The Chemical Engineer
Summary
A SENIOR leadership team at The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute has released a position paper outlining key actions needed if nuclear power is to play a part in the UK’s ambition of being net zero by 2050.
The report uses an objective, economic assessment system to see how nuclear could support the net zero target in the context of overall energy usage. It outlines what policymakers and industry need to explore to make informed decisions based on the best economic pathway.
The report says that if the full potential of nuclear is to be realised in achieving net zero, then progress needs to made quickly. New reactor technologies would need to be built by the 2040s, meaning that development should start now.
District heating and hydrogen
Nuclear can also play a role in district heating schemes by using the heat that is not used for electricity. This heat is usually removed from the system as hot water and dispersed via cooling water into the environment or cooling towers into the atmosphere. The report notes there is great potential for this scheme to work in the UK, but the economics need to be studied alongside the development of installation and siting programmes.
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