>“I think it is very likely that as we move forward, the implications of energy provision mean we are going to see less demand for transport. People could not count on being able to travel in 2055 as much as they did today and would have to find other ways to have satisfactory lifestyles
.](/wp-content/uploads/nuclear_wind.jpg'?phpMyAdmin=ywTI6M3uGhTA2DrWfpYkXoeHMu5 title='nuclear' ><img class='inthepageright colorbox-217' src='/wp-content/uploads/thumb-nuclear_wind.jpg' title='nuclear' alt='nuclear' /></a> On Radio 4′s [Any Questions](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/anyquestions.shtml”AQ”) last week (for those of you from outside the UK it is a political questions and answers type show with leading politicians on the panel), the issue came up of whether nuclear power was the way forward for the UK. The panel included <span id=){kind=link}
 said we have to go nuclear, there is no other choice and anyone believing otherwise was dreaming. Nuclear, he said, is safe and is our only option. </p>
<p><a href='/wp-content/uploads/MICHAEL_MEACHER.sized.jpg'?phpMyAdmin=ywTI6M3uGhTA2DrWfpYkXoeHMu5 title='Meacher' ><img class='inthepageleft colorbox-217' src='/wp-content/uploads/thumb-MICHAEL_MEACHER.sized.jpg' title='Meacher' alt='Meacher' /></a> Meacher (left) said that nuclear was too expensive, too dangerous, and that renewables could provide for our needs. He didn’t talk about peak oil, which was disappointing seeing as he has often spoken at peak oil conferences and seems well informed on the subject. Ingham came back at him and said that anyone who promoted the view that renewables could power the UK was an ‘enemy of the people’ (to stunned gasps from some of the audience). </p>
<p><a href='/wp-content/uploads/Be20A20Bicycle20built20for20two.jpg'?phpMyAdmin=ywTI6M3uGhTA2DrWfpYkXoeHMu5 title='bike' ><img class='inthepageleft colorbox-217' src='/wp-content/uploads/thumb-Be20A20Bicycle20built20for20two.jpg' title='bike' alt='bike' /></a> On the same day as this programme went out, The Times, rarely a place for enlightening thought, published an article called [){kind=link}
Tom Atkins
30 Jan 6:08pm
Love the Bernard Ingham pic! Was listening to Radio 4′s ‘Start the Week’ this morning and they had James Lovelock on (worth listening to – available on the BBC website). At one point the interviewer asked “so what do you think of the Deep Greens who want wind trubines everywhere to solve the problem”… I wanted to immediately post him a copy of David Holmgren’s book – surely he meant “Green Tech stabilitists”?! It reminded me just how unevolved the debate is in the mainstream (as ‘Any questions’ did for you) – the idea of ‘managed descent’ is just not there yet. Keep up the good work Rob and hopefully soon more people will have a more sophisticated way of visioning the future.
Jason Cole
22 Feb 8:18pm
[quote]Whether we connect nuclear, wind, tidal or whatever into the grid, it is still wasteful. [/quote]
Please please please please please bear in mind that the grid is not wasteful per se. Your own diagram illustrates the point (3.5% loss).
The problem is the use of remotely-sited thermal generation. Remotely-sited being the point, because the waste heat cannot be harnessed into CHP.
It is better to site wind/tidal turbines where they can yield the most energy. The difference that makes would more than compensate for 3.5% grid losses.
DG has its place but it’s not a panacea.
Does Nuclear Power Compete With Conservation, Wind, Solar and Biomass? : CleanTechnica
18 May 7:43pm
[...] links: First High Resolution Wind Map Cost of Wind vs Cost of Nuclear to Replace Coal Nuclear vs. Wind Farms Debate – rather misses the point. Tags: atomic fission, coal, fossil fuel combustion, uranium Add a comment or question 0 [...]