Despite nuclear power’s shaky reputation, it could play an important role, alongside renewables, in decarbonising energy systems. Will its reputation hold it back or do we need nuclear? Nuclear and renewables, while both key parts of the effort towards decarbonisation, are often seen as being at cross purposes, predominantly due to ideological disagreements and issues over nuclear waste. But a partnership between the two would go much further towards meeting emission reduction goals, argued Energy for Humanity (EfH) co-founder and executive director Kirsty Gogan in her presentation ‘Why We Need Nuclear Power’ at the 4thWorld Nuclear New Build Congress in London.
Power Technology 14th Sept 2017 read more »
The nuclear power industry, under pressure economically, is arguing that it deserves government support because it is essential for “national security”, notes Jim Green, editor of the Nuclear Monitor newsletter. Green explains why he finds this argument disingenuous and unconvincing. The nuclear power industry has long maintained that it has no connection whatsoever to nuclear weapons proliferation. This argument was always based on lies and half-truths. Ironically, the nuclear industry is now admitting they were not telling the whole truth. Its proponents are arguing it deserves public support precisely because it is essential for national security reasons! Some of them are adding a peculiar twist to their argument: they are saying that a strong nuclear power sector needs to be maintained in western countries so that they can maintain a capability to constrain the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Energy Collective 13th September 2017 read more »
