| The current support for next
generation nuclear plants means
the most likely outcome will be
that privately led consortiums will
replace the existing ageing nuclear
plants with more advanced technology.
Over the next 15-20 years
the share of nuclear in UK electricity
generation will recover to their long
term historic levels of about 20 per cent.“Theissue is now not if, but
when. But there are still multiple
challenges ahead, not the least of
which is finding the construction
capacity and engineering skills at
a time when the UK is developing a
number of other significant infrastructure projects
from the Olympics
to Crossrail,” says Spelman.
“The new nuclear programme will
not be operational until the 2020’s.
Although the UK Government has
Moved to plug a big gap in capacity
In 2020 it still needs to produce a convincing energy programme
That can be delivered for the next
decade,otherwise the UK will be left
dependent on ambitious renewable
programmes or imported gas.”
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