EVEN OFFSHORE WIND BEATS NUCLEAR NOW

Wind power cheaper than nuclear, says EU climate chief; Connie Hedegaard says declining cost of offshore wind energy makes it genuine alternative to crisis-hit nuclear industry
Fiona Harvey and Terry Macalister, 17 march 2011 (UK Guardian)

"Generating energy from wind turbines at sea would be cheaper than building new atomic power plants, Europe's climate chief has said, in the latest challenge to the crisis-stricken nuclear industry."

[Connie Hedegaard, climate change commissioner, EU:] "Some people tend to believe that nuclear is very, very cheap, but offshore wind is cheaper than nuclear. People should believe that this is very, very cheap…There are 143 nuclear power plants in Europe and they are not going to disappear…But when it comes to new energy capacity that discussion is likely to be very much influenced by what is happening in Japan."

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"Offshore wind energy has long been seen as an expensive way of generating power, costing about two to three times more than erecting turbines on land, but the expense is likely to come down, while the costs of nuclear energy are opaque…

"...[Hedegaard said] the problems facing nuclear power put renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar power, back in the spotlight…[but] was careful to insist that it was up to member states to decide on their energy mix, as long as they adhered to the Europe-wide targets of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 and generating 20% of energy from renewable sources…"

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"…[The EC’s Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 showed the EU was on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% if current policies are implemented…[T]his strengthened the case put by some member states that the EU's current target of cutting carbon dioxide by 20% by 2020 should be toughened to 30%.

"China and Germany have put nuclear projects on hold after the incidents at several Japanese nuclear reactors…Europe's biggest nuclear operator, EDF of France, insisted that plans to build a new generation of reactors in Britain should not be held back…[and insisted recent meetings] with local authorities regarding places…where EDF wants to build a new reactor…[had] been positive…"