UK Nuclear Industry

Nuclear Industry AssociationOver the last six years, nuclear power in the UK has moved from being a sunset industry, to being regarded as a central pillar of our future energy mix.

The Energy White Paper of 2003 all but dismissed nuclear power’s contribution to the energy mix – suggesting that a combination of renewables and energy efficiency could provide the answer to the UK’s electricity needs.

However by 2008, there was a clear need to reassess the role of nuclear and following two public consultations (the first of which was legally overturned due to flaws in the process), the Energy White Paper of 2008 re-opened the way for new nuclear power in Britain.

Nuclear power is nothing new in the UK. Indeed, in 1956 the Queen opened the world’s first commercial nuclear power plant at Calder Hall in Cumbria, whilst Sizewell B – opened in 1995 – is still Western Europe’s newest nuclear power station. Supporting in excess of 90,000 jobs in the UK – nuclear power provides around 18% of our electricity as well as most of the 2-3% that we import from France.

Perhaps the most crucial contribution made by nuclear however is that it provides 80% of our low-carbon electricity, with the release of around 40,000,000 tonnes of CO2 is prevented every year by nuclear power in the UK alone. Climate change is widely regarded as the biggest challenge facing humanity this century – and low-carbon nuclear energy is one of the key technologies which can help us move towards a low-carbon economy. Its entire lifecycle emissions are around 5grams/Kwh of carbon dioxide which is on a par with wind power – as opposed to nearer 400 for gas and 800 for coal.

Perhaps more important than the level of electricity which nuclear power provides, is the reliability with which it does so. Nuclear power provides energy that is both strategically secure and of base-load reliability.

The security of supply offered by nuclear power is unrivalled by any other source of electricity generation. Gas and coal have both been staples of the UK electricity mix for many years – and with Carbon Capture and Storage developments they can continue to play a crucial role. But the UK’s natural resources are now dwindling – meaning that the UK is rapidly moving from an energy-independent to energy-reliant country. Nuclear fuel is only needed in small quantities and is imported from strategically allied states such as Canada and Australia. This means that it is not likely to be subject to sudden short-term interruptions of supply due to political or economic conditions, as gas in particular can be.

Turning to the discussion of base-load generation; it is crucial that the UK’s industry, population and crucial facilities are permanently able to call on electricity producers to supply them with stable and adequate power supplies.

Whilst renewable fuels are indigenous and have a vital role to play, they are by nature intermittent. Renewables rely on weather conditions, tides and other natural phenomena. This means that when conditions are not right – they produce no electricity; and industry, schools and hospitals will receive no power.

Make no mistake – nuclear is not a silver bullet. Renewables will play a key role in providing low carbon electricity, but the true solution is a balance of technologies; renewables, fossil fuels with CCS and nuclear – all playing their role, all in their proper place.

New nuclear in the UK will be built and operated by the private sector; the days of the industry being unquestionably tied to government are long since gone – and this responsibility will include full costs of decommissioning and waste management. The recent investment of over £12.5bn by EDF to purchase British Energy shows just how seriously major international utilities are treating the UK nuclear market. UK utility Centrica are also now heavily involved in running the UK nuclear fleet having bought 20% of British Energy from EDF. This kind of investment from both EDF and Centrica– along with the proven international experience that both companies bring – will play a central role in driving forward the new build process in the UK.

The recent NDA land auction has seen RWE and E.ON purchase key sites for potential new build, further strengthening their position as central players in the UK’s nuclear renaissance; both are internationally renowned utilities and through their joint venture they have shown serious intent to become a prominent member of the UK nuclear scene.

The Generic Design Assessment of potential new reactor designs – along with the 2008 Planning Act which will streamline the planning process for all major infrastructure projects - will make the approval procedures dramatically shorter than those seen for previous nuclear stations, without compromising on safety or local approval. Furthermore, both of the reactor designs currently undergoing assessment are proven off-the-shelf international technologies. They will all have been built elsewhere in the world before the UK, meaning that inevitable first-of-a-kind delays will be less likely to affect the UK market.

Nuclear power has moved from being seen as a technology of the future in the 1950’s, to being opposed by government as recently as 2003, to now being properly recognised as a key element in the fight against global climate change. It has the backing of the UK government as well as the largest opposition party, it has strong public support (44% of the UK public support replacement build against just 19% who oppose. Ipsos MORI 2008) and the communities local to nuclear power stations are keen to bring the new economic and social benefits of ne nuclear back to their communities. The industry and government have gone through the fullest public consultation to get to this stage – and now is the time for real progress.

Nuclear power has played an essential part in providing the UK’s electricity over the past 50 years, and has a crucial role to play at the heart of a low-carbon secure energy mix for the future.

Keith Parker, Chief Executive
NIA,
Carlton House,
22a St James's Square,
London,
SW1Y 4JH.
Tel: 020 7766 6641
Web: www.niauk.org