Sign up for newsletters

Nuclear fallout

Posted in: Discussion and Debate | Energy

Fukushima, nuclear

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:15 pm

Jon Excell

Posts: 0

Should Japan's recent Fukushima crisis prompt a worldwide rethink on nuclear power? And what can industry do to address public concerns over nuclear power?

Here's a selection of recent comments from readers of The Engineer:

"The engineering establishment has been singularly hopeless at engaging the public with the merits of engineering generally"

"If it fails its very dangerous and even if it doesn't we are leaving our future generations with a serious problem with the waste"

"Without nuclear power in the mix the UK will not be able to maintain energy security and will be continually subject to the vagaries of the international energy market."

What do you think?

Unsuitable or offensive? Report this discussion

Post a reply

Sort: Newest first | Oldest first

Author

Message

Carpenter123

Posts: 3

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 4:28 pm

Countries all over the world are pulling back from nuclear power.

And it's going to be devastating. There's no way we can reduce carbon emissions to the levels we need to without nuclear power as an interim solution.

Solar and wind just won't be able to produce electricity on a large enough scale.

The UK has to take the lead and build safer nuclear power stations than anyone else. Then we'll encourage other countries to do the same and become the world leaders in nuclear technology.

Ok, well maybe the French have got a headstart on us but that shouldn't stop us.

Unsuitable or offensive? Report this reply

Anonymous

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 12:22 pm

Pulling back nuclear programmes overseas could benefit the UK come the time to actually start new build, given the rate at which the UK plans to build and the huge amount of expertise required to do the job.

Unsuitable or offensive? Report this reply

Stephen Harris

Posts: 2

Fri, 1 Jul 2011 12:34 pm

Revelations about a coordinated PR strategy by government officials and the nuclear industry in the wake of Fukushima highlight how governments have moved to protect their own interests.

On the opposite end of the scale you have Germany shutting down power stations in the face of unpopular policy.

Are governments too quick to react to events like Fukushima? Is there enough thoughtful consideration of the facts? Is the UK government too close to the nuclear industry?

Unsuitable or offensive? Report this reply

Ralf

Posts: 5

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 3:28 pm

Energy is a perishable product.
Sellers of perishable goods get rich, buyers of perishable goods stay poor.

If you want to accumulate wealth, you shall not consume it.

That means reduce consumption and increase savings/investments.

Save money, buy insulation material, insulate your house, save energy.
Save more money, go to the theatre, have a glass of champagne,
enjoy life

Or
get money, pay for electricity, heat the house, open the window.
get money, pay for electricity, heat the house, open the window.
etc.

In the first case you transform energy into insulation material and put it to good use for years to come. The user saves operating costs.
In the second case, you just heat the environment.
You work day and night and get nothing in the end.


So, reduction of energy needs is the way forward.

Unsuitable or offensive? Report this reply

Rate this topic ( 5 average user rating)

  • 1 star out of 5
  • 2 stars out of 5
  • 3 stars out of 5
  • 4 stars out of 5
  • 5 stars out of 5

You must be signed in to rate.

Join the discussion

You must sign in to make a comment.

Register

Register here

Get involved in the forum discussions.

Most active members

  • Mike McClory

    Posts: 1

  • nierwong

    Posts: 1

  • billy.charisma

    Posts: 1

People are discussing

tags BP, carbon floor price, CHP, EDF, electricity, energy, Energy Jobs, Energy Jobs Worldwide, Engineering, engineering job vacancy, engineering jobs, Exxon Mobil, Fukushima, lighting, market reform, nuclear, Nuclear Engineer, ORC, Rankine Cycle, renewables, solar power, UCL, Where to work, wind energy, wind power

Most discussed

Most recent posts

  • From Mike McClory, Thu, 25 Apr 2013 4:34 pm in Wind energy

    The arguement that our contribution is insignificant, therefore we shouldn't concern ourselves is a fallacy. By denying our industry any chance to compete against other countries that are developing the technology is to throw away the opportunity badly need jobs and income.

  • From billy.charisma, Wed, 19 Sep 2012 1:44 pm in Biomass micro CHP

    working on a lage scale cambi type AAD processing sewage sludge, dont know if i would want one at home as well!

  • From Ralf, Tue, 29 Nov 2011 3:28 pm in Nuclear fallout

    Energy is a perishable product.

Browse by category

Find a supplier

A to Z List of letters

Most popular

Most emailed

Latest Articles from The Engineer