Kip Hansen news summary – April 8, 2022
“The UK is betting on nuclear energy in its plan to increase energy independence. The Government says it aims to meet a quarter of the estimated electricity demand in the UK with nuclear power by 2050”. [source NY Times ]
In a sudden burst of reason:
“The UK government revealed on Thursday plans to increase the country’s energy independence like European countries try to quickly reduce energy imports from Russia about the war in Ukraine.
The foundation of the British plan was increase nuclear capacity, with the goal of supplying up to eight reactors this decade. Under its energy security plan, the country will aim to increase nuclear power capacity to 24 gigawatts by 2050, or a quarter of estimated electricity needs. There will also be many oil and gas projects in the North Sea and expanding offshore wind and solar power. The government says it wants Britain to phase out expensive fossil fuels. “
As might be expected, there have been reports of opposition from various interest groups. Some people decry the lack of stronger measures to insulate homes.
“Others denounce plans to expand oil and gas projects in the North Sea, even as Britain has ambitious climate change targets already incorporated into law. The government has said it will support domestic oil and gas in the “near term”, as it hopes to generate 95% of its “low-carbon” electricity by 2030.”
The plan calls for more offshore wind power, but discourages onshore wind, which has drawn strong resistance from residents.
And then this odd statement: “Replacing gas power with more nuclear energy is lower in carbon, but Nuclear is not renewable and it doesn’t come cheap,” said Darren Jones, an opposition Labor Party lawmaker.
Both Rolls royce car and NuScale Power submitted plans to the government to deliver SMR (small modular reactor) that would complement the eight large-scale reactors required in the new plan.
Finally, some rational energy thinking.
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Author’s comment:
Just when we thought the UK was going to commit suicide by signaling energy, they seem to have been forced by the situation in Eastern Europe to get closer to their senses.
Let’s hear what readers in the UK have to say about the scheme.
Thanks for reading.
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