"I think any new nuclear power stations - and I think there will be some from what both Labour and Conservatives have said - will be on the sites of existing ones."

Presumably the few additional reactors now envisaged are based on a plan which includes substantial energy generation from the planned growth in wind farms and allows only for replacement of current Nuclear capacity?

To draw on Camerons David King quote:

"Sir David believes the best way to generate lowcarbon energy is to improve energy efficiency and to increase the proportion of electricity generated from nuclear power.

'With nuclear I think it's wise to go to 40 per cent of maximum demand," he said. That would require up to 20 new or replacement nuclear power stations by 2025.'

If I'm right there are now 19 working reactors in the UK and including what we take from France Nuclear Energy delivers around 20% of current energy requirements. If policy dictated 40% of peak demand should be derived from Nuclear power stations then that would surely mean double to triple the number of reactors would be necessary? Surely that would mean that new sites would have to be identified?

I haven't been following the new nuclear power stations story in any detail. I don't whether extra new reactors can be built on the same sites as existing reactors. I did find this in the Guardian from April this year. Most of the sites listed are existing ones.

Just for information:

"In 2009/10 the RO [Renewable Obligation] adds around £12 to annual electricity bills."

RO is Renwable Obligation, the subsidy given to renewable generators.

www.ofgem.gov.uk/Media/FactSheets/Documents1/updatedhouseholdbills09.pdf

Page 4

John

Re my last thread :
This thread has been the final Nail, the straw that broke the hill climbers back.
Frustration at the "cant see the wood for the trees" attitude or just "not in my back yard". TGO is a great magazine and I have enjoyed being part of this forum but I have simply had enough. I have decided to take a leave of absence from the forum before I loose the will to live.

Hawthorns sorry but the flounce thing made me laugh I said I was taking a leave of absence not leaving for good. A "flounce" would be an incorrect assumption. No disrespect meant just needed a break

Hillwalker "hope we can get rid of wind farms as easy as angry climber" there seems to be a pattern here you said similar comments when Yomper left the forum. Maybe this says more about you, your small mindedness and unwillingness to debate than your actual dislike of myself. I have never been disrespectfull towards you or any member of the forum and I would not expect it from any member. So to you I offer an olive branch. I hope you continue to post and add to the forum and respect other forum users for the diveristy of cultures and views they belong to.

Thank you to the others who showed support. I am whole heartedly touched by your comments and they mean a lot to me.

And to Cameron, TGO is your baby and I respect your views but I dont always agree with them. When I agree I have told you so and when I disagree I let you know. Fairs fair and after I collected all my toys from around the pram, I am back in the cot and ready to throw them out again.

To let others understand I was born in the 70's and my mother and father campained against nuclear power and nuclear weapons. I now have two young children and the thought that we may repeat the mistakes of the nuclear age and open new nuclear power stations worries me deeply. I respect the Highlands of scotland but think that many of the areas we call wild lands or no more wild than they are man made. The Braes of Doune wind farm is not a blight on the landscape but a reasonable compromise between the need for renewable energy and the need to use hill areas. Better they were there than Torridon or Knoydart.

For our childrens sake lets debate, compromise and agree and dont become a regretfull generation. Maybe my view is wrong, Maybe your view is wrong and just maybe we have not come up with the right answer yet but I firmly believe if we can have active forums like this then the issue will be in the forefront and we may all come to a compromise that meets all our needs.

Thanks for reading and hope you will add to this thread.

Angry Climber

Good to have you back AC and look forward to your posts. I don't have much time to post (away backpacking!). I'm pro nuclear energy personally, and would happily live near a nuclear power station. I am encouraged by so called "green" scientists such as James Lovelock who has stated that he'd be happy to harness the heat generated by nuclear waste to heat his home.

You are absoloutley right AC, forums like this can be very educational. I bore everyone all the time when I repeat for the millionth time "It all starts with communication". That'll be a million and one then.

Welcome back AC. No offense meant and no offense taken, but I'm afraid I do strongly disagree with your comments about the perceived importance of windfarms. Sadly, if we follow the route of our present Government with regards to energy we are likely to see the lights going out and I'm afraid I don't think I'll ever look at the Braes of Doune windfarm with any less than horror. Positioned as it, straddling the Highland Line, it is the first view many tourists have of the highlands of Scotland. What a welcome!