The prudent course of action for Britain is a balanced mix of oil, gas, coal, efficiency, renewables and nuclear which will help protect UK businesses and consumers from electricity price spikes as we have recently seen due to rising gas prices. It will also reduce the UK’s vulnerability to being held to ransom by resource rich countries.

Our increasing reliance on gas for electricity generation, a greater proportion of which in imported each year, is eroding our security of supply. Gas imported through long pipelines is highly vulnerable to both terrorist attack and being used for political reasons by countries along the route. One proposed solution to this is to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other countries. However this has the problem that the CO2 emissions associated with the liquefaction, transport and regasification of the gas mean that a power station run on LNG has carbon emissions almost as high as a coal fired power station.

Despite energy efficiency measures the UK is experiencing continually rising demand – due to our MP3 players, flat-screen televisions, mobile phones – and dwindling North Sea oil and gas supplies is the reality. Filling part of the gap with energy efficiency and renewables is unquestionably the right course of action but we can’t rely on it to replace large scale, always-on electricity generation.   

Decision-makers and the public need to balance benefits, uncertainties, costs and competing interests – and we need to think long term. 

Nuclear is a virtually CO₂ free source and it is always on – it’s safe and cost effective. Nuclear is part of the solution to security of supply issues and meeting our climate change objectives.

Nuclear industry facts:

Nuclear has been supplying electricity to our homes and businesses safely since 1956 and it is a proven and safe form of electricity generation worldwide.

By providing a secure, competitive supply of 20% of the UK’s electricity, nuclear gives important diversity in an uncertain world. The nuclear contribution ensures the UK controls its energy supply – relying less on foreign oil and gas supplied through long pipelines. The prudent course for Britain is a balanced mix of oil, gas, coal, renewables, energy efficiency and nuclear.

Nuclear is a large scale, reliable and safe source of electricity for the UK’s domestic and industrial consumers. 20% of UK’s electricity comes from our nuclear power stations – generating 80% of UK’s low-carbon electricity.  Nuclear has supplied energy to Britain’s homes and businesses safely, reliably and economically since 1956.