The Government acknowledges the need for new nuclear power stations across the UK and its draft Nuclear National Policy Statement has identified a number of sites, including both Hinkley Point and Sizewell, as potentially suitable for the development of new nuclear power stations by 2025.
The UK is currently facing three long term energy challenges - new nuclear power can help to meet these:
1. Generation gap
We are facing an electricity generation shortage as coal and oil-fired power stations close, and older gas and nuclear power stations reach the end of their useful lives. Our demand for electricity is also still increasing. Without action, the energy gap will begin to open around 2015 and will grow over the following decade.
The Government believes that new nuclear power stations are a vital component of the mix of new electricity generation - including renewables - required to fill this gap.
2. Carbon reduction
The Government has ambitious targets for reducing the UK's carbon emissions. Closing old coal and oil-fired generation plants will help carbon reduction targets, but these plants will need to be replaced by new low carbon power sources, including new nuclear.
3. Energy security
Dwindling reserves of oil and gas around the world have underlined the UK's growing dependence on energy from overseas. New nuclear power stations in the UK will help ensure a good mix of different energy sources that will help to increase the country's energy security.
