Hang previously fallen from grace so rapidly, the use of nuclear power plants appears to have found favour again in certain corners and with select governments.
The UK government for example, is keen to renovate its nuclear programme and stipulated in its recent White Paper, the need to build enough reactors to replace the ageing fleet that provided 20% of its electricity in past decades. If anything, it is thought that expansions are hoped for that would see 40% of future electricity generated by such reactors.
This would apparently lead to long-term economic health for the country and scope for technology links between the UK and neighbouring France, relatively skilled and pioneering in the field of nuclear power at present.
It is also thought that the world is awake again to the merits of nuclear power. Technology has advanced so far that previous concerns of abundant waste, critical safety measures and spiralling costs have all but evaporated. With the fuel considered relatively bountiful and as a low-carbon energy source, it also finds support in today’s climate of environmental anxiety.
Debate still surrounds the use of nuclear power, however. Where it is to be used, there seems almost as much debate concerning the safe control, storage and production of the radioactive materials that drive this method of energy provision.
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