Renewable energy sources - the good, the bad and the ugly

A balanced energy solution would always contain nuclear power, particularly now that much smaller units are an option. By that means it would be perfectly feasible to phase out fossil fuels.

 

I just live up the road from Sellafield. They were going to build a new nuclear power plant that would of been the biggest in Europe until Toshiba pulled out. It was then earmarked as a suitable site for nuclear fusion reactors, now it looks like it's going to be used as a storage facility for plutonium, which is not getting as much support from the locals. The trouble has been the political parties, yes/no attitude for to long.

 

They have shut down both reactors now at Dungeness, as far as I know and no plans to build another one.
It makes no sence to me as all the infrastructure is there just rotting away.

 

They raised that issue on the programme. The further North you go and even if you have solar panels fitted, the heat pumps would actually still need a back source of power. If ever there was a power cut in the cold winter months the energy generated from the solar panels would still be insufficient.

 

When my air conditioner unit needed repair summer before last, the fellow tried to sell me a heat pump. He said it's more efficient. blah blah blah Then said that because our winters are so cold, we would still need a traditional furnace to keep the house warm during the winter months. So I had the air conditioner repaired - the heat pump, to me , would have just been an expensive air conditioner that could add a little warm air to the already gas powered heat the house would have. Totally silly. To me anyway.

 

It looks like the Norwegian government has collapsed over the EU energy directives.

Norway’s government collapses over EU spat – POLITICO

Norway’s Government Splits Over EU Energy Policy Dispute - Life in Norway

 

I was reading that earlier. EU inflexibility has always been an issue, but the difficulties are really reaching crisis point.