YRPS Nuclear Power
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This document outlines the key issues in the debate around UK nuclear power. It discusses the background of nuclear power in the UK, including the number of existing reactors and plants. The main issues covered are safety, reliability, cost, environmental impact, security, and alternatives to nuclear power. Both arguments for and against nuclear power are presented under each issue. The future of energy production in the UK is considered highly controversial as there are valid arguments on both sides of the nuclear power debate.
YRPS Nuclear Power
- 1. UK Nuclear Power YRPS English Language Centre
- 2. Lecture outline 1. Background 2. Nuclear Power Issues
- 3. Background First plant opened in UK in1956 at Windscale 16 reactors at 9 plants Produces 20% of UK energy down from 26% in 1997 All existing UK plants to close by 2023 Permission for 8 new private plants in England Scottish government ban on new nuclear plants Future UK energy production highly controversial e.g. wind power in UK
- 4. Issues Safety Reliability Cost Environmental impact Alternative energy Security
- 5. Safety AGAINST NP 1. Old technology 2. Poor safety systems 3. Poor safety record Windscale, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Fukushima. 4. Negative public perception 5. Long term safety of nuclear waste disposal 6. Possibility of nuclear catatasrophe
- 6. Safety FOR NP Less accidents and casualties than oil and gas New plants safer than old Issue of poor siting of plants NOT poor plant design e.g. Fukushima Public perception of safety does not match reality
- 7. Reliability AGAINST NP Closure of 4 UK reactors and 3 Belgian reactors 22 of same type of reactor worldwide Closures in EU and USA due to drought Criticism of unreliable alternative energy wrong Delaware study = renewable can power a grid 99.9% of the time
- 8. Reliability FOR NP Alternatives unreliable wind, wave, solar dependent on weather Nuclear available 24/7 Nuclear can be adapted to demand alternatives not Not subject to global instability Proven reliability in past UK expertise in nuclear technology
- 9. Cost Against NP Plant construction, insurance, waste disposal, decommissioning expensive needs government money UK waste 贈56 bn for last 50yrs For NP Production costs cheap Predictable costs not subject to global uncertainty
- 10. Environmental Impact Against NP waste radioactive for thousands of years disposal problems Nuclear power needs fossil fuel for mining uranium, shipping and disposal Only 4% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2025
- 11. Environmental Impact For NP Less land use than alternatives such as solar and wind power one nuclear reactor produces equivalent of 15-180 square miles wind turbines Less CO2, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide helps fight against climate change
- 12. Security Against NP Link between civil and military use Possibility of terrorist attack or hijack of nuclear fuel or waste Expansion of nuclear programme = less global security as more countries with technology
- 13. Alternatives Against Wind and solar intermittent, excessive land use, unsightly, lack of control Water expensive, inefficient, unreliable Biomass fuel excessive CO2 emissions Shale gas expensive, environmental impact fracking Fossil fuels CO2 emissions, environmental damage, cost
- 14. Alternatives For Safety Security Not as dependent on high technology as nuclear No waste storage problems Increased employment (coal) Increased flexibility coal, gas, oil, biomass fuels used for and hot water not just electricity generation
- 15. The Future Controversial subject linked to 1.Environmental impact 2.Economic considerations 3.Global and national security 4.Public safety 5.Reliable and efficient production BUT Dwindling energy sources + increasing industrialization in developing world = rapid solutions needed