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You've heard of Sellafield, right? That's what finally killed any chance of a nuclear plant being set up in Ireland. The Carnsore Point plant was mooted in the

You've heard of Sellafield, right? That's what finally killed any chance of a nuclear plant being set up in Ireland. The Carnsore Point plant was mooted in the 70s, but the opposition was so great it had to be shelved. There's some talk of a gen IV plant being built to replace Moneypoint, but I can't see it happening. It's not prohibited, but the opposition to it amongst the population is great enough that it's not feasible politically.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Fair enough - I assumed it couldn't be that as the worst cock ups were far further back than Carnsore era - like the Windscale fire in the 50s. That and governments everywhere not really doing much consultation or reaction to public opinion back then. Recent issues have seemed more of privatisation than negligence - still not what we want of nuclear of course. I'd like decommissioning to go far smoother as they're just down the road from us, should there be another cock up. Wikipedia seems to think it is prohibited - 1999 Electricity Regulation Act. I only ever heard oblique references to it being banned, with no further explanation, so I know nothing more. Even Wikipedia raises more questions than answers.
- talideon 7y ago
  Oh, it very much is: Windscale and Sellafield are linked in the public mind here. Here, Sellafield was seen as a rebranding exercise for Windscale. > Wikipedia seems to think it is prohibited - 1999 Electricity Regulation Act. I was careful with my use of language: it's not illegal, but under 18.6 of the act, "An order under this section shall not provide for the use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity." So it's not _illegal_ or banned, but the goverment simply won't grant licenses. Also, it specifically refers to fission. Something like the thorium fuel cycle might be considered legal under the act, depending on how you read it.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

Fair enough - I assumed it couldn't be that as the worst cock ups were far further back than Carnsore era - like the Windscale fire in the 50s. That and governments everywhere not really doing much consultation or reaction to public opinion back then. Recent issues have seemed more of privatisation than negligence - still not what we want of nuclear of course. I'd like decommissioning to go far smoother as they're just down the road from us, should there be another cock up. Wikipedia seems to think it is prohibited - 1999 Electricity Regulation Act. I only ever heard oblique references to it being banned, with no further explanation, so I know nothing more. Even Wikipedia raises more questions than answers.

talideon 7y ago
Oh, it very much is: Windscale and Sellafield are linked in the public mind here. Here, Sellafield was seen as a rebranding exercise for Windscale. > Wikipedia seems to think it is prohibited - 1999 Electricity Regulation Act. I was careful with my use of language: it's not illegal, but under 18.6 of the act, "An order under this section shall not provide for the use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity." So it's not _illegal_ or banned, but the goverment simply won't grant licenses. Also, it specifically refers to fission. Something like the thorium fuel cycle might be considered legal under the act, depending on how you read it.