Thirty years on from the tragedy of Chernobyl (theguardian.com, 26 April), the potential of nuclear power to provide cheap, safe, decarbonised energy is not diminished. While we pause to reflect on this worst imaginable accident, we must not let misplaced perceptions of risk mean we overlook reality. Nuclear power is our safest option for the supply of baseload, low-carbon electricity. Coal power has killed more than a thousand times more people per unit of energy produced than nuclear power, including both UN confirmed deaths from reported incidents and epidemiological evidence. All new nuclear build has passive redundant safety systems and must be able to withstand the worst-case disaster, no matter how unlikely. The UK also has a clear programme in place to deal with all our nuclear waste, including the reduced volumes generated by new-build reactor designs compared to current reactors.
The planned generation of nuclear technologies offer the UK security of supply and low-carbon solutions to our power needs. There is also a significant economic opportunity, including highly skilled jobs in construction and operation, provided the government holds firm on a minimum percentage commitment to the British supply chain for all new nuclear projects. We must keep nuclear fears in proportion and our minds open in order to keep the lights on.
Tim Yeo
Chair of New Nuclear Watch Europe
Professor Bill Lee
Director, Centre for Nuclear Engineering, Imperial College London
Professor Malcolm Joyce
Chair of nuclear engineering, Lancaster University
Professor Colin Boxall
Chair in nuclear decommissioning and engineering, Lancaster University
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Source: Guardian Environment