Nuclear Power

This week saw the announcement that EDF (an energy supplier and producer here in the UK) had gained their first planning permission for building a massive Nuclear power station next to the sites of two others in Somerset at Hinkley Point. 2 other nuclear power stations already exist at the site but one has ended it's operating life and the other is about to be decommissioned.  

The importance for the UK is that, since the government decided to step back from involvement in the energy market (starting with Thatch in the eighties) this country has become increasingly reliant on natural gas for it's energy production. When the energy markets were deregulated back in the eighties we still had about 17 nuclear power stations of varying age and a heap of coal fired stations that had had their construction costs hidden in the national debt.
Deregulation was an easy proposition. There were no big production issues to be sorted for 30 years. However many of the Nuclear stations are now being closed as they are life expired and more alarmingly so are the coal stations. This will leave the UK with a bit of a problem. A lack of energy production in years to come. Unless something is done.

So what are the UK's options?

The "Green" lobby does not support nuclear power. The events at Fukishima in Japan would seem to lend weight to their argument. More wind power is their best response.

More gas powered stations?

A tidal barrier on the Severn estuary?

All come with ecological and physical problems. Some seemingly green options are not all they seem, especially wind power.

It has been calculated that wind farms are not as CO2 friendly as you might think. The sites can be very remote thus needing a lot of diesel to be burnt dragging components around the country to far flung lands. Then the power needs transmission etc. So it all costs.

The Severn tidal barrier would be a huge natural resource - estimated to be able to provide 5% of the country's energy needs (although they used to say 7% when I was a boy!") However the Severn
estuary is a HUGELY important wildlife habitat and it would be completely destroyed by such a project. Thus completely negating the ecological benefit of carbon free electricity.

Which leaves us with Nuclear power. Not carbon neutral by any stretch and very complex and expensive. The Hinckly point C power station could provide 7 % oft the UK energy (that's a lot).

I am generally in favour of nuclear power I will admit. They are an emotive subject however. I am convinced though that Nuclear power is important to the long term provision in this country. We have massive amounts of fuel stockpiled already. More Nuclear power would reduce our reliance on imported energy.

The answer is that the country needs all the options it can get. Once constructed wind power will produce a lot of power but the wind doesn't always blow. Gas power is convenient because it can come on stream quickly and power stations are relatively easy to build. The fuel has to be imported and is open to fluctuations in the market. So in terms of low carbon emission generation Nuclear power has a case. It is not cheap but it can add to the mix and increase the security of supply.