So what exactly is happening to the government's plans for nuclear energy now the EDF bid for British Energy has been rejected? The knock-back was clearly a shock to EDF, and has left its board reeling. But it also results in bigger questions about what happens now to the UK's plans for building more nuclear power stations.
Now EDF has been forced to turn to Plan B - the piecemeal development of individual schemes on Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sites, possibly starting with Wylfa, assuming its bid for that site is successful. Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick. Work will not start on any new-build nuclear power station until 2013 at the very earliest.
Despite all his other problems, Gordon Brown has to start giving priority to securing future energy sources for the UK. We are beholden to some mercurial governments, who own most of the gas pipeline infrastructure overseas. Oil will become increasingly difficult and expensive to extract, and we are hardly embracing alternatives such as wind, wave or solar power.
Like it or loathe it, nuclear power clearly has a place - but we will only be able to embrace it if we have the appropriate infrastructure in place, sooner rather than later. And if getting it going means pursuing individual deals for every new power station, the negotiations need to start now.
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Comments (2)
GOOD ARTICLE.VERY INFORMATIVE...
GERRY.
Posted by GERRY | September 24, 2008 11:33 AM
Posted on September 24, 2008 11:33
Nuclear power is the way forward in this country. It is one of the cleanest methods of producing energy, and a renewable source. Waste discharges produced are minimal, and although environmentalists (such as myself!) have attempted to find fault with discharge, no adverse environmental conditions have been highlighted. Although discharge particles from Sellafield are far-reaching (and have been found off the coast of Norway and Russia), radiation is very low-level and organisms are not subject to much more than background levels. The risk of disasters such as Chernobyl has been minimised with increased safety measures and subject knowledge.
We have the plants and resources to make nuclear energy matter and lead in the fight against climate change. Whilst other renewable energy techniques are being debated, this can be put into action relatively quickly. A new coal plant at Ebbsefleet will be far more environmentally damaging than any nuclear power station.
Posted by Anthony | October 16, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on October 16, 2008 11:30