BEING ABLE to produce its own nuclear energy might serve Ireland in a number of ways. It would provide energy security but could also help "decarbonise" the Irish transport system, according to an expert in energy policy.
Discussions on future energy policy should include debate on the role of nuclear energy, according to Dr William Nuttall of the University of Cambridge. The advantages and disadvantages should at least be considered before being rejected or embraced.
Dr Nuttall was speaking last night in Dublin at the RDS during a talk entitled Nuclear Energy - why is it on the agenda?
The talk is one of a number in the Ireland in 2030 lecture series, a joint RDS/ Irish Timesinitiative that looks at the serious long-term challenges that face us and how we might help overcome these difficulties.
Dr Nuttall stressed that he was not an advocate for the nuclear industry. Yet changing economic circumstances and demands required in response to the threat of global warming were altering how nuclear power might be viewed.
"Energy policy is dominated by three concepts, the economics of the energy system, energy security and climate change," he told his audience at the RDS. "Climate change and energy security are now being reflected in the economics of energy."
This in turn has changed the economic perspective for nuclear, although the option remains a considerable risk, not least economically given associated development costs running at €3 billion to €4 billion per large-scale plant.
Having a local nuclear plant would provide energy security, and with interconnectors would allow Ireland to export energy. Conversely, interconnectors would allow us to import power, whatever the source, to bolster energy security.
There are other dimensions to the nuclear question. "Don't forget that nuclear might be able to decarbonise transport," said Dr Nuttall, who is a senior lecturer in technology policy at Judge business school, University of Cambridge and Cambridge's engineering department.
An assured electricity supply would allow the electrification of public transport and support the use of "plug-in" electric vehicles. "This means that your transport system becomes more linked to the electricity system."
Equally, the next generation "high temperature" nuclear plants allow the very efficient production of hydrogen gas, which is a highly desirable alternative transport fuel. Availability of hydrogen produced without the current requirement for electricity would allow Ireland to become a "hydrogen economy", with a very low carbon release.