Archived press release

Nuclear power is not the answer

9 January 2008

Major renewables boost urgently needed

Building a new generation of nuclear power stations is not the answer to the UK's energy problems and will do little to help tackle climate change, Friends of the Earth warned today. The environmental campaign group said that the Government's focus on nuclear power is a distraction from developing real and sustainable solutions, such as a major programme of renewables and energy efficiency, and more efficient use of fossil fuels, including combined heat and Power (CHP). The Government is expected to give the go-ahead to a new generation of nuclear plants tomorrow (Thursday).

The Government is also due to publish its Energy Bill tomorrow. Friends of the Earth says that tackling climate must be a central aim of the bill and is calling for it to include measures to support a massive expansion in renewable energy (supplying at least 40 per cent of UK electricity by 2020) and the more efficient use of fossil fuels. These measures must also include all sectors of the economy, including the transport sector.

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper said:

“The decision to encourage the construction of new nuclear stations in the UK is both irrational and unfortunate. It is irrational because the economics do not stack up and because renewables and energy efficiency could meet our needs more quickly and sustainably. It is unfortunate because the nuclear option will limit our ability to lead in the exciting and fast growing new markets for modern energy sources. And that is bad news for the UK economy and jobs”.

“When we need leadership toward a green and sustainable economy we are being taken back to a failed technology that has cost us billions of pounds and bequeathed to future generations a legacy of lethal radioactive waste that will remain deadly for tens of thousands of years”.

“The UK could be a world leader in developing a low carbon economy, and the Energy Bill is a crucial opportunity to show how the Government intends to deliver it. Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces. If the Government is serious about tackling it we must stop tinkering in the margins put in place strong policies to support renewable energy. We need a revolution in the way we meet our energy needs.”

The environmental campaign group is also urging the Government to strengthen its climate change bill, which will set legally-binding targets for cutting UK carbon dioxide emissions. Friends of the Earth says that the bill must aim to reduce emissions by at least 80 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050 (with annual milestones to ensure that this happens) and include Britain's share of international aviation emissions. The campaign for a climate change bill has been led by Friends of the Earth through The Big Ask (www.thebigask.com)

Friends of the Earth is also concerned that the Planning Bill - which is currently before Parliament - will be used to fast track major infrastructure projects such as nuclear power stations and airports.

Nuclear power

Friends of the Earth says that the UK Government can tackle climate change, maintain energy security and keep the lights on by investing in clean, safe alternatives. The campaign group opposes a new generation of nuclear power stations.

• Britain can meet its energy needs, maintain energy security and tackle climate change through a comprehensive programme of renewables, energy efficiency, combined heat and power and cleaner carbon technology [1].

• Nuclear power is not the answer to tackling climate change. Replacing nuclear plants would only deliver around 4-5 per cent of UK energy consumption [2].

• NucIear power is expensive and leaves a legacy of deadly radioactive waste that remains dangerous for tens of thousands of years. After 50 years of civil nuclear power we still don't have a long-term strategy for dealing with the waste that has already been created. Furthermore, UK tax-payers are already committed to a bill of up to £70 billion to deal with our nuclear legacy [3] .

• A new nuclear programme would encourage other countries to go down the dangerous nuclear route, with potential implications for nuclear weapons proliferation.

• Building new nuclear plants would undermine renewable energy by steering investment away from them, and hinder the UK attempts to meet the EU target of 20% UK energy from renewable sources by 2020

• The Government's public consultation was a sham. In September last year, Friends of the Earth and other NGOs pulled out of the rushed public consultation on nuclear power. It failed to provide adequate information on the dangers of nuclear power or the alternatives available and Ministers had also already made up their minds in favour of nuclear power [4].

Energy Bill

Speaking at the Labour Party Conference last year, Gordon Brown said he wanted the UK to be “a world leader in energy and the environment from nuclear to renewables…” Friends of the Earth says that while the Government appears to be bending over backwards to force through nuclear energy, they are doing little to support renewable energy - despite being committed to the EU target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.

Currently only 2% of UK energy (and under 5% of UK electricity) comes from renewable sources. The Energy Bill must deliver a huge increase in UK renewable energy if it is to meet its share of the target of 20% of EU energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 (energy includes electricity, transport fuels and heat). This will require the UK to generate between 30 and 40% of its electricity from renewable sources. The UK has the one of the biggest potentials for wind power in the world. Reforms in the Energy White Paper will only see the UK reach 5% renewable energy and 15% renewable electricity by 2020

There must be much greater emphasis on ensuring much more efficient generation from fossil fuels. It is simply not acceptable for coal power stations to be constructed without waste heat used efficiently and without the potential for their carbon emissions to be captured. The Energy Bill should:

• Reform government's gas and electricity regulator, Ofgem so that its primary purpose is carbon emissions reduction and protection of consumers

• Legislate to give renewable electricity generators priority access to feed their power into the National Grid.

• Consent for new coal and gas stations must only be given if they make use of waste heat and capture carbon dioxide emissions.

• Give smaller scale renewable electricity producers (such as households, businesses and communities who invest in producing their own renewable electricity from say solar panels or wind turbines) a long term guaranteed premium price for the electricity they generate. This is known as a `feed-in tariff', and operates successfully in many European countries, especially Germany.

Planning Bill

Friends of the Earth is also concerned that the Government will use the Planning Reform Bill to fast track Major Infrastructure Projects (MIPs) such as nuclear power stations, without proper public consultation. Under the bill's proposals decisions on MIPs will be taken by an unelected and unaccountable body and local people will only be able to raise concerns in writing. Friends of the Earth is campaigning for fair representation and democratic accountability for these important decisions. The environmental charity is giving evidence to a House of Commons Committee later today (Thursday).

Notes

[1] Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generated less than 7% of UK electricity demand in 2006. By contrast Denmark generates around half of its electricity through fuel efficient CHP technologies.

A Friends of the Earth report by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research (September 2006) shows how Britain can create a low carbon, non-nuclear society:
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/carbon_budget.html

[2] Friends of the Earth also highlighted the fact that additional nuclear power stations will not help the government to reach the EU target of 20 per cent of UK energy being produced from renewable sources by 2020. The current level is around two percent and experts predict that for the UK to reach even nine percent would be enormously challenging under current energy policies.

[3] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4859980.stm

[4] www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/ ¬
friends_of_the_earth_pulls_07092007.html

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust