Nuclear Power
Nuclear power is possibly one the hottest news topics right now. Climate control and our future reliance / sustainability of our own methods of energy production will become critical. Nuclear power stations currently produce about 25% of Britain's electricity. A large number of these power stations are approaching the end of their natural life spans. Many of these stations are already closed or closing down. By 2023 only we will be reduced to just a couple of active Nuclear Power Stations.
The Nuclear Programme to replace these ageing Power stations is a tightly controlled highly political and very lucrative for the Energy providers of the future. The associated work force required to build these new reactors can only be good news for the Energy and construction sector..
Gordon Brown has given his governments backing to endorcing the future of 20 new reactors Welcomed news for a sector that had previously looked close to extinction..
Known Facts
Uranium is found naturally occurring radioactively in the earths core. We currently mine for Uranium which is left over from Earth's formation. It can be used in nuclear power production because if a free neutron collides with the nucleus of a Uranium atom, the nucleus splits (fission) into two smaller atoms plus one free neutron.
This free neutron can then cause another fission to occur (a chain reaction). As the two new atoms weigh less than the original Uranium atom, an enormous amount of energy is also released. Hence Nuclear Power.
Harnessing the Natural elements
The energy produced by the splitting of the Uranium nucleus in the power plant (the reactor) is used as a heat source. This turns water into steam, which drives a turbine. The turbine spins a generator to produce electricity. The reactor is sealed inside concrete and steel to prevent radioactive gases and fluids leaking from the plant.
The UK was the worlds first provider of Nuclear Power at Calder Hall, Cumbria., It opened in 1956. There are currently 16 Nuclear Power Stations in varying stages of operation or full scale decommissioning.
All of the existing British Energy sites are expected to be approved to build the next generation of Nuclear Power stations.
Advantage Nuclear Power
Even the oldest Nuclear power plants are extremely clean and efficient. They are well documented as producing almost zero levels of co2 emissions. Coal-fired power stations can actually release more radioactivity into the atmosphere than a Nuclear Power Stations. Radioactive material produces vastly more energy than the equivalent amount of fossil fuel.
To give an example of how much energy is produced, one nuclear fuel pellet about two centimetres long produces the same amount of electricity as one and a half tonnes of coal.
Nuclear power stations produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil-fuelled power stations.
There is only one possible Future
There are currently 16 nuclear power plants in Britain half operated by British Nuclear Group and the other half by British Energy. All power stations run by BNFL will close by 2010 and by British Energy by 2023. The power stations have long outlived their 20-25 year life expectancy.
There has not been any building of nuclear power stations in Britain in over 10 years and most reactors are scheduled to close in the next 20 years. This will leave one power plant in Suffolk running until 2035. The idea is that other renewable energy sources will replace nuclear power production and relieve Britain's reliance on fossil-fuels.
The government has been conducting independent research into the future of Nuclear Power. The government is under constant pressure to resolve the countries energy security. Hotly contested with environmentalist and the Green parties that we should be pushing for Renewable energy. The figures and finances for these other sources of Energy simply don’t add up. Wind, Solar and Geo thermal are all to costly to introduce on a big enough scale to cater for the nations needs. Britain is left with no other serious alternative. Britain needs to build further nuclear power stations if they are to meet greenhouse gas emission targets.
In 2004 and again more recently in 2007 the government stated that research, design and development along with technological advances means the construction of much safer nuclear power stations is possible. More importantly the next generations of Nuclear power stations emit even less CO2.
Examples abroad
France currently produces 75% of its required electricity from Nuclear Power Stations.
Finland's has been constructing a new nuclear power station. This will be the first to be built in western Europe since 1991 and it is hoped that this will help Finland meet its greenhouse gas emission targets.
South Africa
Pebble bed reactors Ultra safe with automatic safeguards
Europe
As of September 30, 2007 there were a total of 197 nuclear power plant units with an installed electric net capacity of 169,842 MWe in operation in Europe and 12 units with 9,991 MWe were under construction in five countries.
