 Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (the Tlatelolco Treaty) and has been party to the Treaty since 1967.




[Edited on 6-6-2009 by BajaGringo]

gnu, yer killing me.

i guess obama has you believing that iran ONLY wants nukular energy, not weapons?

i'd prefer to err on the side of caution/carpet bombs!

Obama is the anti-christ. How else can everything apocalyptic happen in the next two years before the end of the Mayan calendar in December 2012? The end is near. He's the one... (See, I was an altar boy). Are we in ultra-secret off topic zone yet??

Quote:

Originally posted by David K I said I would recieve Hell if I had mentioned Obama... No killing was mentioned, what victim... huh? You got Obama mentioned dozens of times above and he has nothing to do with Baja' developing of power. Wow, you have some kind of scary way of interpreting light hearted conversation and humor. No insults were aimed at you...

The reactors transfer heat produced by fission in their fuel cells to the primary coolant system which carries the heat to steam generators which transfer the heat across thousands of heating tubes to the secondary system, producing steam to run the steam turbine generators. The turbine steam exhaust is condensed back to liquid form in large condensers cooled by sea water at San Onofre and other reactors located on the ocean front. The sea water does not come in direct contact with any primary fuel cells. It can be used for desalination as in this design:




YMMV







[Edited on 6-9-2009 by BajaGringo]

BajaGringo, It's much to simple and economical. The dummies in power can't wrap their wittle brains awound it.

In Feb of 2006 we visited San Carlos and Lopez Mateos. There was a large fish processing plant running 24/7 and an attempt at a Marine Laboratory. I do not recall seeing any large generating station. Nice part of Baja! ++C++

Quote:

Originally posted by David K Do any of you remember ESL/ El Surfo Loco/ Chopy Chavez/ Cornell Crawford??? He spoke up like gnukid about the crooked cops, government officials, Castro family at cabo Pulmo squating on his land... He is dead now.

That quote about Chopy is NOT in this thread... What has that got to do with you talking about Obama here (in this thread) and my commenting about it????

Keep quotes in the threads they came from, pulling them from another thread from days or weeks ago is what is known as "out of context", isn't it?

Show me any snide comments or insults to you. I will apologize.

The comment about Chopy was to HELP you sir, as you were accusing officials of wrong doing, the same thing that Chopy did... Post your part that I was responding to, not just my reply (that was made in an effort to save you from harm), sir.