Research claims nuclear power could help to reduce emissions

The research into the sustainability of nuclear and other electricity options in the UK shows that nuclear power could make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 2035. However, the report suggests that would require a huge expansion of nuclear, constituting 35 per cent of the electricity mix by 2035, almost double the current contribution. Given that most current nuclear power stations are due to close in this period, this scenario seems unfeasible, the authors claim.



At the same time, they say in a statement that expansion of nuclear power would worsen other sustainability aspects, including depletion of natural resources, ozone-layer depletion, toxicity and health impacts from radiation.



The findings come from the SPRIng research consortium led by Prof Adisa Azapagic at Manchester University. SPRIng looks at the techno-economic, environmental, social and ethical sustainability of nuclear power in the UK.



The SPRIng report also shows that if energy consumption can be reduced significantly, nuclear power is not essential for meeting UK climate-change targets.