Hain urged to support Assembly's rejection of nuclear power

On the eve of the publication of the UK Government's Energy Review [1], Welsh Secretary Peter Hain is being urged to support the Welsh Assembly Government's rejection of nuclear power.

Last week Mr Hain appeared to modify his anti-nuclear stance when he stated that nuclear power stations might have to be built in Wales in order "to keep the lights on". This statement has been strongly rejected by Friends of the Earth Cymru who argue that nuclear power stations could not be built in time to fill an impending energy gap but that other measures, such as improved energy efficiency and renewable energy, could do so.

In a letter to Mr Hain (see below), Friends of the Earth Cymru points out that the energy minister, Malcolm Wicks, recently stated, in reply to a question from Jenny Willott MP, that Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey would almost certainly close in four years time. The reasons given by the minister were the age of the plant, safety concerns and the closure of the associated fuel reprocessing facilities.

The letter also refers to evidence presented by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee [2] that shows that it would take at least ten years, and quite possibly much longer, to build a new nuclear power station. This, states Friends of the Erath Cymru, rules out nuclear power as an option to plug an energy gap.

Friends of the Earth Cymru's Assembly Campaigner, Gordon James, said:

"The argument that Wylfa nuclear power station could be replaced by a new nuclear power station in time to fill an energy gap caused by its closure is simply wrong. As a new nuclear power station would take far too long to build, other sources of electricity generation would have to be found.

"There is a particular need to cater for the demands of Anglesey Aluminium after 2010. We believe that this demand could be met by a gas-fired combined heat and power plant on the Anglesey Aluminium site, marine current turbines off the Anglesey coast and offshore wind farms.

"The Environmental Audit Committee report reaches a similar conclusion, arguing that the energy gap during this period would have to be filled by new gas-fired power stations and a significant growth in renewable energy.

"Marine current turbines are being developed and are showing promising results. Three excellent sites have been identified for their deployment off the British coast, one of which is Carmel Head, which is only three miles from Wylfa. We believe that every effort should be made to encourage the development of this technology off the Anglesey coast with the possibility of structural funds being used to establish a manufacturing facility that could create jobs on the island."

Friends of the Earth Cymru welcome Mr Hain's strong support for a massive boost for renewable energy and refer him to a report produced by the organisation nationally which shows that the UK could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by over 50 per cent by 2020 without nuclear power [3].

Mr Hain, though, is asked to drop his support for the Severn Barrage proposal because of its destructive impact on important bird feeding areas and because it would take so long to build that it would not be able to contribute to Wales' carbon dioxide reduction targets for 2020. Instead, he is urged to examine tidal lagoons, which Friends of the Earth argue, could deliver carbon dioxide reductions much sooner and at less economic and environmental cost.

Friends of the Erath Cymru's letter concludes by saying:

"We urge you to stand up to arguments presented in favour of nuclear power in the Cabinet and to support the policy adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government to oppose new nuclear power stations in Wales. Nuclear power is a costly, hazardous and unnecessary form of electricity generation that cannot be built in time to plug any energy gap. The huge potential offered by renewable energy, cleaner coal technologies and energy efficiency must be the way forward for Wales."

Friends of the Earth Cymru has presented evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee's energy inquiry. This provides greater detail of their arguments in support of the Welsh Assembly Government's aim of Wales becoming 'a global showcase for clean energy developments and energy conservation'. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is expected to release its report later this month.

Notes

1. The UK Government's Energy Review is expected to be released on Tuesday, July 11th.

2. House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee report, 'Keeping the Lights On: Nuclear, Renewables and Climate Change' (April 2006). See: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/ ¬
cmselect/cmenvaud/584/58402.htm

3. 'Bright Future' see: www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/bright_future.pdf (PDF)

Peter Hain MP

Secretary of State for Wales

Dear Mr Hain,

As an organisation which has long supported your sceptical view of the value of nuclear power, we were disappointed to learn of your recent statement that a new nuclear power station might have to be built in Wales in order to "keep the lights on".

Aside from all the other problems of nuclear energy generation, we believe that this assertion is based on two false premises: that new nuclear stations could be built in time to fill an impending energy gap; and that other measures could not do so.

