Weatherwatch: Labour’s stance on nuclear power is worryingly familiar

There is little difference between this government’s and its Conservative predecessor’s policies on expansion

There seems to be no difference between Conservative and Labour policies on nuclear power. Both support the current building of Hinkley Point C in Somerset, the planned Sizewell C station in Suffolk, an unspecified number of small modular reactors all over Britain as well as the far-off dream of nuclear fusion.

However, few scientists serious about the threat of the climate crisis believe new nuclear power stations are part of the solution in reducing carbon output. Building them is too slow and costly, while solar and wind are quicker and cheaper in making a dent in fossil fuel consumption and eliminating it.

While supporting nuclear expansion seems to be politically expedient, the reality on the ground appears to be different. As the 2024 World Nuclear Status report published this month points out, if Britain gets anywhere near its plan to double onshore wind, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, it will be producing more electricity from these sources than the country consumes.

The experts also say if Rolls-Royce’s “heroic assumption” of the cost of electricity from small modular reactors was correct, any planned construction of large stations would immediately be abandoned.

Cover photo: Construction workers at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station site in Somerset. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP