Britain expands nuclear to cut emissions
The British government unveiled a groundbreaking initiative on Monday to dramatically increase Great Britain’s production of nuclear energy, reports the Washington Post. British Energy Secretary Edward Miliband announced the government’s plans to spur construction of 10 new nuclear plants in the next decade.
After years of resistance to construction of nuclear-power plants, the British plan underscored how nations around the world are scrambling to find ways to generate more energy while slashing the emissions that cause climate change. To do that, nations including the United States are considering more reliance on nuclear power, which… produces almost no carbon emissions.”
Great Britain currently produces roughly 15% of its electricity supply from nuclear power, and in announcing plans to bolster its nuclear sector will follow in the footsteps of countries like France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan and South Korea who have pioneered the use of nuclear power as a way to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change. In reinvigorating its previously defunct nuclear industry, Great Britain joins the ranks of countries like the United States, Italy, China, Abu Dhabi and Belgium – which are all undertaking similar nuclear renaissances as a solution to global warming.
France leads the world in nuclear production, generating nearly 80% of its electricity from nuclear power. Switzerland and Sweden each derive roughly 40% of their electricity from nuclear energy, while Germany, Japan and South Korea rely on nuclear for 30%-35% of their power supply. The British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, hopes the new policy will augment Great Britain’s nuclear generation to 35%-40% of its power supply by 2030.
Nuclear energy produces virtually zero carbon emissions and is a less expensive and land-intensive alternative to other clean energy sources such as wind and solar power.
