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Cost of clean energy?


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Seems the cost of "clean" energy to each of us, is estimated at £200 per year. That's on top of regular increases over the past ten years. So as we struggle with those bills in these times of austerity; just think that your doing your bit to clean up the planet! :wink:

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Bit more info please Obs as despite a quick google I don't know what you are talking about but then you like to do that don't you ? :wink::P:oops:

 

At the beginning of the year it was reported that greener cleaner energy would cost families an additional £400 a year by the year 2020 (not good)..... but where's this £200 come from and how soon will it affect us and why ?

 

Ta x

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Nuclear power stations only have a 25 year life cycle :wink:

 

But the point is that "Greenies" say nuclear power is dirty because of the decomissioning costs while ignoring the decomissioning costs of wind, tide and solar sources of energy, not to mention the huge subsidies required to make these "clean" sources viable. :D :grin:

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Perhaps we could ask the Japs or Russians about "nuclear energy"? :unsure: There are a few "clean" options, without sowing our countryside with wind turbines - EG hydro, wave and tidal, precisely the kind of major infrastructure projects required to stimulate our economy; which have the added advantages of flood prevention and water storage. Meanwhile, we've got loads of coal, which can be treated with carbon capture technology. :wink:

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I am all for nuclear energy Asp, but try and compare the costs of decommissioning a nuclear power station and the costs of storing the fuel rods for a couple of thousand years with the costs of taking down a wind farm. Nuclear power is still the only option as it is the only option that delivers enough energy. Coal is to expensive, their is two much cost up front. You have to dig it out the ground first. And a modern nuclear power station can deliver more power than a coal fired power station.

 

Another option would be to give everyone their own wind mill :wink:

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But the point is that "Greenies" say nuclear power is dirty because of the decomissioning costs while ignoring the decomissioning costs of wind, tide and solar sources of energy, not to mention the huge subsidies required to make these "clean" sources viable. :D :grin:

 

No they don't, the "Greenies" say it's dirty because of the mining of raw materials, storage of waste and high risk nature of its production.

 

Costs are a different issue altogether, which you are completely ignoring: do you have any idea of how much public money has been spent on research, development, maintenance and production of nuclear energy?

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Perhaps we could ask the Japs or Russians about "nuclear energy"? :unsure: There are a few "clean" options, without sowing our countryside with wind turbines - EG hydro, wave and tidal, precisely the kind of major infrastructure projects required to stimulate our economy; which have the added advantages of flood prevention and water storage. Meanwhile, we've got loads of coal, which can be treated with carbon capture technology. :wink:

 

Thorium looks to be an option for use as fuel in nuclear reactors in the future. Thorium is more abundant than uranium and produces more than 250 times more energy per unit weight than uranium in the present reactors. Unlike a uranium reactor a thorium power station would produce no plutonium. Consequently the waste produced from burning thorium in a reactor would not be such a risk if it fell in to the wrong hands and the spent fuel rods are dramatically less radio active than conventional nuclear waste.

The reaction requires an externally applied beam of protons to kick start the reaction.

 

But before I confuse us any further I suggest forumeers look up an article in the Independent. “Are thorium reactors the answer “

 

Apparently China and India consider the thorium option their long term energy solution.

 

Perhaps the UK government should be developing this technology instead of covering the landscape with useless windmills or spending £32 billion on on an equally useless rail way line that gets you to London ½ an hour quicker

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Agree Boris; the nuclear route needs to be taken to the next (safer) level prior to heavy investment. I thought "fusion" was the ultimate goal, but I'll defer to your suggestion. What is annoying; is, while the IMF are suggesting we stimulate our economy with some major capital schemes; we're sowing our countyside with these wind farms rather than investing in flood defence and tidal power with a Severn barrier or two: building more dams and reservoirs to store water and produce hydro-electricity etc etc? :unsure:

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Why invest in flood defence! With sea levels rising we would be like King Knut. We do not have the technology for large scale tidel power, and it would take massive investment to get it up to speed, and you would have to look into the effects it would have on the general environment. The seven barrier was dropped as being very risky and for having a high risk to the environment.

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