Nuclear Power in Nuclear Power in the U.K.the U.K.

Fiona CassidyFiona Cassidy

Nuclear Power in the U.K.Nuclear Power in the U.K.

Nuclear power is back on the British Nuclear power is back on the British Political AgendaPolitical Agenda

Why?Why?

• U.K has 19 reactors generating 1/5 of it’s U.K has 19 reactors generating 1/5 of it’s electricityelectricity

• By 2023 all will be decommissionedBy 2023 all will be decommissioned

HistoryHistory

• 19531953 Government approve construction of Government approve construction of 11stst reactors at reactors at Calder Hall.Calder Hall.

• 19561956 Suez crisis accentuated concerns about shortage Suez crisis accentuated concerns about shortage of of oil & coal – Nuclear Programme trebledoil & coal – Nuclear Programme trebled

• Pre 1980’sPre 1980’s U.K. government policy to increase U.K. government policy to increase percentage of percentage of nuclear power providing nuclear power providing electricityelectricity

• 19881988 Cost uncertainties leads to halt in reactor Cost uncertainties leads to halt in reactor productionproduction

• 19891989 Electricity system privatisedElectricity system privatised• 19961996 All nuclear power plants apart from one All nuclear power plants apart from one

transferred transferred to private sector, British to private sector, British EnergyEnergy

LocationsLocations

Note:Note:

U.K. stations areU.K. stations are

Located by the coastLocated by the coast

As the sea is used as a As the sea is used as a

Natural coolant for theNatural coolant for the

reactorreactor

Decommissioning Time ScaleDecommissioning Time Scale

Nuclear power production in the U.K. is already Nuclear power production in the U.K. is already decreasingdecreasing

Nuclear Reactor CommissionsNuclear Reactor Commissions

No new reactors have been built since the 1980’sNo new reactors have been built since the 1980’s

Why? – weakened political and public enthusiasm Why? – weakened political and public enthusiasm due to:due to: Number of accidentsNumber of accidents Spiralling decommissioning costsSpiralling decommissioning costs Unsolved problem of nuclear waste storageUnsolved problem of nuclear waste storage

Why the renewed interest now?Why the renewed interest now? Soaring oil and gas pricesSoaring oil and gas prices Dwindling domestic fossil fuel reservesDwindling domestic fossil fuel reserves Pressure to tackle climate changePressure to tackle climate change

Nuclear WasteNuclear WasteOne of the biggest problems the nuclear One of the biggest problems the nuclear

industry facesindustry faces

Greatest concernGreatest concern• small proportion of nuclear waste that is “high level small proportion of nuclear waste that is “high level

waste”waste”

High Level WasteHigh Level Waste• Waste so radioactive that it generates heat & Waste so radioactive that it generates heat &

corrodes all containers.corrodes all containers.• Would cause death within a few days to any one Would cause death within a few days to any one

directly exposed to it.directly exposed to it.• In U.K. accounts for less than 0.3% of total volume of In U.K. accounts for less than 0.3% of total volume of

nuclear wastenuclear waste• Accounts for ½ the total radioactivityAccounts for ½ the total radioactivity

Nuclear WasteNuclear WasteSolutionSolution• No country has implemented a long term solution to No country has implemented a long term solution to

this problemthis problem• Finland & U.S. plan to build repositories deep

underground• This solution is under consideration in the U.K.

Nuclear WasteNuclear Waste

U.K. Nuclear Waste & FuelsU.K. Nuclear Waste & Fuels11 High Level WasteHigh Level Waste

Waste from reprocessing spent fuelWaste from reprocessing spent fuel

22 Spent FuelSpent FuelMix of uranium, plutonium & fission Mix of uranium, plutonium & fission productsproducts

33 PlutoniumPlutoniumRadioactive element, by-product of Radioactive element, by-product of uranium fission. Can be used in bombsuranium fission. Can be used in bombs

44 Intermediate WastesIntermediate WastesNuclear fuel casing, reactor Nuclear fuel casing, reactor components, sludge'scomponents, sludge's

55 UraniumUraniumRadioactive element used as reactor Radioactive element used as reactor fuelfuel

Nuclear WasteNuclear Waste

If U.K. reactors all operate to their current If U.K. reactors all operate to their current shutdown dates & no more are built estimated;shutdown dates & no more are built estimated;

• 36,590m36,590m22 of high level waste of high level waste• Equivalent of 14 Olympic sized swimming pools!Equivalent of 14 Olympic sized swimming pools!

