Britain Ramps Up on Nuclear

By Michael Kanellos

The U.K. today approved 10 sites for the possible construction of nuclear plants that could be deployed before the end of 2025, according to Power Engineering among others. The country also outlined an improved strategy for deployment. Nothing is set in stone and the approval does not take into account environmental factors, etc. It is just a starting point.

Like the U.S., the U.K. gets around 20 percent of its electric power from nuclear but hasn't constructed new nuclear plants in ages. Instead, much of the activity in recent years has focused on wind and biomass.

It will be interesting to see how the Scotland reacts. Earlier this year, the government, which will likely seek a vote on autonomy in the relatively near future, placed a ban on future nuclear. In part, the ban exists to help get the local wind and wave industries off the ground, Jim Mather, Scotland's energy minister, told us.

Comments

[Jasper M:]

"Scotland . . . placed a ban on future nuclear . . . the ban exists to help get the local wind and wave industries off the ground, Jim Mather, Scotland's energy minister, told us."

And there's 'green energy', in a nutshell - has to use government force to BAN competition, before it can get off the ground.

Nov 09 04:21 PM

[micachu:]

Any country that bans nuclear power generation growth is completely shooting themselves in the head. Tidal power generation still has a very long way to go before it can be used to supply large amounts of energy. It's great for places like the Outer Banks of NC and maybe even the Florida Keys. However, it would never fill the need for Miami or Wilmington.

Nuclear is the ONLY source of power that we have today that can output power on the Gigawatt scale and not produce large amounts of that 'global killer' Carbon.

Nuclear is the answer folks, not moonbeams and fairy kisses.

Nov 19 08:53 AM