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Power and energy priorities must include the nuclear option

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Published Date: 18 February 2009
By Azeem Ibrahim
Research Fellow at International Security Programme, Harvard University
IMAGINE you're sitting at home one evening when the lights go out. You feel your way to the fusebox, but that's not the problem. You scrabble around and find a torch. You can see where you're going, but that won't light the whole house. You dig out some old candles, but they only give you small pools of gentle light. Maybe you can get by for a while, but neither the torch nor the candles gives you enough light to live by.
We all rely on having enough light to live by, and in the same way, we all rely on having enough energy to live by. For the past few centuries, that hasn't been a problem; we have been able to convert oil, coal, and gas into energy without worrying a...



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  • Last Updated: 17 February 2009 9:07 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Cisco2007,

Livingston 18/02/2009 02:07:04
Salmond and the SNP have got the nuclear debate totally wrong. There is no way renewables will be enough to power Scotland. As the author points out a combination of nuclear and renewables is the only answer in the long term.
2

nabodican,

Rural Scotland 18/02/2009 08:27:10
Only if renewables ie wind can exist without the enormous subsidies it presently gets.
3

bill-alba,

fife 18/02/2009 18:01:38
nuclear not wanted or needed I think the papers and tv are trying to get us used to nuclear power over the wishes of the Scottish Parliament who voted overwhelmingly not to go down the nuclear route but of course westminster and the pro nuclear power won't listen when they are informed of Scotlands wishes. I wonder if nuclear can exist without the huge huge costs involved.
4

Institute of Asian Professionals,

Edinburgh, UK 18/02/2009 19:27:38
Houston, we have a problem…..

It just does not add up according to this article. Renewables are only part of the solution and as Professor Azeem Ibrahim correctly points out - we need to face the facts!

The energy gap created by the retirement of older nuclear and coal plants is likely to bite much earlier than in 2016. God only knows what the state of affairs will be in 2020.

Energy prices in the UK have risen faster than in other countries recently. This ‘energy crunch’ has already had social and economic effects. Infact, we already have an energy crisis. Measuring CO2 emmisions is not going to save the world. We need to spend more on power stations and gas storage sites. Also, provide businesses with the incentive to invest in infrastructure. Try FDI...

UK Governments and energy experts need to accept the facts. Surely, this has to be a high priority on any agenda.

Why isn’t The Scottish Government utilising Azeem Ibrahim?

We need to use our time wisely and act quickly for the benefit of all humankind.

A Time for Action!!

 

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