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Nuclear power Weatherwatch: nuclear power plants feel the heat
During this summer’s heatwave, nuclear reactors in five European countries had to be shut down or put on reduced power, writes Paul Brown. An argument of the nuclear lobby is that renewables, particularly wind and solar, are unreliable because of changing weather. Only nuclear power can guarantee to keep the … [Continue Reading]
Small modular reactors have little appeal
The last hope of the nuclear industry for competing with renewables is small modular reactors, but despite political support their future looks bleak, writes Paul Brown. On both sides of the Atlantic billions of dollars are being poured into developing small modular reactors. But it seems increasingly unlikely that they … [Continue Reading]
How rapidly can we transition to 100% renewable electricity?
Science tells us that, to avoid devastating climate change, we must rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero. How fast is possible, asks Mark Diesendorf of the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. He believes the sceptics may be wrong. This article focuses on the … [Continue Reading]
The nuclear option and rising levels of anxiety
Danger of coastal flooding might make sensible people think twice about building houses in vulnerable places, let alone nuclear power stations Back in 2012 a document obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed that the Environment Agency was warning that 12 out of the UK’s 19 nuclear sites were … [Continue Reading]
The unholy alliance that explains why renewable energy is trouncing nuclear
If recent trends continue for another two years, the global share of electricity from renewables excluding hydropower will overtake nuclear for the first time. Even 20 years ago, this nuclear decline would have greatly surprised many people – particularly now that reducing carbon emissions is at the top of the … [Continue Reading]
EdF’s Latest Nuclear Bullshit
It’s not often that nuclear matters make me laugh out loud. But yesterday provided one such occasion, on reading of the latest announcement from EdF that a new ‘optimised reactor’ would be unveiled in 2020 at roughly half the price (£5.3bn) of the reactors currently under construction at Hinckley Point … [Continue Reading]