New nuclear key to meeting net zero challenge

New nuclear power projects have a vital role to play in helping the UK meet its net zero targets, according to Sizewell C senior supply chain lead Steve Carroll.

Carroll told an I-Construct webinar last week that the industry is “in a unique position to contribute to tackling climate change”.

“Without new nuclear being part of the energy mix we don’t believe we can meet that 2050 challenge of the UK being carbon neutral,” he said.

“Building a nuclear power station produces electricity but it can be used for so much more. We want to use this as an opportunity to kickstart the hydrogen economy by building a demo electrolyser.

“Also a consortium led by Sizewell C has been awarded £250,000 by the government to develop plans for Direct Air Capture, a process which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and could be powered by the new nuclear power station proposed for Suffolk.”

Carroll also expressed support for “windfarms and alternative renewable methods of electricity” but said that “nuclear needs to play a part in providing that stable base load of operation”.

He added: “EDF owns 36 windfarms around the UK and one of the largest operational battery storage units in Europe.”

Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) head of analysis Jonathan Marshall has previously told NCE that a range of different energy schemes are likely to be needed to enable the UK to reach its ambitious climate targets.

“These targets are quite demanding so ruling out anything is probably a bad idea,” he said. “Having as much solar and wind as possible is useful but the different characteristics of nuclear mean it has benefits for the general energy mix.

“The targets do involve electrification of a lot of sectors so if the government is going to go for nuclear there is a need for the electricity from it.”

Progress with nuclear power schemes has been slow to date.

EDF is currently looking for backers for the £20bn Sizewell C scheme and is in negotiations with the government about taxpayer support, while Horizon Nuclear Power officially withdrew its planning application for the proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station on Anglesey in January.

ECIU analyst Jess Ralston has said the setbacks for Wylfa and Hinkley Point C’s recent cost rise has added to the “uncertainty” surrounding the funding of the nuclear industry.

The government has, however, said it is still very “keen” to find a developer for the Wylfa site.

It has also signalled that large nuclear power projects do have a future in the UK, with prime minister Boris Johnson backing them in his 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution before including nuclear developments in the Energy White Paper.

The 10 point plan also committed £525M “to help develop large and smaller-scale nuclear plants, and research and develop new advanced modular reactors”.

Source https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/new-nuclear-key-to-meeting-net-zero-challenge-18-06-2021/

Department of Civil Engineering https://www.ibu.edu.ba/department-of-civil-engineering/