Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Do you think Nuclear Power in the UK should see further investment? Ie should we build more? Detractors say, but what if it blows up or what about the waste....getting rid of the waste safely is very very expensive. Supporters say, The UK has no real choice if it wants to have cheap power. Fossil fuels are running out and we need a long term sustainable power supply. It's cleaner to run too...and the concrete reactors are built with the aim of being able to take a missle/plane hit. We don't have seismic activity (earthquakes etc) so that can't destroy one either.... Personlly I think it's what we need, I'd rather see us stop using coal/gas and oil, as I think Nuclear waste is manageable with investment. And if we stop using the other 3 the reserves we have in the world will be stretched a little further. Windfarms are unsightly and generally crap at producing enough power...and the only other good alternative would be wave power and that, sadly, has not been developed enough AFAIK. Arguments against it in a newspaper all related to Plutonium being used in bombs...well if it's in the power stations there'll be less for the terrorists lol My only ? mark over Nuclear is where to site new stations....as let face it no one wants a power station of any description in their back yard....however reusing the same sites as the old coal and gas etc ones would be one idea. I don't like the idea of Britain having to import it's power, I think we as a rich nation should have our own supply. So anyone have an thoughts or think I'm hopelessly wrong?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I have a better idea please state: harness methane - the amount we and our animal friends produce would surely be equivalent of 10 Nuclear power stations! LMAO!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 I have a better idea please state: harness methane - the amount we and our animal friends produce would surely be equivalent of 10 Nuclear power stations! LMAO!!! Do you know what, I nearly put harnessing methane IS NOT AN OPTION!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Idea - Immigrants inside giant hamster wheels and mini hydroelectric plants inside taps, toilets, pipes and drinks straws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Serious mode engaged though - Nuclear don't bother me, and modern reactors are much safer and more efficient than the older ones like Sizewell A. As for living near them, admittedly I'd prob not like that either, though the armed forces live with Nuclear reactors all the time,........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Do you know what, I nearly put harnessing methane IS NOT AN OPTION!!! hehehe :giveup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syed Shah Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Wave/Solar/Wind power? Ok, it is much more £££ to setup, so will mean initial higher prices, but for everyones long-term benefit. It pays to think long term, and while nobody likes the idea of higher energy prices to start with, it gives us our own dependable power source. Which is important as like Alex, I certainly don't think we should be reliant on other countries. They give us good rates to start with, but as we get more power from them, we become more and more at their mercy to increase prices etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 Don't think anyone wouldn't want the totally green option - but in my mind it's not practical at the moment. Wave power isn't developed to anything like enough, for the scale that we need. Wind as I say - per turbine it just doens't provide much power. Solar - come on this is the UK Maybe drilling down to geothermal levels is an option... But I'm looking for a developed ready to use option not a pie in the sky if we invested 30billion in R&D solution. Anyone got a chemistry set to try cold fusion with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Much better idea.. Large windmill - Jake stood in front of it yapping. Solar panels in space with a giant cable to bring it all back to Earth. Seriously? Wind farms in Scotland - loads of room up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 Seriously? Wind farms in Scotland - loads of room up there. I can see Greenpeace/English Nature etc choking on their own principles now... Wind power is green but you have to knacker the countryside/view to have it If they could build enough without the UK looking silly then I don't mind the Windfarm option....wonder how many they would need to power the whole of the UK?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof. Monkey Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 1kg of uranium rich ore has the same energy potential as 25,000tonnes of coal. Start up time for a reactor is slow, but once online they are very efficient. Downsides are the materials needed to control the reaction: 1) liquid sodium metal coolant is best used as it has the best thermal properties. 2) Carbon rods are used as a neutron damper, but these become harmful once used and need to be stored appropriately. 