A pricing record for offshore wind this month won’t change Britain’s nuclear plans, government sources confirmed. “We need a diverse energy mix to ensure that demand for energy can always be met, and both nuclear and renewables will play an important role in this for many years to come,” a spokesperson for the U.K. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said. The statement follows widespread speculation about the future of the U.K.’s new nuclear program in the wake of an auction that saw offshore wind prices drop to just £57.50 (USD $76.34) per megawatt-hour. That’s almost 38 percent below what the U.K. government has agreed to pay for nuclear generation at Hinkley Point C, a contentious 3.2-gigawatt plant slated for construction in Somerset, southwest England. Caught off-guard by the auction result, the nuclear industry hit back against the narrative. “Reading about how offshore wind is now cheaper than gas and nuclear, you could easily say we should build more offshore wind turbines, turn off the gas taps and tear up the U.K.’s nuclear new build plans,” said Nuclear Industry Association chief Tom Greatrex in a blog post. “But if you care to delve a little further into the subject, then it becomes clear that one technology can’t deliver the U.K.’s future energy needs alone. The U.K. will need the full range of low-carbon technologies to replace ageing infrastructure.” David Hess, communication manager for the London-based World Nuclear Association, said policymakers should look to support nuclear as well as offshore wind. “The falling price of offshore wind is fantastic news for climate action and the U.K. public, as well as a great example of what a sustained policy commitment can achieve,” he said. “It means that the country really has a decent shot at decarbonizing its grid, as long as it sticks with its nuclear new-build program. New nuclear provides a clean, flexible base, making it an ideal partner for renewables.” If the government supported offshore wind when prices were high, it should do the same for nuclear, said Hess. “Now is not the time to forget the value of a diverse, low-carbon mix.”
Green Tech Media 29th Sept 2017 read more »
