GRIFFEN 2024 | 8 What is the most pressing environmental issue? The journey to ‘Net Zero’. The pathway we are currently on is pretty devastating and we need to do something quickly. Why is it important to maintain the environment? I think we only borrow the world from future generations, so it is irresponsible of us to leave such damage as our legacy. What are some of the challenges you foresee in the energy industry? When anyone talks about the energy industry, they immediately think about electricity decarbonisation. But electricity is the easy bit, it is mobility. Electric cars are full of precious metals which are sourced from parts of the world where we cannot guarantee their supply. When we look at where most emissions are from, transportation, industrial and domestic heat are top of the list. To decarbonise domestic heating – we would probably go down the route of domestic heat pumps, which would only put additional demand on electricity. Is the hazard of climate change greater than that posed by a nuclear disaster? Nuclear disasters should not happen with the technology that we have today. If you think of how many tens of thousands of people have been killed by respiratory disease from coal fired power stations, then absolutely, I think the impact of climate change is many times bigger. Is nuclear power vital to ensuring the security of energy supply? The government has recognised that nuclear energy is necessary. A combination of energy sources complement each other, but if nuclear is not included, you have nothing that is constantly generating. Nuclear generates more than 95 percent of the time and without this we are subjected to the will of the wind and the sun. What are the most contentious issues surrounding nuclear energy? The most contentious issue is waste, but although it is radioactive, it is not unsafe as long as people do not come into contact with it. The volumes are also tiny. If you consider how much coal is burnt, the waste is significantly less than the byproduct of burning coal. If we think about Hinkley Point being built in Somerset, we must recognise that this singular plant would deliver 7% of the United Kingdom’s energy needs. What are the advantages to using nuclear energy for the UK? Consistent power and zero carbon. Ultimately, it is the economics of nuclear power. A nuclear power station is expensive to build, but cheaper to run. Whereas a gas power station is the other way around – cheap to build, but expensive to purchase the gas. Gas prices are volatile; nuclear would offer price stability. Can the UK be a leading force? The UK was a leading force years ago and we need to get back to that position. I do think we need some big, bold moves. The government has just announced a body, Great British Nuclear, to try and advance our position. The decisions made around nuclear energy are prolonged as the building process takes such a long time. Our nuclear power stations are getting old and being turned off because they are getting to the end of their lives, so we need a replacement strategy. What kind of resources does nuclear energy require? With this in mind, is it worth the effort and the investment to acquire nuclear energy? Nuclear is capital intensive. All the money goes into building, but then the actual running process is cheaper than other sources of energy. It requires people, money, concrete, steel and designs, as well as a source of uranium. There is an established nuclear fuel cycle which can provide the necessary materials and has done reliably for many years. The world has over 400 nuclear power plants, so there are many out there running very successfully. How important is education in nuclear energy? Without nuclear energy you cannot decarbonise and when that is understood, nuclear energy is elevated to its rightful place. If we consider the end-to-end lifecycle of a solar panel, they are manufactured and transported and these processes produce carbon emissions. A person’s view can be changed when they see the whole cycle. Further thoughts? It is a great industry to join, now more than ever. It has high quality and safe jobs to offer. The more Abingdon can do to educate on the positives and negatives of nuclear power in a balanced way, the better. An Interview with Dominic Kieran (1992)
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