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The Lights Are Going Out ...

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sunny-dave | 07:32 Wed 03rd Sep 2014 | News
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The first straw in the wind :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29038804

Successive Governments have bottled out of commissioning new Nuclear Power Stations, which are the only feasible answer to providing long-term energy security for the UK.

So now the chickens are starting to come home to roost as the elderly fossil fuel plants start to fail, the geriatric nuclear plants reach the end of their life and the 'renewable' sector is hopelessly off the pace (forever?).

I'm buying candles, logs and bottled gas ... I suggest you do the same.
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This is extremely sad news. WE need more nuclear power stations and we need them tomorrow. Very short-sighted way to plan for the future. Completely daft !
If people try to conserve power in their own homes instead of taking it for granted it might also help even if only a little!
We could all start by turning our heating off (see current posts in CB)
Never mind you can heat your house with a candle in a flower pot or a compost heap (allegedly).
Ric.ror...you are correct...I saw that post this morning and it just made me angry. Central Heating on, in early September ? Ridiculous !
The UK Is surrounded by power but can not find a way to use it.
80% of the electricity in France has been supplied by nuclear power for decades. It was only because the coal miners needed a reason to dig coal that there are not more nuclear power stations in the UK. Cowardly polititians of all colours are to blame.
Personally I'd rather have a candle than live near Fukishima.
who's putting their heating on! please you have to be joking! I never put mine on before Nov 1st and usually not even then.

Yes Dave, the eco warriors have terrified the last few goverenments into not building and maintaing Nuclear power, big mistake. Still the froggies have plenty for sale, at a price. What amazes me is that you'd think the tree huggers would love nuclear power, I thought it was fossil fuels they hate. What's their answer, "renewable" I suppose but that is very very expensive and doesn't provide enough anyway. Perhaps they can find a way to harness the latent energy of a lentil or something.

We need to start renovating and building lots of nuclear power stations pronto!
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I agree entirely about the need to reduce consumption - both in commerce and the home.

If I wasn't so sure that people would find ways to 'beat the system', I'd suggest a domestic energy allowance per person - which would be priced much lower than current rates (so alleviating fuel poverty) but then with a huge hike in price if you wanted to use more than the basic allowance.
Good idea Dave.
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Kval :

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster has no confirmed casualties from radiation exposure.

The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR), released a report on the Fukushima accident April 2nd, 2014. It stated that the scientists have found no evidence to support the idea that the nuclear meltdown in Japan in 2011 will lead to an increase in cancer rates or birth defects.

http://www.unscear.org/unscear/en/fukushima.html

None of the workers at the plant have died from acute radiation poisoning.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/05/25/news/radiation-didnt-cause-fukushima-no-1-deaths-u-n/#.U2--DyiJvM0


Compare and contrast with the number of deaths per year in mining of fossil fuels and potential deaths from cold due to lack of heating as the 'power gap' widens.
The problem is right on noo labour, goaded by the wierdy bearded brigage (and many of labour were CND which meant they hate anything Nuclear) refused to build Nuclear and instead went off on a pipe dream of renewables. Many of us at the time - on this very site - pointed this out as a big mistake but were shouted down by the left. Nuclear was and clearly is the only answer in the immediate term, yes research renewable s and trial some but dont invest heavily because they just dont work and wont do for a generation (no pun intended)

Central heating on - odd but CH systems dont use much electricity, now high powered vacuums and kettles - ban the lot !!!

//Personally I'd rather have a candle than live near Fukishima.// Get your candle and go somewhere then. Anyone on the south coast is near a Nuclear station anyway - Ones belonging to the Frogs who will now rip us off.
Demand for electricity varies at different times of the day and night, with history demonstrating that between 5 and 7 is the biggest peak spike.
Over the years as successive Governments have failed to invest in new capacity, the spare margin between the maximum demand on the spike and the ability of the capacity to meet it has fallen, so the National Grid will have to pull the switch.
When that happens, it won't happen for hours on end, it will be for a couple of hours, at the Times indicated.

Me, I've bought a 2kW petrol generator which can be wired into the house network to cover this eventuality. The wiring is a simple job for an electrician. I commend others to do similar. Charity begins at home; you can't rely on Governments of any colour.
Demand for electricity varies at different times of the day and night, with history demonstrating that between 5 and 7 is the biggest peak spike.
Over the years as successive Governments have failed to invest in new capacity, the spare margin between the maximum demand on the spike and the ability of the capacity to meet it has fallen, so the National Grid will have to pull the switch.
When that happens, it won't happen for hours on end, it will be for a couple of hours, at the Times indicated.

Me, I've bought a 2kW petrol generator which can be wired into the house network to cover this eventuality. The wiring is a simple job for an electrician. I commend others to do similar. Charity begins at home; you can't rely on Governments of any colour.
if the government were to limit the speed of trains on the network, not only would it save electricity but it would better match the speed of the fastest trains to the slowest, effectively increasing the network capacity. At a stroke, the need for HS2 would evaporate and the government can use those billions to build more power stations.

everyone's a winner.
I'd suggest not making suggestions to kick folk for wanting to purchase what they feel they need. Politicians need little incentive to fleece the public more. But to discourage population increase which leads to increased demand. It may be longer term but it is the reasonable course of action. Until then a few nuclear stations helps to tide us over.
It is clear that successive Governments have under invested in the the UKs Energy infrastructure, but the conclusion that we should have built more Nuclear power stations is the wrong conclusion.

The big failure has been our half heated adoption of renewables in our Energy mix. Renewable enetgy is on these shores, we do not have to import it at vast cost. It does not leave our energy needs controled by the Russians, Saudi Arabia or South America. It is better for our environment, and yet we lag hopelessly behind.


Sweden
Renewables = 51%
Nuclear = 34%
Coal/Gas = 15%

UK
Renewables = 12%
Nuclear = 21%
Coal/Gas = 67%

Our renewables are a quarter of Swedens. Which means we are importing nearly 70% of our energy from sources abroad.
And it is very silly to blame Labour for our present situation.

The last Nuclear Power plant was commissioned in 1987. The Conservatives had another 10 years in power and commissioned no new Nuclear power stations.
Likewise, the present Conservative lead Government have also commissioned no Nuclear Power stations.

In 2010, private firms were given permission to build new plants, but none have been built because Nuclear is not viable without massive subsidy from the tax payer.
Yep, no money left for the current incumbents; your beloved labour spent the lot on right-on projects such as multi-culturism that has backfired so miserably.

It is also no point in comparing one country with another, you need to compare many comparable counties to get anything meaning full

For France

Apprx
75% Nuclear
11% Hydro
4 % Coal
3.5 % Gas
3.5% solar/wind
1% bio

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