Decouple - Dr. Chris Keefer

Latest Episodes:

What is the nuclear secret sauce? Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

Kalev Kallemets, CEO of Fermi Energia, joins us once again to discuss the "secret sauce" of successful nuclear construction, and how his company is working to get new reactors built in his homeland of Estonia.

Diesel Powered Decoupling? Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

BF Randall, an environmental lawyer who has made a rapid rise on #energytwitter for his detailed threads on mining and energy, explains why we may be pursuing the wrong strategy to decouple human well being from emissions. Namely, by focusing on decarbonizing electricity, we are ignoring and even increasing the 85% of global primary energy that comes from fossil fuels for non-electricity uses. Randall argues that, more than almost anyone appreciates, crude oil heavy distillates are the lifeblood of modern civilization, and the heart that pumps it is the diesel engine. From mining to trucking to trains to marine transportation, the low RPM, high torque diesel engine is indispensable. The dramatic increase in global mining, ore processing, and transportation associated with stated goals for renewable energy would only cement the diesel engine's role as the machine behind the machine. To Randall, the diesel engine is not something we should get rid of but protect as "the most efficient engine ever created by humans." He argues that the low-hanging fruits of decarbonization, and the only option likely to make inroads into the fossil energy black box that makes up 85% of global energy use, are high-temperature nuclear heat and the synthesis of synfuels using non-crude-oil feedstocks to provide the heavy distillates required to sustain the engines of our civilization.

Read BF Randall's viral Twitter thread on copper.

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A Canada-Germany Hydrogen Scandal? Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

James Fleay, an Australian engineer and project manager in the energy sector, joins Dr. Keefer to discuss the "Hydrogen Alliance" proposed between Canada and Germany.

This Hydrogen Alliance is coming under increasing scrutiny due to allegations of a conflict of interest arising out of the Premier of Newfoundland, Andrew Furey's luxury trip to a lodge owned by Canadian billionaire John Risley this summer.

Risley happens to be one of the principal investors in a project called Nujio’qonik, one of three projects competing to be part of the Canada German Hydrogen Alliance alongside EverWind Fuels in Nova Scotia and the Port of Belledune project in New Brunswick.

Beyond a potential political scandal lies a very real energy scandal.

Fleay describes the chemistry, thermodynamics, and economics required to turn electrons generated by wind turbines in Canada into ammonia to be shipped across the Atlantic to be burned in German Power plants, a process which he describes as being "The least efficient way to get electrons on the German grid imaginable." Decouple takes a look at who will foot the bill and who will profit.

The total output of the Canada German Hydrogen Alliance which requires a near doubling of Canada's total national wind fleet, expensive electrolysis equipment, ammonia production through the energy intensive Haber Bosch process, large scale shipping and potential energy hungry reconversion to hydrogen for burning as fuel in German thermal plants is almost equal to the output of a single German nuclear station, ISAR 2, one of the three remaining nuclear plants still under threat of closure in Germany.

With the myth of cheap Canadian exportable hydrogen as a tool to replace Russian natural gas busted we examine Canada's only truly green and ultra low carbon energy export: its nuclear technology and uranium which is already used in near carbon free power plants domestically and around the world offsetting a full 1/3 of Canada's total all sector emissions.

Hang onto your hats. This is an interesting one.

Nuclear Advocacy and Labour Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

Listen to a panel discussion hosted in-person in Ontario by the Canadian Nuclear Workers Council, featuring: Ross Galbraith, International Representative of the labour union IBEW Dr. Keefer, host of Decouple and President of Canadians for Nuclear Energy Madi Hilly, Founder of Campaign for a Green Nuclear Deal Moderated by Mike Belmore, External Relations for the Society of United Professionals. They discuss their entry into nuclear advocacy, their involvement with labour, and how nuclear advocates can create effective alliances with workers and unions in the sector -- a constituency often ignored by environmental and energy transition advocacy. Note: Since this was recorded outside the studio, we apologize for the sub-optimal audio quality.

A Physician's Perspective on Nuclear Waste Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

Dr. Chris Keefer teamed up with Dr. Douglas Boreham, Professor and Division Head of Medical Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, to speak before residents in South Bruce, Ontario, the potential site of Canada's Deep Geological Repository for used nuclear fuel. The event, organized by the local grassroots group Willing to Listen, features presentations from each speaker followed by an open Q&A session. Recorded Sept. 17, 2022.

