SDC is against nuclear energy

The SDC's statement says there is "no justification for bringing forward a new nuclear power programme at present", saying the UK's energy needs could be met without it and urging the government to reject this option in favour of an "aggressive" expansion of energy efficiency and renewables.

The report identifies five major disadvantages of nuclear power:

1. No solution to long-term waste problems.

2. Nuclear is inflexible and would lock the UK into a centralised distribution system at a time when there is a strong case for micro-generation and local distribution networks.

3. The cost of nuclear is uncertain and there is no justification for public subsidy.

4. A nuclear programme would undermine an energy efficiency drive.

5. If the UK develops more nuclear energy, it cannot deny other countries with lower safety standards the opportunity to do the same.

The Commission said its conclusion was based on eight research papers, which established that even if the UK's existing nuclear capacity was doubled, it would only give an 8% cut on C02 emissions by 2035.

• In a double whammy for the nuclear industry, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, speaking at the British Nuclear Energy Society, called for the industry to prove that its wish for greater certainty over licensing and planning will not undermine current levels of security and safeguards.

Next month's issue of BSJ will feature CIBSE's response to the Energy Review.