Institution informs the debate on Chinese investment in Hinkley Point

Dr Jenifer Baxter said the agreement was ‘positive news’ but urged government and industry to encourage investment in the whole nuclear life-cycle.

In a statement to the press, Dr Jenifer Baxter, the Institution’s Head of Energy and Environment said that the news of China’s commitment to invest in the Hinkley Point nuclear power station was "positive".

Jenifer's statement was picked up by a wide range of national media outlets who approached her for comment on the issue. She was interviewed by journalists on the BBC 5 Live breakfast show, alongside an anti-nuclear campaigner. She also completed a pre-recorded interview, which was syndicated to over 90 BBC regional radio stations, including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Radio Ulster. Her comments on the story also featured in The Guardian, The Independent and a number of trade publications.

Jenifer said that the investment would help put the "wheels in motion" when it came to developing the new generation of UK nuclear power plants at Hinkley Point C, Bradwell and Sizewell and would create "capacity in power generation".

“Nuclear is currently one of the least CO2-intensive ways to generate base-load elecricity. If we are to secure the UK’s energy future while meeting the country’s challenging emissions target, nuclear must play a part in the electricity mix, in addition to gas-generation and renewables," she said.

“But while it is important to look to secure future energy supplies, the government also needs to encourage significant investment in the whole nuclear life-cycle. We still need proper research and development into methods for recycling and maximising the energy returns from nuclear waste. We haven’t yet found a way of dealing with the large stockpile of nuclear waste at Sellafield, which is set to include an estimated 140 tonnes of plutonium by 2020.

"It is clear the UK has been too slow to address this issue. Long-term deep geological disposal offers a potential solution; however, around 20 years of testing is required in the UK for this approach to be used with confidence and we are yet to start this process,” Jenifer said.

Related event
The Institution’s UK Energy: Resilience and Security event on 1 December 2015 will address issues such as the structure and objectives of the UK electricity industry, as well as the roles of government policy, the National Grid, electricity generators and power plant manufacturers in assuring resilience and security of supply.