Brighter Future
Friends
of the Earth has published a report on the future of UK electricity up
to 2020-2030. The report is aimed at influencing the UK's debate on the future
of electricity and nuclear power as part of the Energy Review.
The key
findings are that:
- the UK can cut emissions from the electricity
sector by 48-71% by 2020 without nuclear
- gas consumption in the electricity
sector can be stabilised or even reduced within a few years
(FoE felt it was
important to make this point, as the debate on natural gas imports from Russia
is part of the pro-nuclear argument at the moment).
The report, the press
release and the background data used are available here:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/new_research_shows_a_brigh_02032006.html
The
report itself is quite weighty, but FoE will be using it to developing more user
friendly public information materials on climate change solutions, so watch this
space.
Nuclear
power in a low carbon economy
The
UK government's advisory body, the Commission on Sustainable Development, has
just produced this report explaining why nuclear is not a solution and providing
extremely detailed evidence for it.
The report identifies five major disadvantages to nuclear power:
Long-term
waste – no
long term solutions are yet available, let alone acceptable to the general
public; it is impossible to guarantee safety over the long-term disposal of
waste
2.
Cost – the
economics of nuclear new-build are highly uncertain. There is little, if any,
justification for public subsidy, but if estimated costs escalate, there’s a
clear risk that the taxpayer will be have to pick up the tab.
3.
Inflexibility –
nuclear would lock the UK into a centralised distribution system for the next 50
years, at exactly the time when opportunities for microgeneration and local
distribution network are stronger than ever.
4.
Undermining energy efficiency – a new
nuclear programme would give out the wrong signal to consumers and businesses,
implying that a major technological fix is all that’s required, weakening the
urgent action needed on energy efficiency.
International
security – if
the UK brings forward a new nuclear power programme, we cannot deny other
countries the same technology*. With lower safety standards, they run higher
risks of accidents, radiation exposure, proliferation and terrorist
attacks.
On
balance, the SDC finds that these problems outweigh the advantages of nuclear.
However, it does not rule out further research into new nuclear technologies and
pursuing answers to the waste problem, as future technological developments may
justify a re-examination of the issue.
For more
information see http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/060306.html
Sustainable Development Commission, Ground Floor, Ergon House, Horseferry Road,
London SW1P 2AL
Tel: 020-7238 4995
Waves
and wind could provide energy for Britain
The UK
is surrounded by some of the World’s roughest seas, and by harnessing this power
Britain could generate a fifth of national energy demand through wind and wave
energy.
A report
published in January 2006 by the Government’s clean energy advisors, the Carbon
Trust, revealed that wave and tidal power could replace that produced by nuclear
stations and prevent the need for Britain to rely on increased Russian gas
imports.
Machines
that capture the movement of waves and tides have been the ideal for many
scientists. But with the increased urgency for clean, renewable power to replace
polluting fossil fuels the scheme has been seriously considered as a
possible alternative energy source.
For more
information visit http://www.thecarbontrust.co.uk/carbontrust/
The Carbon Trust, 8th Floor, 3 Clement's Inn, London WC2A 2AZ
General Enquiries Tel: 0800 085 2005