Nuclear energy might be the only answer...

If we want to cut emissions, then the only option is nuclear.

The only way to plug Britain's growing "energy gap" is to build more nuclear power stations, scientists said in a report published yesterday.

A group of 150 academics and energy industry specialists concluded that in order to achieve the Government's target for reducing greenhouse gases and meet the demand for energy, Britain must replace its nuclear power stations as they reach the end of their useful lives.

The report, published by the Geological Society, stated that renewable energy sources are unlikely to fill the gap left by the ageing nuclear reactors when they are decommissioned, all but one of which will be shut down by 2023. With demand for energy growing by around 0.7 per cent per year, the report said production will be 20 per cent, below peak demand by 2015.

Dr John Loughead, of the UK Energy Research Centre, said at the launch of the report: "Given that we are going to lose some of the current emission-free sources and assuming we want to stick to our objectives on reducing emissions, we felt that replacement of emission-free solutions would most likely be made by nuclear.

"Looking at the costs, it seems to us that renewables will play a growing role but if we are looking at securing supply over this time period [up to 2050], it is unlikely that they will provide what we need."

Now, in my view, it is not that essential to cut emissions (I am skeptical that global warming is man-made). But, if the population is insistent on cutting emissions, then the only way forward is nuclear.