IET: Hinkley: long overdue step forward for long term energy future

Simon Harrison, Chair of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Energy Policy Panel, said: “This is an important and overdue step forward to delivering a balanced energy portfolio for GB for the long-term. 

“There will be relatively high costs in developing this new nuclear facility but broadly comparable with other low carbon technologies such as offshore wind, and, potentially, carbon capture and storage applied to gas and coal fired power stations.   These large scale technologies will continue to be needed in the future in addition to more distributed and localised solutions such as combined heat and power schemes. 

“Much of the electricity system was constructed in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and needs replacing over the next 10-20 years, this includes both generation and power networks.   It is unfortunately true that the costs of this work this will lead to higher prices.

“We would encourage Government and industry to engage in a more open dialogue with electricity and energy customers so there is transparency in the future direction of prices, and also that customers are helped to reduce the impact on their bills through making it easier to make energy efficient lifestyle choices.”

Ends

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