The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released its initial response to the UK’s wide-ranging energy review launched in June. The working paper states: “It is important to consider the role of nuclear power – including possible new build – as a low carbon option.” The report notes that “present indicators pointed to nuclear being too expensive for new capacity,” but noted that many commentators on the energy sector “are satisfied that nuclear remains a longer term option.” However, “the issue of public acceptability remains a key issue for any consideration of new nuclear build.” The report points out that a major argument against nuclear is that there still is no current policy on management of existing waste.
The paper also says that lifetime extensions for some of British Energy’s AGRs and PWR are “already anticipated” in the DTI’s own energy projections.
