Nuclear is not only way ahead - chiefs

Apr 18 2008 Evening Gazette

NUCLEAR power will not provide an all-encompassing solution to the UK’s fuel crisis, say Teesside energy chiefs.

That was the key conclusion of a lively debate on the future of British nuclear energy, hosted yesterday at Crathorne Hotel, near Yarm, by the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), David Orr.

Despite backing government proposals to build the next generation of nuclear power stations - one of which may be Hartlepool - delegates said investment in energy-saving efficiencies, such as carbon capture and waste storage technologies, should be a crucial part of the strategy to tackle climate change.

And they said Teesside was well placed to take advantage of supply chain opportunities provided by these efficiencies.

Design and engineering consultancy firm Scott Wilson, which has an office in Middlesbrough, is involved in carbon footprint and efficiency projects in India.

Regional director Steve Metcalfe said: “Nuclear power may have a role to play in serving our energy needs, but it won’t be the only solution. Energy-efficiency projects are resulting in a skills transfer between the UK and countries such as China and India.

“There is an argument for taking money earmarked for new nuclear power stations and distributing it to local authorities and housing associations to invest in energy-saving programmes for their existing housing stock.”

David Wood, regional managing director, North-east, of Stockton-based consultancy White Young Green, added: “We cannot dismiss nuclear power as some industries need major amounts of electricity to power machinery. However, it’s clear that we need to look across the entire energy spectrum to address the green agenda.”

The event took the form of a debate between keynote speakers Lawrie Haynes, the former chief executive of British Nuclear Fuels, and Chris Haine, from the Green Party.

Mr Haynes admitted that the conservation of energy is as important as its supply, but added that Teesside could not ignore an estimated £20bn of business opportunities provided by new nuclear stations.

He added: “It’s an opportunity for the region to step in and fill the skills vacuum. Wind and solar energy cannot by themselves cater for the world’s energy needs.”

But Mr Haine said that nuclear power was “largely an irrelevance” to the global energy crisis. He said: “Nuclear power implies that a major technological fix is all that’s required. We need to control the energy we currently use.”

Mr Orr, who hosted the event during a two-day visit to the region, called for the simplification of the planning process surrounding nuclear power stations. He said: “It is not uncommon for it to take 10 years from the ministerial announcement to the first stage of construction”.