New generation of nuclear in doubt

Ambitious plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations across Britain will fail because of a lack of skills and funding, engineers have warned.

By Louise GrayPublished: 7:30AM GMT 10 Mar 2010

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMech) said the UK needs to have the first new nuclear power stations up and running by the end of this decade to avoid the lights going out.
However a lack of skilled engineers, delays in the planning process and a shortage in funds mean the building programme is in danger of stalling.
IMech called on ministers to invest in training programmes for nuclear engineers and speed up planning by identifying areas where power stations could be built.
Taxpayers will have to effectively provide a subsidy for the industry by either guaranteeing loans to the nuclear industry or setting a minimum price for carbon.
However a seminar of environment and industry experts meeting in Westminster will question whether the new generation of nuclear should go ahead.
Ministers want up to 11 new nuclear power stations to be built in Britain over the next 15 years in order to provide energy and cut carbon emissions.
But each power stations will cost up to £5 billion and need up a workforce of up to 10,000. In the past the planning process has dragged on for years.
The IMech report calls for a “floor price” for the carbon permit that coal and gas generators have to buy to cover their emissions, this would make nuclear more competitive but ultimately the extra cost for fossil fuels over the short term will be passed onto energy bills. Alternatively a loan guarantee would encourage investment in nuclear but would mean the taxpayers pay if Government has to bail the industry out.
Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at IMech, said energy bills will need to rise to pay for new energy sources over the next decade and nuclear is among the cheaper options.
"For the nuclear energy sector to have the confidence to invest tens of billions in new plants or technologies, it will need strong and binding commitment, delivered in actions that will last," he said.
However Dr Paul Dorfman, an expert on nuclear at Warwick University and former government adviser, said nuclear will provide only four per cent of total energy – and could cost billions to clear up.
"The key problem is locking in vast amounts of money at a time when the public purse is running short of cash into one particular essentially high risk technology at the risk of endangering other more sustainable technologies."