UK Sticks With Nuclear Power 334
Coisiche writes "Despite recent events in Japan and the certain public outcry that it will generate, the UK government proposes to build new nuclear power stations. Well, earthquakes and tsunamis are very rare here."
Not a problem (Score:5, Informative)
Well, earthquakes and tsunamis are very rare here
A serious understatement. While the UK does have the very occasional tremor, they're so minor that nothing more than a single roof tile has ever moved*. There are no active volcanoes. And hurricanes/tornadoes/etc are extremely rare.
The UK must be one of the best places to build nuclear reactors.
* I'm just assuming this. The point is that they are incredibly minor compared to earthquakes experienced by most other countries.
Re:But what about the waste? (Score:3, Informative)
The UK reprocesses spent fuel so there's a lot less waste to start off with.
In any case, too much CO2 in the air remains harmful for thousands of years. However, the nuclear waste is all in a concentrated, known location instead of being spread around the world resulting in a global problem.
Re:But what about the waste? (Score:2, Informative)
I'm sorry, you must have misread, they plan on building NEW reactors. You know like the type that could say, run on waste, or the type that generate very little waste at all, our the type that generates waste that remains radioactive for decades not centuries.
Failing that, if the do decide to build a soviet era reactor and shun 40 years of technical progress, the UK has existing very nasty reactors and along with it an existing waste management strategy, be it dump it in the ground, our sell it to someone who will.
Re:But what about the waste? (Score:5, Informative)
You mean you drop it into the ocean [wikipedia.org].
Re:Death per kwh? (Score:5, Informative)
Why don't you ask your favourite search engine? This was the top hit for me. [nextbigfuture.com] The important data (deaths per TWh):
So, Nuclear power is 3-4 times safer than wind, and twice as safe as hydro-electric.
Re:Obvious (Score:5, Informative)
Had a look at a topographical map of Norway lately? Now, compare it to one of the UK.
Hydro power doesn't work everywhere in the world.
-jcr
Not to mention the fact that the UK has 15.25 times the population of Norway.
Re:Good! (Score:5, Informative)
Sure we invest in wind farms and tidal generators. I work for a company that has designed and is building a tidal turbine, and I've heard talk about wind energy projects. I still think it's important to continue with nuclear as well. I'm glad that our government doesn't seem as dumb and panicky as certain others.
Re:Obvious (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Obvious (Score:4, Informative)
The world could aim for 80% wind power if wind towers produced baseload power
Are you sure about that?
According to this [straightdope.com] (scroll down to the list of power sources), building wind turbines in all the locations where they generate sufficient power would produce a grand total of 2.1 terawatts, globally. Which is a lot of power - don't get me wrong, it's totally worth building them to get that energy. But it's nowhere near the 13.5 terawatts needed circa 2002 (the article cites a 2006 paper), or the projected 28-35 terawatts needed by the midcentury (all figures from the same article, feel free to provide counter citations if my source is incorrect or biased).
I don't think we can aim for 80% wind power even if we had the ability to combat intermittency.