The only operating nuclear power station in Wales, Wylfa on Anglesey, is scheduled to close in 2010. On May 2nd this year, the Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, stated, in response to a question from Jenny Willott MP, that an extension to this plant is "highly unlikely". This is because of a number of factors, such as "the age of the plant, related safety concerns and the closure of associated fuel processing facilities at Sellafield".

As the closure of Wylfa in four years time seems inevitable, an alternative source of power will be required to replace its output. Nuclear power will not be able to fill this role as new nuclear plant would take too long to build.

This issue was recently examined by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee. Its report, 'Keeping the Lights On: Nuclear, Renewables and Climate Change' (April 2006), points out that, over the next ten years, nuclear power cannot contribute either to the need for more generating capacity or to carbon reductions as it could not be built in time. In paragraph 72 it states:

"The Secretary of State himself confirmed that it might currently take from 15 to 17 years before a new nuclear power station could become operational".

The argument that Wylfa nuclear power station could be replaced by a new nuclear power station in time to fill an energy gap caused by its closure is simply wrong. Other sources of electricity generation would have to be found, particularly to cater for the demands of Anglesey Aluminium, after 2010. We argue that this demand could be met by a gas-fired combined heat and power plant on the Anglesey Aluminium site, marine current turbines off the Anglesey coast and offshore wind farms.

The Environmental Audit Committee report reaches a similar conclusion, arguing that the energy gap during this period would have to be filled by new gas-fired power stations and a significant growth in renewable energy. The report can be found at:
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ ¬
cm200506/cmselect/cmenvaud/584/58402.htm

Marine current turbines are being developed and are showing promising results. Three excellent sites have been identified for their deployment off the British coast - Islay, the Isle of Wight and Carmel Head, which is only three miles from Wylfa. We believe that every effort should be made to encourage the development of this technology off the Anglesey coast with the possibility of structural funds being used to establish a manufacturing facility that would create a significant number of jobs on the island.

There is, in fact, no need to build nuclear power stations anywhere in the UK. Peer reviewed research, conducted for Friends of the Earth in the recent 'Bright Future' report, demonstrates that we could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector by between 48% and 71% % by 2020 without nuclear power. This would mean using a mix of demand management, efficient fossil fuel use and a large increase in renewable energy. The report can be found at
www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/bright_future.pdf (PDF)

We would also like to draw your attention to our submission to the Welsh Affairs Committee's energy inquiry in which we provide greater detail of our arguments in support of the Welsh Assembly Government achieving its aim of Wales becoming 'a global showcase for clean energy developments and energy conservation'

We welcome the fact that you are actively supporting a massive boost for renewable energy ahead of new nuclear build but cannot agree with your support for the Severn barrage proposal. This would destroy a vast inter-tidal area that provides food for 63,000 birds and is protected by European legislation because of its international importance. It is disputed whether the saving in carbon dioxide emissions will be fully reaped because of the huge cost in the construction and transportation of materials for the barrage. If housing, road links, commercial development and a new airport are built as part of the development, CO2 emissions will soar. The timescale of building such a project is vast - even if construction work began next year it would take up to 15 years before the Barrage was operating - this would mean it would not contribute to Wales's 2010 and 2020 carbon dioxide reduction targets. We believe that other options, such as tidal lagoons, would achieve greater carbon dioxide reductions sooner and at less environmental and economic cost. We urge you to give these fuller consideration.

We also believe that there is strong evidence to show that investment in new nuclear build will detract from investment in renewable energy and energy conservation. Catherine Mitchell, principal research fellow at Warwick University Business School, has investigated this issue. In the study, 'New Nuclear Power: implications for a sustainable energy system', she, and her co-author Bridget Woodman, conclude that new nuclear build will not contribute to the UK's energy policy goals but will actively limit the UK's ability to meet its climate change targets. The reasons for this are clearly outlined in the report's executive summary. The report can be found at:
www.green-alliance.org.uk/publications/ ¬
NewNuclearPowerRpt

We urge you to stand up to arguments presented in favour of nuclear power in the Cabinet and to support the policy adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government to oppose new nuclear power stations in Wales. Nuclear power is a costly, hazardous and unnecessary form of electricity generation that cannot be built in time to plug any energy gap. The huge potential offered by renewable energy, cleaner coal technologies and energy efficiency must be the way forward for Wales.

Yours sincerely

Gordon James

Assembly Campaigner

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.