Sir, – The current push by the nuclear lobby is concentrating its efforts on small modular reactors (SMRs). Unfortunately the technology around SMRs is still at development stage and unlikely to be available by the end of the decade. The current projected cost of each reactor is €6 billion. Each unit would provide enough energy to power approximately 50,000 homes, so multiple units would be required. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) assessed SMRs and declared them to be “too late, too expensive, too risky and too uncertain”.
Meanwhile the US National Ignition Facility in San Jose, California, is at early stage development of nuclear fusion technology, which is the only safe nuclear power which doesn’t result with residual plutonium, uranium and caesium.
Given how long it takes to complete any infrastructure project in this country, nuclear fusion should be our target facility to supplement our wind and solar power. – Yours, etc,
RORY O’RORKE,
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Borrisoleigh,
Co Tipperary.
