Articles
I believe the much-ignored salt-based nuclear reactor should be investigated thoroughly for industrialisation. Less harmful waste and potentially simpler operation make it a viable alternative to covering the landscape with windfarms or arable land with solar panels.
Stuart Cadman, Rugby
Yes, it is time to abandon nuclear. The gap will be filled by radical cuts in energy usage as we learn slowly and with difficulty that without cheap abundant fossil fuel a growing industrial civilisation isn’t really practical. You can spot the technologies of the future – they are simple, slow and cheap. The next question is how on earth are we going to manage the current inventory of nuclear waste in a post-industrial era. John Michael Greer has some plausible ideas.
Max Oakes, Aberdeenshire
No, we need the power to prevent the lights going out. I don’t know too many people that want to live in the dark on cold baked beans! We need politicians with more courage.
R Raybould, Newport
Absolutely not. Nuclear must be the technology to fill the electricity gap but utilities should be publicly owned rather than foreign owned and Hinckley Point should be built by a UK publicly-owned organisation. The increased build cost will be a boost to the UK economy as long as UK contractors are used!
Jonathan Percival, St Neots, Cambs
We cannot abandon nuclear although a major rethink is needed on Hinkley. It seems the wind has gone out of windfarms. Solar still has potential as the technology improves but this is not enough to keep pace with demand. Efforts will need to turn to energy efficiency. The government is trying to mitigate by letting major industrial consumers of electricity (such as steel processing) wither on the vine – crafty, eh?
Ken H, South Yorkshire
It all depends on how much money we are prepared to pay for our electricity. To keep costs to a minimum, and a strategy longer than six months, I believe we need a centrally managed portfolio of combined-cycle gas turbines with carbon capture, nuclear and renewables. We could call it the Central Electricity Generating Board!
Gary Lock, Dorking, Surrey
I understand EDF is using a new design and they have no power station to this design commissioned yet. The oil and gas industry has a very simple policy towards unproven technology – don’t use it. I also understand that the Hinkley Point reactors have not even got off the drawing board yet. Surely the time has come when EDF should be instructed to use an older, possibly less efficient, but well-proven technology in the interests of getting something built.
Phil Ansley-Watson, Linz, Austria
Yes, it is time to abandon this reactor design as safety has made it cost far too much. I suggest concentrating on energy saving, micro grids, transmission line and substation improvements, energy storage, solar, wind, biofuels, fuel cells, and gas-fired heat recovery steam generators. If we are going to have some nuclear, then small modular reactors plus molten salt reactors to dispose of the waste.
Rupert Clarke, Kent
Stop building power stations and start conserving energy. The savings potential in Britain is huge. A good start would be to take a lesson from the German government that has just started a campaign to reduce energy consumption in homes and industry.
Joachim Neff, Dundee
Nuclear is the only large-scale power source with minimal carbon emissions that is available upon demand in a safe, environment-friendly and credible manner today. The cost of restarting the nuclear programme may be high but the total cost of not doing it will be higher.
Richard Fung, Hong Kong
There is no credible alternative to nuclear for our near future electricity needs. If big reactor builds are problematic, why not develop a network of smaller power stations designed around Rolls-Royce’s admirable submarine nuclear plants?
Keith Thomas, Derby
The situation is a dilemma. Renewables are impractical and fossil fuels are restricted by EU policy to meet green targets. Re-engineer a cheaper nuclear solution at Hinkley Point and make up any shortfall by other technology. Reverse EU policy and run gas power stations at efficient economic capacity.
Roger Bostock, Stockport
A combination of gas turbines and renewables from solar, wind, hydro and tidal. Nuclear is ridiculously expensive and spent fuel storage has not been sorted.
John Macdonald, Swindon
What is the cost to the economy of not ensuring continuity of supply? The inability to plan and deploy this technology is as much to do with a lack of clear, unchanging, long-term government energy strategy.
D Waters, Isle of Man