British Energy News
British Energy Response to the Government Consultation: The Future of Nuclear Power
20th September 2007
Today British Energy has made its submission to the Government’s consultation on the future of nuclear power.
Climate change and energy security are major challenges for the UK that need urgent and sustained action, using a wide range of measures.
The closure of older coal and nuclear plants as they reach the end of their lives over the next two decades means that there is a need for decisions now on significant investment in new baseload generating capacity in the UK.
Nuclear power currently plays a key role in the UK’s efforts to address the challenges of climate change and energy security. We believe that it is in the UK’s interest for nuclear to continue to contribute to the UK fuel mix for electricity generation.
The UK civil nuclear power industry operates under a robust regulatory regime and has an excellent safety record.
It is in the public interest to create a framework for private companies to invest in new nuclear power stations and related infrastructure within the UK.
British Energy has the experience and assets to play a key role at the heart of new nuclear build in the UK.
Summary of main points
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There is growing concern that continued greenhouse gas emissions will lead to major changes in our climate during the course of this century. More immediately the UK is moving from a period of energy self-sufficiency to one in which security of supply is no longer assured. We believe it is important the UK should take decisions now to deliver a sustained response to both of these issues.
- Independent accredited studies of the complete lifecycle for nuclear power have confirmed that it is a low carbon energy source, comparable in this respect with renewables, with the potential to assist in combating climate change.
- The UK should aim for a diverse fuel mix, and allow energy companies to invest in the widest possible range of generating technologies including nuclear as this is most likely to provide security of supply in the long term.
- Based on consensus views of fossil generation costs and the costs of nuclear power, nuclear is cost competitive without subsidy, provided the fossil fuel alternatives carry the cost of the carbon emissions associated with their use and that standard, accepted international designs are adopted.
- We agree that we need a wide range of low carbon generation technologies available for use in the UK and should not rely on a single solution. The option of building new nuclear power stations is an important one.
- Civil nuclear power has operated safely and securely in the UK for 50 years. There is a very robust regulatory regime for all aspects of safety, security, health protection and non-proliferation which would also apply to any new build.
- Transport of nuclear fuel and radioactive waste is carried out routinely and safely within a robust regulatory regime.
- Management and disposal of radioactive waste is an important issue for both existing operations and new build. It is vital that Government provides definition and builds both expert and public acceptance for the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely process to develop a disposal solution for the UK, taking forward the work of the Committee on Radioactive
Waste Management (CoRWM) for disposal deep underground. CoRWM have stated that there are no technical reasons why radioactive materials associated with any new build programme could not be accommodated within the disposal solution adopted for existing UK waste. We believe that the UK waste solution should be developed on the assumption that waste arising from a potential new build programme would be included alongside existing wastes. - Nuclear power offers significant climate change and other strategic benefits while the industry has proved able to manage the risks, perceived or otherwise, associated with waste, proliferation and security.
- Taking everything into account we believe it is ethical to encourage new nuclear build in the UK.
- The environmental impact of building new nuclear power stations is well understood. Any new power stations would be subject to a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the planning process.
- Uranium is relatively abundant. Proven and probable reserves are more than enough to meet expected demand from new build in the UK.
- The UK can put in place the necessary manufacturing, construction and operation skills. However, there is high demand in a worldwide market for specialist skills in nuclear construction, and for key components.
- The UK needs to be an attractive place for employment and investment in the nuclear industry if we are to compete.
- It is reasonable to assume that the fuel for any new plants in the near term would not be reprocessed.
- We strongly agree that it would be in the public interest to give private companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations.
- No restrictions should be placed on the amount of capacity that might be built. There is no need for restrictions on the siting of nuclear power stations beyond those that established planning processes would impose.
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We fully support the actions being taken to facilitate the regulatory and planning process for new build.
Read the full submission (pdf).
Media Contact: Sue Fletcher 01506 408798 or 01452 652233
