UK Nuclear Industry Association chief criticises emissions rise
"Nuclear power must be at the heart of the battle against climate change and central to the UK's emissions targets", said industry chief Keith Parker, after figures show emissions rising."Nuclear power must be at the heart of the battle against climate change and central to the UK's emissions targets," said industry chief Keith Parker, after figures showed emissions rising.
Parker, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said that it was "time to re-assess our energy mix and ensure that nuclear is retained as a major part of our energy future. It is vital we recognise that nuclear is our only large-scale source of low-carbon electricity. It is clean, reliable and not subject to massive price hikes. It is part of the solution when it comes to climate change and these new figures bear that out."
Parker made his comments after UK government figures showed that carbon dioxide emissions rose by 1.25%. This was largely due to an increased reliance on coal-fired generation, which has become more economical as a result of high gas prices. Carbon dioxide emissions are now only 5.25% below 1990 levels, making the government's own target of a 20% reduction by 2010 seem extremely unlikely.
Greenhouse gas emissions for 2006 were 15% below 1990 levels, up 0.5% from 2005, still well within the UK's 12.5% target under the Kyoto Protocol.
The more positive outlook for coal was reflected by an announcement earlier in March by RWE npower. It intends to build the first new UK coal-fired power plant for 20 years. The 1600 MWe plant would emit 20% less carbon dioxide than the current generation of coal-fired power plants, but this is still substantially more than most gas-fired power plants.
Further information
Nuclear Industry Association
Defra News Release detailing provisional emissions data
WNA's Nuclear Power in the United Kingdom information paper
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