Britain aims to lead on nuclear energy

Kobbaen

What do you think?

Britain aims to lead on nuclear energy

Ryan_m_b

As a Briton I'm skeptical. We've had decades of dithering over our nuclear policy with endless NIMBY arguments and AFAIK we've been dimishing our nuclear power over the last decade or so. Only recently I thought I heard that a series of deals for energy firms bidding to construct nuclear reactors collapsed.

Coupled with the fact that in France nuclear accounts for 3-4 times more of their energy budget and the phrase "lead the way" begins to look like so much spin.

Having said that I do support increasing nuclear power in the UK, especially next generation designs. I'm hopeful that the UK can move away from fossil fuels over the next several decades as we have ample capacity for renewable and nuclear energy.

Naty1

Just remind planners not to put nuclear power plants at sea level....not a good idea.

After Japan's experience, I was surprised when I passed oneby boat in the Chesapeake Bay.....right at the water's edge...although not geologically active, still not a good idea!!

mheslep

Ample? Apparently the UK has an average electric load of ~40 GWe, and a total, all uses, primary energy consumption rate of ~300 GW. Current the UK has about 6 GWe (peak) of wind installed. Are their some figures to show how the UK gets there on just renewables?

aquitaine

Not if it is adequately planned for. Some generators in a hardened shelter (tsunami proof) with underground power transmission lines might have averted the total power loss.



According to this, you would need to blanket all of Wales in wind farms in order to get 1/6 of the UK's energy needs.

mheslep

McCay's referring to supplying *all* energy needs there, including air travel, heating, food, etc and not just the electric load. Electric powered air travel is a bit in the future yet.

Clearly much future wind installation will be off shore in the UK. Still, a minimum of 60,000 2MW offshore wind turbines would be needed to supply the UK electric load, and that's without addressing the backup needed for wind outages.

HallsofIvy

Yeah. We are still working on the extension cord problem!

russ_watters

OT posts deleted. Please keep it on topic, guys. The title of the article is a somewhat clumsy paraphrase/truncation. The quote it was based on is about the UK leading in nuclear investment. In other words, to be building more than anyone else -- not to have more capacity (either absolute or in %).