Nuclear Power in the U.K. Fiona Cassidy

Nuclear Power in the U.K. Nuclear power is back on the British Political Agenda Why? U.K has 19 reactors generating 1/5 of it’s electricity U.K has 19 reactors generating 1/5 of it’s electricity By 2023 all will be decommissioned By 2023 all will be decommissioned

History 1953Government approve construction of 1 st reactors at Calder Hall. 1953Government approve construction of 1 st reactors at Calder Hall. 1956Suez crisis accentuated concerns about shortage of oil & coal – Nuclear Programme trebled 1956Suez crisis accentuated concerns about shortage of oil & coal – Nuclear Programme trebled Pre 1980’sU.K. government policy to increase percentage of nuclear power providing electricity Pre 1980’sU.K. government policy to increase percentage of nuclear power providing electricity 1988Cost uncertainties leads to halt in reactor production 1988Cost uncertainties leads to halt in reactor production 1989Electricity system privatised 1989Electricity system privatised 1996All nuclear power plants apart from one transferred to private sector, British Energy 1996All nuclear power plants apart from one transferred to private sector, British Energy

Locations Note: U.K. stations are Located by the coast As the sea is used as a Natural coolant for the reactor

Decommissioning Time Scale Nuclear power production in the U.K. is already decreasing

Nuclear Reactor Commissions No new reactors have been built since the 1980’s No new reactors have been built since the 1980’s Why? – weakened political and public enthusiasm due to: Why? – weakened political and public enthusiasm due to: Number of accidents Number of accidents Spiralling decommissioning costs Spiralling decommissioning costs Unsolved problem of nuclear waste storage Unsolved problem of nuclear waste storage Why the renewed interest now? Why the renewed interest now? Soaring oil and gas prices Soaring oil and gas prices Dwindling domestic fossil fuel reserves Dwindling domestic fossil fuel reserves Pressure to tackle climate change Pressure to tackle climate change

Nuclear Waste One of the biggest problems the nuclear industry faces Greatest concern small proportion of nuclear waste that is “high level waste” small proportion of nuclear waste that is “high level waste” High Level Waste Waste so radioactive that it generates heat & corrodes all containers. Waste so radioactive that it generates heat & corrodes all containers. Would cause death within a few days to any one directly exposed to it. Would cause death within a few days to any one directly exposed to it. In U.K. accounts for less than 0.3% of total volume of nuclear waste In U.K. accounts for less than 0.3% of total volume of nuclear waste Accounts for ½ the total radioactivity Accounts for ½ the total radioactivity

Nuclear Waste Solution No country has implemented a long term solution to this problem No country has implemented a long term solution to this problem Finland & U.S. plan to build repositories deep underground This solution is under consideration in the U.K.

Nuclear Waste U.K. Nuclear Waste & Fuels 1 High Level Waste Waste from reprocessing spent fuel 2 Spent Fuel Mix of uranium, plutonium & fission products 3 Plutonium Radioactive element, by-product of uranium fission. Can be used in bombs 4 Intermediate Wastes Nuclear fuel casing, reactor components, sludge's 5 Uranium Radioactive element used as reactor fuel

Nuclear Waste If U.K. reactors all operate to their current shutdown dates & no more are built estimated; 36,590m 2 of high level waste 36,590m 2 of high level waste Equivalent of 14 Olympic sized swimming pools! Equivalent of 14 Olympic sized swimming pools! Low level waste Stored in sealed concrete vaults in a purpose built store in Drigg, Cumbria Stored in sealed concrete vaults in a purpose built store in Drigg, Cumbria Currently holds 960,000m 3 Currently holds 960,000m 3 Equivalent of 384 Olympic swimming pools of waste Equivalent of 384 Olympic swimming pools of waste

Cost Estimates vary considerably Several organisations have tries to price kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated by nuclear power Several organisations have tries to price kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated by nuclear power Prices include cost of building, running & decommissioning the power stations Prices include cost of building, running & decommissioning the power stations 2002 government report – power from Sizewell B cost 6p/kWh 2002 government report – power from Sizewell B cost 6p/kWh Estimated 2020 – 3-4p/kWh Estimated 2020 – 3-4p/kWh

Cost Series of costs are difficult to quantify Construction costs have a history of spiralling over budget Past decommissioning bills have been large Though better technology may bring financial improvements in both Capital costs Larger proportion of total than for other technologies Fuel costs are relatively small fraction Initial costs are high Additional Considerations Insurance – potential accidents are difficult to quantify Long term disposal – no definite solution hence impossible to budget

Alternative Sources of Energy Gas40% Coal33% Nuclear20% Hydro2% Landfill gas1.2% Oil1.2% Bio fuels0.6% Wind0.5% Solar0.1% Wave & Tidal0.5%

Changing Opinions Nuclear Power:Increased popularity again due to: Souring oil, gas and coal prices Souring oil, gas and coal prices More cost effective when a financial value is put on CO 2 emissions More cost effective when a financial value is put on CO 2 emissions Nuclear reactor has no emissions of green house gases Nuclear reactor has no emissions of green house gases Even when considering emissions from uranium, building stations still much lower than fossil fuel burning Even when considering emissions from uranium, building stations still much lower than fossil fuel burning

Future Plans Last nuclear power plant built in U.K – Sizewell B 15 years from proposal to electrical production 15 years from proposal to electrical production Cost two times original budget Cost two times original budget Plans for a further 9 reactors of similar design were abandoned Plans for a further 9 reactors of similar design were abandoned Therefore people are cautious about future reactors

Future Plans Friends of the Earth – their opinion: Doubling Britain’s nuclear capacity ultimately requires 28 new power stations Doubling Britain’s nuclear capacity ultimately requires 28 new power stations Would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% Would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% “Nuclear power has had 30 years of subsides, billions of dollars poured into it & it still only produces 7% of the world’s energy” “We have got to find another way of doing it” AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER DEVELOPMENT

Future Plans Nuclear Industry Association – their opinion If government decisions are taken quickly enough a new generation of nuclear power station could be ready to help Britain achieve its target of 10% cut in emissions by 2020 If measures were taken to streamline procedures at the beginning around licensing, regulation & the planning system 10 new stations could be running in 10 years time

Future Plans However………. With still no practical method with dealing with the waste; Do we really want more waste that we don’t know what to do with? Britain's 6 biggest energy firms now have to source an increased proportion of energy from renewable sources each year Britain's 6 biggest energy firms now have to source an increased proportion of energy from renewable sources each year Analysis concludes that wind, on & offshore, will form a bulk of that 10% due to its technical maturity Analysis concludes that wind, on & offshore, will form a bulk of that 10% due to its technical maturity

Conclusion The future of the U.K. nuclear energy production is still unclear. Friends of the Earth feels the solution lies in: Cleaning up existing coal & gas power stations Cleaning up existing coal & gas power stations Perhaps by taking the CO 2 out of emissions & burying them deep underground Perhaps by taking the CO 2 out of emissions & burying them deep underground However there is still a long way to go & until then all power sources must be considered: Fossil, nuclear & renewable energy in order to meet the demands of the country.