If the Greenland ice melts, the sea will rise by 7 metres. These sketches show how the map of England and Wales could look if all the Antarctic ice eventually melts. While this could take many years the worst damage will come early on as all coastal towns will be under water with more severe storm weather.

The light blue areas are those that would be flooded.

England and Wales after the Antarctic has melted

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UK Power station generation plans (News p6 Times 24 1 08)

 

2008

2020

Coal

39%

11%?

Gas

39%

39%?

Nuclear

15%

6% ?

Wind (power contribution)

1%

25%

Tidal turbines/wave

 

5%

Tidal barrage/lagoon

 

5%

Hydro/Pump Storage

4%

7%

Other / bio

2%

2%

Total Terrawatt hours

365

410

Total generating capacity 78,000MW installed includes wind capacity 3,800 MW, solar 10 MW (04 08)

Comment.

The EU require the UK to raise renewables from 2% now to 15% in 2020 and 10% fuel from Biofuel (although the CO2 saving with bio may be small if any ). 5% (4000 MW) could come from the Severn barrage project if decided on.

The UK was one of the first countries to build Nuclear power stations. The initial plans were to base all or most future power supply on Magnox CO2 cooled reactors and Advanced Gas CO2 Reactors, followed by Fast Breeder Reactors to utilise all the fuel potential and eliminate coal fired power stations, then predominant. With the availability of north sea gas and oil in the 70's, costs of the fast reactor at Dounreay rising, the nuclear industry slowed and new construction ceased with the loss of much engineering expertise. Now with a fresh need for nuclear power this expertise will have to be rebuilt.

France on the other hand continued building nuclear reactors so now 80 % of power generation in France comes from nuclear and with barrage and hydro most of the power supply in France is free of CO2 emissions. djt

Future plans in the UK are to install 33,000 MW of wind generation around the coast of the UK; 5,500MW by 2013, 20,000 MW offshore by 2020. Wind power has a low load factor circa 30% to 40%, tidal circa 70%, whereas nuclear nuclear load factors can reach 90%.

Generation three Nuclear design options in UK 2007 see advanced nuclear page.

  • The European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) by EDF/AREVA . Standardised design in France.
  • AP 1000 Westinghouse standard design based on successful AP600
  • Advanced CANDU reactor. AECL ACR1000.
  • Advanced Boiling Water Reactor ESWBR by GE

Current Nuclear power stations

Operational

MW output

Dates live

Shut down

 
Oldbury (magnox)
434
1967-2008
Sizewell A
  
Wylfa (magnox)
980
1971-2010
Berkeley
  
Heysham 1 AGR
1150
1989-2014
Hunterston A
 
Hinkley point B AGR
1220
1976-2016
Dungness A
Hunterston B AGR
1190
1976-2016
Trawsfynydd
Dungness B AGR
1110
1985-2018
Dounreay (fast reactor)
Hartlepool AGR
1210
1989-2023
Hinkley Point A
Heysham 2 AGR
1250
1988-2023
Bradwell
Torness AGR
1250
1988-2023
Calder Hall
Sizewell B PWR
1188
1995-2035
Chapelcross
 

Tidal turbine prospects in the UK

    Future locations of fast tidal flow see Tidal turbines page:-

  • Strangford Lough, Co Down North Ireland.
  • Anglesey N Wales.
  • Pembroke S Wales.
  • Humber estuary near Grimsby.
  • Pentland Firth Between Scotland coast and Orkneys (potential 9000MW or 15% UK energy.