**DECOUPLE READS**

We are excited to launch Decouple Reads with Brahm Neufeld!! Join us on Patreon for virtual book club meetings on selected books from the Decouple library: https://www.patreon.com/decouple

Listen to Brahm's first appearance and book review on Decouple: https://www.decouplemedia.org/podcast/episode/36d91df3/decouple-reads-fossil-futureclimate-change-as-class-war

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Learn more about Willing to Listen: https://www.willingtolisten.ca/

Learn more about the Deep Geological Repository project from nuclear operator Sheila Whytock, an organizer for Willing to Listen, on the We CANDU It podcast: https://anchor.fm/wecanduit/episodes/Deep-Geologic-Repository--Willing-to-Listen-feat-Sheila-Whytock-eqo293/a-a4n6q4k

Listen to Douglas Boreham's appearances on Decouple:

Nord Stream Sabotaged, Energiewende Over? Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Adam Blazowski, an engineer and co-founder of FOTA4Climate, joins us to provide context to the breaking news of the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage and what it means for Europe and Germany. Adam walks us through the history and geopolitical implications of the project, especially for Ukraine and Eastern Europe, and explains the role of Gazprom-funded environmental NGOs in blocking German LNG infrastructure. We also explore Poland’s coming nuclear buildout and Adam’s perspectives on the cold, dark winter coming in Ukraine as the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station is put in cold shutdown and Russia pursues a scorched earth policy on Ukraine's power infrastructure. Read the Adam’s twitter thread here: https://twitter.com/adamblazowski/status/1559559997180334080?s=21&t=YZyFi5z0GSNBZy2xcFO6UQ

Germany: How to Fail An Energy Transition Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Noah Rettberg returns for an update on the tragedy of German energy and energy policy. As politicians continue to mislead the public and force a nuclear phaseout amid a full-blown energy crisis, the country has become a lesson in what not to do when it comes to clean energy. We discuss:

The frantic posturing of Minister Robert Habeck, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, as he attempts to navigate an energy crisis while justifying the closure of the country's last nuclear plants.
The technicalities of restarting a nuclear plant, or keeping it idling for later use.
Impending deindustrialization caused by high energy prices.
Eroding trust of government in Germany and the suffering of German people and businesses.
The absurdity of the Canada-Germany hydrogen agreement.
Why Germany's 100% renewable delusion is making energy dirtier and more expensive.

Follow Noah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoahRettberg

A Cold Old World feat. Doomberg Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

Doomberg, author of the leading Substack newsletter on energy, finance, and the economy at-large, has written extensively on the energy crisis devastating Europe. We discuss a recent Twitter Spaces debate in which Doomberg argued that the European energy crisis is "analogous to the global financial crisis" of 2008; the political, technological, and financial roots of the crisis; the ways in which Green ideology has doomed Germany to backwards progress on climate and economic goals; what hope Europe has to get back on track; and more. Subscribe to Doomberg on Substack: https://doomberg.substack.com/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoombergT

Avoiding an Energy Blunder Down Under Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

Robert Parker, a civil engineer and ex-president of the Australian Nuclear Association, walks us through Australia's misguided energy aspirations, and what it will take to get the country on track for a feasible and affordable low-carbon power grid. By repealing its ban on nuclear, the island continent could get up to speed on nuclear by collaborating with countries that have maintained a thriving sector, like Canada. In addition to proposing an Australia-Canada partnership on nuclear, Parker offers insight on the notion that Australia will somehow become a renewable energy and hydrogen superpower; on what he calls Australia's "RELIC" economy; and on the nuclear technologies and energy mix the country should embrace.

Behind the Diablo Canyon Victory feat. Isabelle Boemeke Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Isabelle Boemeke, the founder of Isodope and a key influencer in the recent victory to keep Diablo Canyon Power Plant online, reflects on the organizing efforts by the pro-nuclear community; the numerous, dedicated advocates involved; a pivotal Stanford/MIT study supporting the plant's continued operation; the largest pro-nuclear rally in the United States; what resistance pro-nuclear organizers faced; and what the future of the Diablo Canyon fight looks like. Learn more about Isodope: https://i-sodope.com/

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