Nuclear power. Whether or not you believe it to be a solution to our energy crisis, there is no getting away from the discussion of nuclear power!
Especially with everything that has happened at Fukushima, Japan in the last few months, people are right to be skeptical. Does anyone really want to be responsible for placing that much risk on a country and its people?
Nuclear accidents pose a direct risk and threat in terms of their economical, environmental and societal impacts.
Just three months after the Fukushima disaster, the BBC reports that the UK Energy Minister has announced the eight potential sites deemed suitable for nuclear power stations by 2025, all of which are adjacent to existing nuclear sites.
The possible sites may be located at Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa. The proposals for these power plants are part of a series of national policy statements on energy which have been published following an earlier round of public consultation.
After witnessing what has happened in Japan, can we ever justify having new plants and placing people at risk again? If these proposals are to be brought forward for development it is essential that safety is paramount. Current standards will need to be reviewed and staff will need training to deal with all types of eventualities including earthquakes, tsunami, floods and fires.
One can understand the need for this energy source given that a quarter of the UK’s generating capacity is due to close by the end of the decade according to the Energy Minister, Charles Hendry. We just need to make sure it is safe for everyone.
Nuclear can and should be considered as part of a low carbon option for future energy generation; we just need to make sure that we are prepared for every eventuality. I mean, we just don’t know with certainty what climate change will mean for the UK!
Alternatively, should we as a country not be investing in clean renewable energy? Could we not harness energy from any other source? There are several arguments out there trying to tell us which option we should support and which one is best for the country, but surely meeting the energy demand as sustainably as possible is the number one goal. Personally I don’t think we can meet our demand on renewables alone. This isn’t to say in the future we could do. In fact I hope we can!
However, during the crossover period Britain needs to invest in all the options available to it as a nation, and one of those options is nuclear power. One just hopes that if these plants go ahead, safety is at the top of the agenda! Fingers crossed, in the not-too-distant future we can meet the energy demand without the need for nuclear.
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Alka Sharma says