Sunday, 27 October 2013

Studio Brief 04 Directional Summary OUGD403


Background:
Britain has an energy problem. In order to ensure energy supply for the future we have to invest in some form of long lasting energy generation. It cannot be Gas or Coal because these supplies are running out. There is some investment in renewable energy sources but these are expensive and so far only provide a small percentage of our required electricity. Nuclear energy has been tried and tested, has environmental and safety issues and requires high capitol investment in order to get off the ground.
Britain has several nuclear generators, many of which are coming to the end of their working lives. The government has decided that the best way forward is to build a new reactor at Hinckley Point in Somerset.

Summary:

-The coalition government has promised not to pass on the cost of nuclear energy to the taxpayer.

-They have accepted quotes from the French company EDF (part state owned) and their Chinese investors to build and run the new power plant in Somerset.

-They have agreed a deal with EDF to guarantee the price per megawatt hour of the energy produced for 35 years starting in 2023.

Controversy:
-The price that has been agreed on per megawatt hour is seen as a gamble because it is very difficult to foresee the prices of energy in the future.

-Despite promising to the contrary the cost for this agreed amount per megawatt hour could be passed on the taxpayer in the form of energy bills. (Depending on the future cost of nuclear power.)

-Because it is a 35 year agreement, they have made a political promise that goes far beyond the term of the current government and impacts on future governments.

-The current energy secretary is a Liberal Democrat, in the past he has been personally anti investment in nuclear power. In addition the Lib-Dems themselves have taken an anti nuclear stance, therefore the announcement of this deal makes them look unprincipled.

-The coalition government (the dominant conservative faction) do not believe in nationalised industry. Yet, they are prepared to invest in French nationalised industry in Britain.

-It is unclear how many jobs the new plant will create for British workers.

-A major stress point for this deal is the fact that it is the French (our historical rivals) and the Chinese (the dangerous new world power) that benefit from the situation.

-Originally the British gave birth to nuclear power generation (Aldermaston) but have a government that have bee so indecisive about how to invest in energy generation that we are now left unable to control our own power supply.

-Energy prices have already been raised in preparation for the cold winter months, and the public awareness of this makes this story seem more immediate and personally relevant to the ordinary person.

My opinions:
Because there are so many interweaving areas of this story there are numerous opinions I have on each. They are as follows.
-Any profits that arise from running this nuclear power plant should go into not only reducing the cost of the energy per mega watt hour but also into developing more renewable energy sources.
-Why is it we always expect energy to be so cheap anyway?
-We should be hesitant to use nuclear power.
-We should really just pay a little bit more and get fully renewable energy sources set up.
-Renewable energy sources should be an international concern, each country has great resources i.e. the British coast line is perfect for wind and wave power generation.

The routes I will follow for my research will each follow one of these opinions.

The areas of research I want to look into are as follows:
-International renewable energy sources.
-Renewable energy sources.
-Nuclear power, how it works and its signs and symbols
-The history of nuclear power, why we distrust it.
-The British identity and the nationalism this story has revealed.
-Electricity production and its costs


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