The Climate, Environment and Energy Thread

[DJC]

the numbers make sense.  Whilst its the worst pollutant of any energy source its pollution to energy generated is unmatched.

Its cheaper, its more efficient, and now to do some real science on how we might be able to use or reuse any waste.  I suspect that this is where our technology future lies rightly or wrongly.

Nuclear power plants are way more expensive than alternatives and require very long lead times.  We’ve missed the boat on conventional nuclear power by several decades.

I recently watched a fascinating documentary on one of Scotland’s nuclear power plants.  Apart from the technology and environmental requirements, the youth of the highly qualified technicians was surprising.

Part of the conversation was about the inevitable de-commissioning of the power station.  The head honcho explained that no more power stations using that nuclear technology would be built in the UK.  It wasn’t clear what would replace them; perhaps smaller plants.

I also saw a documentary that briefly looked at the last “coal-fired” power station in the UK.  It burns sustainably harvested timber by-products ?