Low level wasteLow level waste• Stored in sealed concrete vaults in a purpose built Stored in sealed concrete vaults in a purpose built

store in Drigg, Cumbriastore in Drigg, Cumbria• Currently holds 960,000mCurrently holds 960,000m33

• Equivalent of 384 Olympic swimming pools of wasteEquivalent of 384 Olympic swimming pools of waste

CostCostEstimates vary considerablyEstimates vary considerably• Several organisations have tries to price kilowatt Several organisations have tries to price kilowatt

hour (kWh) of electricity generated by nuclear powerhour (kWh) of electricity generated by nuclear power• Prices include cost of building, running & Prices include cost of building, running &

decommissioning the power stationsdecommissioning the power stations

• 2002 government report – power from Sizewell B 2002 government report – power from Sizewell B cost 6p/kWhcost 6p/kWh

• Estimated 2020 – 3-4p/kWhEstimated 2020 – 3-4p/kWh

CostCost

Series of costs are difficult to quantifySeries 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 highAdditional Considerations• Insurance – potential accidents are

difficult to quantify• Long term disposal – no definite

solution hence impossible to budget

Alternative Sources of EnergyAlternative Sources of Energy

GasGas 40%40%

CoalCoal 33%33%

NuclearNuclear 20%20%

HydroHydro 2%2%

Landfill gasLandfill gas1.2%1.2%

OilOil 1.2%1.2%

Bio fuelsBio fuels 0.6%0.6%

WindWind 0.5%0.5%

SolarSolar 0.1%0.1%

Wave & TidalWave & Tidal0.5%0.5%

Changing OpinionsChanging Opinions

Nuclear Power:Nuclear Power: Increased popularity again Increased popularity again due to:due to:

• Souring oil, gas and coal pricesSouring oil, gas and coal prices• More cost effective when a financial value is put More cost effective when a financial value is put

on COon CO22 emissions emissions

• Nuclear reactor has no emissions of green house Nuclear reactor has no emissions of green house gasesgases

• Even when considering emissions from uranium, Even when considering emissions from uranium, building stations still much lower than fossil fuel building stations still much lower than fossil fuel burningburning

Future PlansFuture Plans

Last nuclear power plant built in U.K – Sizewell BLast nuclear power plant built in U.K – Sizewell B

• 15 years from proposal to electrical production15 years from proposal to electrical production• Cost two times original budgetCost two times original budget• Plans for a further 9 reactors of similar design Plans for a further 9 reactors of similar design

were abandonedwere abandoned

Therefore people are cautious about future Therefore people are cautious about future reactorsreactors

Future PlansFuture Plans

Friends of the Earth – their opinion:Friends of the Earth – their opinion:• Doubling Britain’s nuclear capacity ultimately Doubling Britain’s nuclear capacity ultimately

requires 28 new power stationsrequires 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 Nuclear power has had 30 years of subsides, billions of dollars poured into it & it still only produces 7% of dollars poured into it & it still only produces 7%

of the world’s energy”of the world’s energy”

““We have got to find another way of doing it”We have got to find another way of doing it”

AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER DEVELOPMENTAGAINST NUCLEAR POWER DEVELOPMENT

Future PlansFuture Plans

Nuclear Industry Association – their opinionNuclear Industry Association – their opinion

If government decisions are taken quickly enough a If government decisions are taken quickly enough a new generation of nuclear power station could be new generation of nuclear power station could be ready to help Britain achieve its target of 10% ready to help Britain achieve its target of 10% cut in emissions by 2020cut in emissions by 2020

If measures were taken to streamline procedures at If measures were taken to streamline procedures at the beginning around licensing, regulation & the the beginning around licensing, regulation & the planning systemplanning system

10 new stations could be running in 10 years time10 new stations could be running in 10 years time

Future PlansFuture Plans

However……….However……….

With still no practical method with dealing with the With still no practical method with dealing with the waste;waste;

Do we really want more waste that we don’t know what to do Do we really want more waste that we don’t know what to do with?with?

• Britain's 6 biggest energy firms now have to source an Britain's 6 biggest energy firms now have to source an increased proportion of energy from renewable sources increased proportion of energy from renewable sources each yeareach year

• Analysis concludes that wind, on & offshore, will form a Analysis concludes that wind, on & offshore, will form a bulk of that 10% due to its technical maturitybulk of that 10% due to its technical maturity

ConclusionConclusion

The future of the U.K. nuclear energy production is The future of the U.K. nuclear energy production is still unclear.still unclear.

Friends of the Earth feels the solution lies in:Friends of the Earth feels the solution lies in:• Cleaning up existing coal & gas power stationsCleaning up existing coal & gas power stations• Perhaps by taking the COPerhaps by taking the CO22 out of emissions & out of emissions &

burying them deep undergroundburying them deep underground

However there is still a long way to go & until then However there is still a long way to go & until then all power sources must be considered:all power sources must be considered:

Fossil, nuclear & renewable energyFossil, nuclear & renewable energyin order to meet the demands of the country.in order to meet the demands of the country.