3) Fuel rods once spent need to be stored, uranium has a t1/2 of approx 4 million years. But I am a supporter of nuclear energy, roll on when they can control fusion reactions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonW Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Just has a wind turbine put up in Reading. Apparently it produces enough energy for 7,000 homes. It's been put in the middle of a retail park next to the RFCs stadium so it doesn't detract from any natural views. If anything it actually looks quite impressive. Apparently there are 50,000 homes in Reading so we would need another 7 or so. Problem is it's not always windy enough to turn the blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I do have a huge problem with Nuclear power - It is probably the dirtiest fuel known to mankind - the waste has a half life of 250 000 years!! and that's clean and efficient is it?? What about burning waste materials to create electricity, the fumes can be filtered - but, oh no, the EU claim that it's waste not fuel and it can only be got rid of in a specific way - which doesn't include the manufacture of electricity - work that one out!! All houses should be encouraged - and subsidised if necessary - to get solar power panels to heat water and run the lights etc. But, most of all - turn all your appliances off don't put them to stand by, this will save huge amounts of energy if we all did it, what about street lights? is it beyond the witt of man to turn every other one off after midnight? how much energy could that save? I have no problems with wind turbines, if they are located sympathetically. NUCLEAR NO - we have not explored all the other options yet, its just a quick easy fix to a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Wind power is green but you have to knacker the countryside/view to have it If they could build enough without the UK looking silly then I don't mind the Windfarm option....wonder how many they would need to power the whole of the UK?? That's what I mean - stick 'em in Scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 nuclear is a good option but I'd also like to see it coupled with lots of off shore wind turbines. Littering the land wind turbines is not a good idea.... building loads of them just over the horizon out at sea is a good idea. Just needs the power companies to dip into their billion pound profits to finance the installation cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tDR Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 That's what I mean - stick 'em in Scotland Piss off! We already have loads of them wrecking our glorious views of the countryside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I would prefer wind turbines as well. They have them in Denmark a lot!!! When I was there for the european supra meet I saw them everywhere, unbelievable. They've got around 6000 of them atm, and it's providing 14% of the electricity demand. Thats the way forward! There are too many risks with nuclear power... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Piss off! We already have loads of them wrecking our glorious views of the countryside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 I would prefer wind turbines as well. They have them in Denmark a lot!!! When I was there for the european supra meet I saw them everywhere, unbelievable. They've got around 6000 of them atm, and it's providing 14% of the electricity demand. Thats the way forward! There are too many risks with nuclear power... What risks? Out of interest, could we not fire the nuclear waste at the Sun? 6000 for 14% FFS - you'd have to cover Wales to get us enough power....hmmm no loss there then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Beyond me how any educated person can say nuclear is a good option. Think long term - where is the waste going to be put? In a big hole in your back garden perhaps?? Would you really like that? Or would you rather we shipped it to some poor country and ignore the problem of waste?? Oh, I know lets dump it in the sea - we cant see it then and the problem is solved..... Or even shoot it in to space and contaminate the atmosphere with the exhaust gasses needed to propel it.... Sorry, I have real issues with Nuclear Power and it's waste and all the other byproducts.. Think I may have had an education!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 What risks? Out of interest, could we not fire the nuclear waste at the Sun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 Beyond me how any educated person can say nuclear is a good option. Think long term - where is the waste going to be put? In a big hole in your back garden perhaps?? Would you really like that? Or would you rather we shipped it to some poor country and ignore the problem of waste?? Oh, I know lets dump it in the sea - we cant see it then and the problem is solved..... Or even shoot it in to space and contaminate the atmosphere with the exhaust gasses needed to propel it.... Sorry, I have real issues with Nuclear Power and it's waste and all the other byproducts.. Think I may have had an education!! Stop being a twat and slagging people off for having differing views to you. I understand your views, but I also can see that the need is now and we need the solution to our energy problems now....I'm not looking at Nuclear as the last hope more of an interim measure whilst the greener option are developed further....storage I think is handleable....you've just got to think practically about it. The idea of a govt. scheme to subsidise people buy solar panels etc for their homes is an excellent one. I'd also love to see an Island powered by the sea....but I'm thinking about things that can happen here and now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kip Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 And it's still melting Marco!! And it's still the cause of massive amounts of contamination and disease in Europe. But, hey, it's safe and clean.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 That's what I mean - stick 'em in Scotland Personally i think they look beautiful. Don't think they ruin the countryside at all - coupled with being good for the environment they are the way forward! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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