|
Country
|
in operation
|
under construction
|
|
number
|
net capacity MWe
|
number
|
net capacity MWe
|
|
Belgium
|
7
|
5,824
|
-
|
-
|
|
Bulgaria
|
2
|
1,906
|
2
|
1.906
|
|
Czech Repuplic
|
6
|
3,523
|
-
|
-
|
|
Finland
|
4
|
2,696
|
1
|
1,600
|
|
France
|
59
|
63,290
|
-
|
-
|
|
Germany
|
17
|
20,425
|
-
|
-
|
|
Hungary
|
4
|
1,755
|
-
|
-
|
|
Lithuania
|
1
|
1,185
|
-
|
-
|
|
Netherlands
|
1
|
482
|
-
|
-
|
|
Romania
|
2
|
1.310
|
-
|
-
|
|
Russian Federation
|
31
|
21,743
|
5
|
4,585
|
|
Slovakian Republic
|
5
|
2,034
|
-
|
-
|
|
Slovenia
|
1
|
666
|
-
|
-
|
|
Spain
|
8
|
7,450
|
-
|
-
|
|
Sweden
|
10
|
9,034
|
-
|
-
|
|
Switzerland
|
5
|
3,220
|
-
|
-
|
|
Ukraine
|
15
|
13,107
|
2
|
1,900
|
|
United Kingdom
|
19
|
10,222
|
-
|
-
|
|
total
|
197
|
169,842
|
12
|
9,991
|
Nuclear power plants in Europe, in operation and under construction, as of September 2007
Courtesy of European Nuclear Society
How nuclear regained its power
Jan 16 2008 by David Rosser, Western Mail
LAST week the Government announced what Sir Humphrey might have referred to as “a courageous decision, Minister!” when the long-awaited energy review committed the UK to another generation of nuclear power stations.
Given that governments are not overly fond of courageous decisions, it is not surprising that in many commentators’ eyes they had little choice but to commit to nuclear energy being a critical part of the UK’s energy mix for the medium to long term. Indeed, with the exception of the key environmental lobby groups, the announcement created very little fuss or general concern.
So what has changed the attitude to nuclear power to one of cautious welcome, or at least reluctant acceptance? Ironically for the environmental campaigners, their very success in getting the message out about climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions in our power generation has created the climate in which nuclear power is seen as largely inevitable.
The public has bought into low carbon as a priority, but remains unconvinced by the arguments about the alternatives. The case has not been made well enough that wind power and other forms of renewables can generate power in such quantities and with sufficient reliability to keep the lights turned on.
Wind turbines seem such insubstantial machines (though not if you are living near a few), and the overriding adjective used to describe the UK weather is “variable”. Put the two together and most people are not convinced that they can do the job currently performed by the large power stations that we are used to, even if we have not grown to love them.
The inability of the various factions within the green community to agree on their preferred renewable options, because of the differing compromises on the environment these would entail, has further reduced the public’s confidence.
And putting a price on carbon, seen as a critical component of driving down emissions, is the one factor that will make nuclear economically viable.
And most people are pragmatists in the end. The biggest objection to nuclear power, that of waste disposal, is already with us. New power stations will generate a fraction of the waste of our existing models. Crudely, the hole that we will have to dig if we renew our nuclear fleet will not be that much larger than the one we would have had to dig anyway – though a long-term solution to the waste issue remains a top priority.
The main criticism of the government decision was it had been too long coming, but at least there are now sensible measures to speed up the process.
Announcing that new stations will be built on the site of existing stations should reduce the degree of local opposition – and in many cases they will be welcomed by local communities who understand the economic contribution that they can make. Ask the residents of Anglesey what they think of Wylfa. And while generally it is the opponents of controversial developments who are vocal, while supporters are silent, the fact that there is something to lose if existing nuclear stations are not replaced, may encourage a more balanced debate.
Sensibly the Government had also signalled its decision, and as a result this was followed rapidly by a number of companies announcing their intention to compete to build and operate the new stations. This removes the other argument of the objectors, that no company would take the risk. This is not a pariah technology that is reluctantly implemented, but a proven generation that is being developed across the world.
Where does that leave policy-making in Wales? The Welsh Assembly Government is not supportive of nuclear power and while some members might support an extension to the life of Wylfa on Anglesey, there is little doubt that they would decide against replacing it.
However, decisions on large-scale power projects remain with the UK government, and as the local community in Anglesey supports its replacement it is likely to go ahead. Given the economic impact on the island of Wylfa not being replaced, with the consequences for the aluminium smelter, many in WAG may feel secretly relieved that an economic- ally necessary but, to them, unpalatable decision has been taken away.
WAG’s focus will remain on developing other low-carbon energy sources and it is vitally important that this continues. The Government was clear that nuclear was part of an energy mix – not the sole solution. The developed world must continue its research into other energy sources if we are to avoid the need for a third generation fleet in another 30 years time.
David Rosser is director of CBI Wales.
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