November 12, 2020

Nuke News

I have always had a love hate relationship with the concept of nuclear power. I have studied our civilian nuclear programme, and we have achieved some incredible results for such a small country.

Why we must potentially embrace the 'nuclear option'?

Hard Rock Malta - No Drugs or Nuclear Weapons Allowed Inside Signage — Photo by Christopher Farrugia / Unsplash

My kind of sign...

I have always had a love hate relationship with the concept of nuclear power. I have studied our civilian nuclear programme, and we have achieved some incredible results for such a small country. Our efforts were pretty amazing when you look at it objectively. Also partially malignant in intent.

The development of the Magnox nuclear plants, used for good and ill, the Dounrey Fast Breeder Reactor, the Winfrith Experimental site, the Zeta Reactor, the Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors, and the DRAGON reactor at Winfrith, all were cutting edge designs in their time. They show peoples ingenuity. But for lots of reasons nuclear power became a 'toxic' option both politically and publicly. Now things are changing again. Nuclear Power maybe an option again? Spearheaded in part (strangely) by the Green Agenda.

I must admit that when nuclear power stations go wrong the consequences are pretty dire, and just looking at Fukushima and Chernobyl then you can see the perils of power stations, and nuclear technology generally. We in the UK have had our nuclear 'moments' potentially dire ones especially the Windscale disaster that threw out large amounts of radiation over a wide area, and other nuclear mishaps with potentially serious or dangerous consequences.

The problem is that we are using huge amounts of electricity compared to say thirty years ago. You just have to look at the amount of light pollution that we see even in rural areas, (light pollution is something I personally hate), we are electric junkies.

To partially solve this problem, where renewables fall off, we are looking to build large nuclear reactors namely Bradwell B and Hinkley Point C, both designs based on designs formulated by Toshiba. These are huge projects and the cost of electricity from the plants will be high, but they are pretty much carbon neutral, and are a lot safer than older plants.

But an idea that has been knocking about for some time is coming to the fore again. Rolls Royce, who have generations of experience in building nuclear reactors for the Royal Navy, are proposing building Small Modular Reactors at 16 sites around the UK. This is an interesting development.

Below is a link to the very interesting and safe concept put forward by Rolls Royce and Laing O'Rourke. We shall see if it actually happens, but first impressions are good? There are links about old nuclear endeavours for information too.

Also if you havent watch the series Chernobyl, do so it is excellent viewing.

Small modular reactors

Rolls-Royce – link to home page

When things go wrong the Ferris Wheel at Prypyat near Chernobyl Ukraine

And today I am listening to stuff that used to blare from my parents 8 Track. Invented by William Powell Lear the brains behind the Lear Jet. Just thought you should know? Your ears might not thank you.