The Fall and Rise of Nuclear Power in Britain

The Fall and Rise of Nuclear Power in Britain
by Simon Taylor

“An important and valuable analysis of one of the most important challenges of this century. The role of government and the market needs a fundamental reappraisal.”
Tim Stone, Non-Executive Director of Horizon Nuclear Power; former Expert Chair of the Office For Nuclear Development in DECC

In October 2015 President Xi of China confirmed an investment of £4.4bn for the building of Hinkley Point C, a crucial step toward the construction of the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK in 20 years. In The Fall and Rise of Nuclear Power in Britain Simon Taylor examines the history of nuclear power in Britain and asks how we may come to build the world’s most expensive power station.

Ironically, it was the Climate Change Act that marked the turning point. The government had committed itself to making significant attempts to decarbonise, and politicians soon concluded that nuclear power was the answer. The energy white paper of January 2008 officially reintroduced new nuclear build to UK energy policy and started the rise of new nuclear in Britain, despite continued bad press and public opposition.

In post-war Britain, nuclear power was the technology of the future, seen as the saviour of the energy industry, offering cheap and reliable power for the whole country. Britain was a leader in civil nuclear power, which promised energy 'too cheap to meter' and significant export opportunities.

The privatization of the electricity companies, beginning in 1989, was the beginning of the fall of nuclear. The sale of the energy industry required clear and accurate accounting of the business and nuclear power did not come out favourably: it was not as efficient or cheap as had been suggested. Combined with high-profile nuclear disasters, the uncovering of the truth destroyed public faith in the nuclear sector and it became a contentious political issue.

With a thorough look at the complex factors that brought us to this point, Simon Taylor considers the outlook for the future of nuclear in Britain, including analysis of political decisions and criticism of the industry. It finishes by looking to the future, considering what it means for the people of Britain to be entering a new phase of nuclear construction.