Strategic Review Of Power Needs

You are part of a team advising the government of a small country. The country needs to update its electricity generation plants. Will you choose green energy despite its costs or should you choose good old reliable fossil fuels and worry about the pollution later?

Power Source Cost (£Bn)% of Total UK Energy Popularity Amongst the Public Pro’sCon’sSafety Wind12% (Max 30%) Some people believe turbines are an eyesore and noisy Green, renewable energy produced Energy only produced when there is a wind. Limited to certain sites No problems reports Hydro- electric 104% (Max 20%) Need to flood valleys so major landscape changes Green, renewable energy produced Vast engineering project, farm land destroyed Need to avoid seismic fault lines Tidal12% (Max 10%) No major objections Green, Renewable energy produced Limited to certain sites & away from wildlife areas No real issues- ensure away from shipping Coal/Oil/ Gas 2068% (No Max) Considered old dirty but reliable Can use existing technology, fuel is cheap Very polluting, fuel has to be bought from overseas & will soon run out No real issues other than pollution Nuclear3068% (No Max) Worry about radiation No Polluting gases, fuel with last for 1000’s of years Produces radioactive waste lasting 1000’s of years Chernobyl, Fukushima!!! Need to avoid seismic areas

You have £80Bn to spend. In groups you need to balance the % energy needs, with the concerns of the general public, the cost and the safety for the public. What would you choose to power your country into the future? Choose wisely- demand for fuel like coal is going up from other countries and therefore its costing more to import every year!! If you don’t please the public you will be out of a job at the next elections!!