Nuclear debate

ePolitix.com asked its Stakeholders to comment on the news that business secretary John Hutton has announced plans to increase the use of nuclear energy in the UK.

Comment from:

• Nuclear Industry Association
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Institute of Engineering and Technology
• Electrical Contractors' Association
  
  

Party response: Labour

Energy secretary, John Hutton, said: "Giving the go-ahead today that new nuclear power should play a role in providing the UK with clean, secure and affordable energy is in our country's vital, long-term interest.

"Set against the challenges of climate change and security of supply, the evidence in support of new nuclear power stations is compelling. We should positively embrace the opportunity of delivering this important part of our energy policy.

"I therefore invite energy companies to bring forward plans to build and operate new nuclear power stations.

"With a third of our generating capacity coming offline within the next 20 years and increasing reliance on imported energy, it is clear we need investment in a range of new energy infrastructure.

"Measures in the Energy Bill will drive a greater deployment of renewables and enable investment in carbon capture and storage and offshore gas infrastructure.

"These will help build our energy security, reduce emissions and place the UK at the forefront in the development of low carbon energy technology."

Party response: Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat shadow environment secretary Steve Webb said: "This is a flawed decision based on a sham consultation – we all know that ministers made up their minds long ago.

"The government has effectively locked us into nuclear power for the best part of a century. By the time they are up and running in the 2020s, nuclear power plants may be obsolete given the breathtaking progress in renewable technologies.

"John Hutton was not able to give a cast iron guarantee that taxpayers will not have to subsidise the costs of nuclear in the future.

"The government had nothing to say about today's pressing issue – spiralling fuel prices.

"The new Energy Bill must include measures to protect the millions of households who are struggling to meet their winter fuel bills.

"The UK has an energy crisis now – nuclear power cannot fill the energy gap. Energy conservation and investment in renewables should be our top priorities."

Stakeholder response: NIA

To send a comment to the NIA, click here 

Lord O'Neill, the NIA's chairman, said: "This is a milestone for the UK nuclear industry and for the UK's future energy policy. It recognises nuclear's importance in fighting climate change and in securing the UK's electricity supplies well in to the future.

He added: "This news is a major boost to our industry which already does so much to supply clean, stably-priced electricity to consumers, and helps power the world's fifth largest economy.

"New nuclear units will be funded entirely by the private sector.

"They will be cost-effective, built to international standards and they will help the UK maintain a diverse and secure portfolio of energy supplies at a time when energy is becoming the major concern of governments around the world."

Stakeholder response: RAE

To send a comment to the RAE, click here 

A spokesperson for the RAE said: "The Royal Academy of Engineering, representing the UK's leading engineers, welcomes the government's decision to open the way for a new generation of nuclear power stations as part of the balanced energy mix needed to tackle climate change and provide secure, long-term energy supplies.

"The problem of delivering clean energy reliably requires new engineering solutions within a policy and economic framework that will encourage timely investment enabled by appropriate government intervention, which we are seeing in progress this week.

"Nuclear power is a proven low-carbon source of energy that is capable of delivering on a large-scale.

"Ample experience exists to demonstrate that a modern nuclear power station can be built to schedule at predictable costs subject to timely planning approval and licensing.

"Clearly, there are hurdles to be overcome, notably those relating to public perception and setting the right environment for private investment but these issues have to be grasped if we are to have a low-carbon future.

"Nuclear power is just one important part of the energy mix – all the available new and improved technologies at our disposal are essential to address the twin issues of climate change and security of supply.

"The critical clusters of technologies for clean energy supply are nuclear, carbon capture and storage, energy efficiency (including low-energy buildings and vehicles), renewables and energy storage.

"We need all of these, including new nuclear build – it is not a matter of choice.

"Targets for CO2 emissions reductions have been set nationally and internationally.

"These are framed as a percentage reduction in emissions, but the aim is to reduce limit the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere (at 550 or 450ppm – currently about 350ppm).

"In order to achieve the CO2 stabilisation levels, it is crucial that the rate of increase is slowed, which means small, early reductions are worth as much as late massive reductions.

"This emphasises the urgency of moving ahead with new nuclear build without delay"

Stakeholder Response: IET

To send a comment to the IET, click here 

The IET told ePolitix.com it: "Welcomes the recognition by government that skills and supply chain issues will be material to the build of new nuclear power stations in the UK.

"However the assertion that the time taken to develop projects to the point where construction can commence allows sufficient time for the industry to develop skills and construction capacity appears simplistic.

"This is because the expansion of nuclear stations in the UK coincides with

• the decommissioning of previous generations of reactors
• the expansion of renewable energy technologies
• the renovation of the power supply and distribution infrastructure
• upgrade of the rail, water and sewerage infrastructures.

"Crucially, the UK will be competing with other countries for scarce nuclear engineering skills.

"Engineers will not only be needed once the new nuclear stations are nearing completion but for the planning and approval process and the rigorous preparation and challenge of safety cases for the new reactors long before construction starts.

"The nuclear industry specifically and the power industry generally has a rapidly ageing skills profile in most developed countries. 

"The situation is worse for nuclear than other segments of the industry (i) because nuclear has been seen as a sunset industry for many years, (ii) because the skills needed are similar to those needed for decommissioning of old plant, which is happening on the same timescale, and (iii) because there is not a ready supply of nuclear-skilled people in less developed countries who can perform the work offshore or relocate to the UK, unlike for some other power technologies.

"The numbers of pupils studying science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects is beginning to increase but those opting to go into engineering are still much too low.

"In addition, the time elapsed between enticing a person into the industry and having them fully qualified and skilled to contribute at a significant or specialised level is 10-15 years minimum. 

"We would encourage strong and proactive involvement by government in ensuring that the skills are available for the development of safe, secure power supplies.

"The Power Academy, initiated by the IET to address the skills gap in power distribution offers one model but wide-ranging policy actions will in our view be required."


Stakeholder response: ECA

To send a comment to the ECA, click here 

A spokesperson said: "The members of the ECA look forward to making a major contribution to the construction of the new generation of nuclear power stations. They were responsible for the installation of electrical and control systems within the current fleet of UK nuclear stations and they relish the challenge of helping to build the new fleet.

"This forward workload will require very large numbers of engineers, technicians, electricians and associated disciplines at a time of high demand for these skills from the rest of the economy. The ECA looks forward to working energetically with other stakeholders to ensure that these skills are available to the nuclear industry."