Letters to the Editor – 04/02 – Energy supply, Best of Twitter
Energy supply
[Re: As the International Energy Agency doubts UK shale’s potential, is more nuclear the answer?, Friday]
The International Energy Agency was right to say that Britain should not have too high expectations regarding the shale gas revolution. But while it argues that increased investment in new, heavily-subsidised nuclear plants would be more desirable, it fails to realise that the UK still has huge capacity to generate cheap electricity from coal – our most abundant energy asset. This can continue into the next decade, when new clean coal power stations should be operating with carbon capture and storage. Nuclear is an important low-carbon baseload generator of electricity. But it should be just one part of a diverse energy mix alongside coal and gas – with shale production hopefully making a contribution alongside imports. Nuclear can help Britain to meet carbon targets, but cleaner fossil fuel technology can deliver cheaper electricity in the medium term, provided ministers maintain a policy that aims for a mixed energy portfolio. This will be helped if the draconian and unfair carbon price floor is frozen in the Budget and then reduced.
Tony Lodge, research fellow, Centre for Policy Studies
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