United
Kingdom possesses 16 reactors that generate one sixth of the country’s power
and no new nuclear plants were constructed in the recent years. The country has
decided to decommission the existing nuclear fleet over the next few years as
the maintenance cost is increasing drastically. UK government subsidies and
support were always a part of the nuclear industry since initiation. The
government provides waste disposal services for spent fuel and
intermediate-level nuclear wastes. It was observed that there is an increasing
construction cost of nuclear storage facilities due to many uncertainties
associated with the costs of waste disposal.
The
cost of clean-up from nuclear accidents is majorly covered by the government.
However, the probability of any nuclear accident is very difficult to calculate
because the modern reactors are often claimed to be safer than previous
generation reactors. The government’s nuclear power subsidies in the United
Kingdom represents an enormous opportunity cost, shaping the country’s energy
system for several generations and preventing the country from investing in
other renewable energy technologies. All the nuclear power plants are cost-effective,
reliable, low carbon electricity system which supports the country’s needs to
secure its prosperity. The leading companies in the United Kingdom’s nuclear
power are NuGeneration Ltd, Horizon Nuclear Power, EDF Energy Nuclear
Generation Group Limited, and China General Nuclear Power Corp.
According
to the study “Nuclear
Power in United Kingdom, Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2018-Capacity,
Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles”, United Kingdom may enter a new phase of
nuclear power development in the next few years because nuclear energy
production is expected to increase by one third more than the current
production by the year 2035. UK has a total of 15 operational nuclear reactors
at seven established plants with 14 advanced gas-cooled reactors, one pressurised
water reactor and one nuclear reprocessing plant. Life-extensions in the
advanced gas-cooled reactors are carried out to enhance more nuclear power
production.
UK
has announced that they would withdraw the development of new nuclear power
plants in view of creating low carbon economy. The national survey on UK’s
nuclear energy issues was found to be relatively low because majority of them
preferred renewable energy over nuclear energy. Leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma cases were discovered in population residing near nuclear plants by
the United Kingdom Committe on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment.
Therefore, there is a huge demand for wind power compared to the nuclear
energy.
Earthquakes
are relatively frequent in UK at a magnitude less than 6.5 but do not cause any
destruction to the well-constructed nuclear structures. UK will expect extreme
climatic conditions but less of tsunamis according to Energy and Climate Change
Select Committee. The majority of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are
generated from production and consumption of any source of energy such as
driving cars, manufacturing goods or simply boiling a kettle. Majority of the
UK population are keen to meet the carbon targets by becoming energy efficient
and by switching to low-carbon fuels. More than fifty percent of the UK
population are supporting nuclear power combined with renewable technologies
along with energy policy and the rest of the population is expecting power from
renewable resources in the next 15 years.
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Ankur
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