Huddersfield University academic backs nuclear power plan

Nov 12 2009 By Hazel Ettienne

NUCLEAR power is the only way to meet global demand for electricity, an academic claims.

Professor Robert Cywinski, Dean of Applied Sciences at Huddersfield University, said: “ Nuclear Power is the only source of baseload electricity which is capable of both meeting global energy demands and truly mitigating against the risks of climate change.”

But he warns that within 15 years, all but one of the reactors in the UK’s nuclear fleet will have reached the end of its operational life.

Prof Cywinski spoke out after the government’s announcement this week of 10 sites where new power stations could be built – with the first set to be operational by only 2018.

By 2025 nuclear electricity generation could amount to around 40% of new energy provision.

Professor Cywinski says nuclear energy has a low carbon footprint, so does not contribute heavily to climate change.

Nuclear currently produces 30% of electricity in Germany and 20% in the UK, compared with 78% in France.

“But the UK’s 2008 Energy White Paper recognised that more should be done to promote and deliver nuclear power, nationally and globally,” said Prof Cywinski

“If more is not done this crucial technology will fail to realise its potential as a practical and timely option for deployment on any scale that will contribute to our efforts to meet carbon reduction targets.