Can environmental targets be met without nuclear energy? Address to the Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies, 24 November 1998

It is argued that provided economic and political considerations are ignored, then environmental targets with respect to carbon dioxide emissions in the UK can be met. The paper focuses on what can be achieved from an engineering aspect and uses government-published carbon dioxide projection figures as a basis for arguing its case. Some of the points discussed were (i) how UK carbon dioxide emissions will decline as gas replaces coal as a fuel; (ii) how changes in energy efficiency and changes in coal consumption will impact on the demands from nuclear and renewables; (iii) the decline of nuclear electricity between the years 2000 and 2010; (iii) advantages/disadvantages of renewables; (iv) cogeneration; (v) energy efficiency and (vi) how the electricity supply industry can help meet the carbon dioxide targets. The important conclusions were (a) the Kyoto target can be met without nuclear power and (b) the UK Government's unilateral target of a of 20% reduction in carbon dioxide cannot be met without nuclear power. (UK)