The cost of Nuclear Power
Nuclear power provide 20% of the UK's electricity. However, by 2023 all but one of the current 25 nuclear power stations will be closed.
A recent report released by the EEF has found that a new power plant can be build at a cost of £32 per megawatt hour. This compares to £71 per megawatt hour for an offshore wind farm. Building a new generation of nuclear power stations is therefore an attractive financial option and a clean one too as nuclear electricity production emits no carbon.
Martin Temple, the director-general for the EEF, said: "It is not realistic to expect that wind will cover 25% of the UK's energy supply. The government needs to take a lead on nuclear and implement a strategy that will tackle the issue of waste and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Failure to do so will result in little more than new gas plants being planned for, which are not going to cover future consumer demands or reduce carbon emissions sufficiently."
30th October 2005
carbon-info.org
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