UK urged to triple nuclear power
Posted: 08 Aug 2009, 16:36
The Ecologist - 07/08/09
Gordon Brown has been told to triple the contribution of nuclear to electricity generation to prevent an over-reliance on imported oil and gas supplies.
A report by former energy minister Malcolm Wicks recommended that nuclear power should provide 35-40 per cent of the UK's electricity needs after 2030.
Its contribution has halved since the 1990s and now provides around 12.5 per cent of the UK's electricity demand.
Mr Wicks said the UK was becoming increasingly reliant on imports, particularly oil and gas, to meet its energy demands.
'Nuclear power is a proven, large-scale, low-carbon way to generate electricity,' said Wicks. 'To enhance energy security and reduce our reliance on imports, a range between, say, 35-40 per cent of electricity from nuclear could be a sensible aspiration beyond 2030.'
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