Coal regains crown as slump in nuclear output raises fears of power shortages (UK)

[jpak]

http://www.sundayherald.com/business/businessnews/display.var.2468254.0.coal_regains_crown_as_slump_in_nuclear_output_raises_fears_of_power_shortages.php

POWER SUPPLIERS are turning back the clock to use coal-fired plants as their main source of electricity in a bid to avert potential shortages this winter.

Latest figures from the National Grid show that the fuel accounted for 42.5% of all power generation, overtaking natural gas production for the first time in years.

The surge, from a usual level of little more than a third of total output, comes as the major networks seek to fill a gap caused by a slump in nuclear energy output at East Kilbride-based British Energy.

Nuclear power accounted for as little as 10.5% of output during peak times last week. This is roughly half the levels of a couple of years ago and there had been fears that we could see the first power shortages as early as this month.

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[wtmusic]

1. The slump in nuclear is due to maintenance and updates

Damn the bastids for putting safety first! :D

[elleng]

2. Coal will be with us for a long time.

Its most abundant, etc, and lots of big guys want, need and benefit from its use.

Watch for 'fights' about 'cleaning' the stuff; technologically very difficult, expensive, and time consuming; and then issues about extracting in 'decent' ways.

[GliderGuider]

3. Dog bites man. Film at 11:00.

Of course they're running more coal. So are Bangladesh and China.

What happened to all the wind turbines that were going to save humanity's sorry ass?

[madokie]

6. humanities sorry ass...

An alternate energy friendly President is soon to be inaugurated. Come back in a few years and ask that question.

[GliderGuider]

7. Is Obama going to install wind turbines in England?

Or Bangladesh?

We've got a depression to get through of before the world can contemplate such luxuries, I'm afraid.

I'll be sticking around for sure, banging my Cassandra drum at every turn and touting spiritual awakening over alternative energy as a response to the converging crisis of civilization.

[NickB79]

4. Gee, imagine that

It's not like anyone here predicted this :eyes:

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Shocking, isn't it?

Incidentally, see the list of planned coal plants in Germany has reached 39.

Ecotopia, here we come.