There's a strong possibility that the government might opt for a nuclear strategy as the "least worst" option
The nuclear power industry has shown in the past few weeks that it's not lost its touch when it comes to PR and setting the media agenda. Nuclear power is very much back on the list of political hot topics, and there's a strong possibility that the government might opt for a nuclear strategy as the "least worst" option for our country's future. The main battles then will be to convince the public of how much nuclear power generation technology has developed since the plants built nearly half a century ago.
But the main issues in energy supply today aren't the same as they once were. Cleaner, greener power generation is way up the list of priorities now, and the nuclear industry obviously has a case with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. What about reliability of supply, however? Reading about the recent rumblings in the Russian gas industry illustrated to many people how dependent we are on the whims of foreign politicians when it comes to the very continuity of our energy supply. And if ever there was a potential target for terrorist attack which could decimate the economies of the western world, it must be the energy supply chain.
There is a way to reduce our dependence on vulnerable, centralised power generation, of course, and that's decentralised power generation. A recent DTI report suggested we could meet up to 40% of our electricity needs from 'microgeneration' by 2050 - that's using technologies from roof-mounted windmills to fuel cells, in individual homes and buildings.
That will mean a lot of government financial support in the way of incentives to householders and industry, and a major investment in R+D. It'll also need a lot of education aimed at the wider public to convince them that there's a problem and that they can be part of the solution. There's also a fantastic opportunity for real engineering innovation to produce the products which can transform 'microgeneration' from a nice green idea to a practical reality.
But the main issues in energy supply today aren't the same as they once were. Cleaner, greener power generation is way up the list of priorities now, and the nuclear industry obviously has a case with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. What about reliability of supply, however? Reading about the recent rumblings in the Russian gas industry illustrated to many people how dependent we are on the whims of foreign politicians when it comes to the very continuity of our energy supply. And if ever there was a potential target for terrorist attack which could decimate the economies of the western world, it must be the energy supply chain.
There is a way to reduce our dependence on vulnerable, centralised power generation, of course, and that's decentralised power generation. A recent DTI report suggested we could meet up to 40% of our electricity needs from 'microgeneration' by 2050 - that's using technologies from roof-mounted windmills to fuel cells, in individual homes and buildings.
That will mean a lot of government financial support in the way of incentives to householders and industry, and a major investment in R+D. It'll also need a lot of education aimed at the wider public to convince them that there's a problem and that they can be part of the solution. There's also a fantastic opportunity for real engineering innovation to produce the products which can transform 'microgeneration' from a nice green idea to a practical reality.
posted by Chris on Thursday, January 19, 2006
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