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https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04046 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04... >The UK’s dependence on importe

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04046 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn04... >The UK’s dependence on imported energy looks set to continue to increase in the future. This, alongside higher fuel prices and increased concern over the security of energy supply has increased the attention on energy imports and exports over the past decade. I get the achievement here. But it sounds like a very significant net negative for the UK.

zarzavat 2y ago
It’s not all bad. UK has a lot of onshore wind energy potential that was banned from development to placate the shires. That ban is no more. UK is also a good place for nuclear power with an almost complete absence of risk factors, though with the price of renewables it’s too late to exploit it to the level France has done.
- radicalbyte 2y ago
  It's a crying shame that we didn't build out nuclear in the 1980s as we would have been in an excellent position had we done that. Instead we have the Chinese taking 30 years to build our new reactor.
  - pjc50 2y ago
    The French buildout was very definitely a reaction to the oil crisis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Ki... describes a similar process of thinking in the UK, which was abandoned in favor of privatizing the industry, and the PWRs were never built apart from Sizewell B. I suspect the arrival of North Sea oil and gas eased the energy concerns in the 1980s. > Instead we have the Chinese taking 30 years to build our new reactor. It's still owned by the same company that operates all the French nuclear reactors, EDF, and I suspect that most of the people doing the actual work on site are British. China can certainly build new reactors in China. I wonder if it's same the general disease of Western project management which causes high speed rail to get more and more expensive and less feasible.
  - KaiserPro 2y ago
    It was a shame that we didnt accept EDF's offer to build 10 nuclear plants for free* under around 2000. * would need a gaurenteed strike price around something like 2005 electricity prices. They would have been online by now as they were going to be the same type as the one that opened in finland
- kmlx 2y ago
  > UK has a lot of onshore wind energy potential that was banned from development to placate the shires. That ban is no more. there hasn't been a ban since 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-ever-renewable-energy-support-scheme-opens https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-ever-renewable-en...
  - zarzavat 2y ago
    Offshore wind has always been allowed. Onshore wind was technically allowed but in practice the rules were so restrictive that it was very difficult to get any projects approved. So yes technically not a ban, but it was a de facto ban. https://fullfact.org/live/2024/jul/onshore-wind-ban/ https://fullfact.org/live/2024/jul/onshore-wind-ban/
Angostura 2y ago
Probably worth looking at a briefing that is a bit newer - a lot can change in 26 years
pjc50 2y ago
Needs a (2018)

zarzavat 2y ago

It’s not all bad. UK has a lot of onshore wind energy potential that was banned from development to placate the shires. That ban is no more. UK is also a good place for nuclear power with an almost complete absence of risk factors, though with the price of renewables it’s too late to exploit it to the level France has done.

radicalbyte 2y ago
It's a crying shame that we didn't build out nuclear in the 1980s as we would have been in an excellent position had we done that. Instead we have the Chinese taking 30 years to build our new reactor.
- pjc50 2y ago
  The French buildout was very definitely a reaction to the oil crisis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Ki... describes a similar process of thinking in the UK, which was abandoned in favor of privatizing the industry, and the PWRs were never built apart from Sizewell B. I suspect the arrival of North Sea oil and gas eased the energy concerns in the 1980s. > Instead we have the Chinese taking 30 years to build our new reactor. It's still owned by the same company that operates all the French nuclear reactors, EDF, and I suspect that most of the people doing the actual work on site are British. China can certainly build new reactors in China. I wonder if it's same the general disease of Western project management which causes high speed rail to get more and more expensive and less feasible.
- KaiserPro 2y ago
  It was a shame that we didnt accept EDF's offer to build 10 nuclear plants for free* under around 2000. * would need a gaurenteed strike price around something like 2005 electricity prices. They would have been online by now as they were going to be the same type as the one that opened in finland
kmlx 2y ago
> UK has a lot of onshore wind energy potential that was banned from development to placate the shires. That ban is no more. there hasn't been a ban since 2021: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-ever-renewable-energy-support-scheme-opens https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-ever-renewable-en...
- zarzavat 2y ago
  Offshore wind has always been allowed. Onshore wind was technically allowed but in practice the rules were so restrictive that it was very difficult to get any projects approved. So yes technically not a ban, but it was a de facto ban. https://fullfact.org/live/2024/jul/onshore-wind-ban/ https://fullfact.org/live/2024/jul/onshore-wind-ban/

Angostura 2y ago

Probably worth looking at a briefing that is a bit newer - a lot can change in 26 years

pjc50 2y ago

Needs a (2018)