Electric transport brings the nuclear option into play

YOU have written (March 27) that Ireland’s electric vehicles (EVs) will require additional sources of power. In addition to cars, let us hope our railways will soon be electrified instead of having to depend on imported oil.

You pointed out that neither fossil fuels nor renewable sources have the capacity to bridge the gap and that the extra demand for electricity raises the question of energy independence and nuclear generation.

Many professional bodies in Ireland have made similar pronouncements about the need to consider the nuclear option for this country.

These include ESRI, Chambers Ireland, Amicus section of Unite, ICTU, the Commission for Energy Regulation, Forfás, the National Competitiveness Council, Eirgrid and ESB.

These demonstrate the widespread support that exists in thoughtful circles for consideration of the nuclear option.

A particularly percipient comment about relying on natural gas was made by Engineers Ireland and the Irish Academy of Engineering in the recent publication entitled Infrastructure for an Island Population of Eight Million: "The key policy decision will be to decide on the ... optimum share that gas, coal and nuclear should contribute to the non-renewable segment of electricty generation. In the absence of policy direction it is likely that gas-fired generation will fill the void by default as it is the easiest to permit and build. This would expose the island to a major energy security risk, as by 2030, with the North Sea fields depleted, gas will come mainly from politically unstable regions with a probability of supply interruption and price volatility. It would be prudent to plan for similar contributions each from gas, coal and nuclear for the 70% non-renewable segment. Ireland ... must open itself up to the possibility of nuclear generation in the longer term to ensure competitiveness."

David Sowby

Knocksinna Crescent

Dublin 18

Frank Turvey

St. Brigid’s

Greystones

Co. Wicklow