Going nuclear (From The Oxford Times)

Going nuclear

6:40am Thursday 25th February 2010 in

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The Didcot area has been named and rejected previously as a potential site for nuclear power. The link is no surprise. Didcot has long been a centre for power generation and next-door Harwell the location of nuclear research.

Didcot was mentioned as a site for a conventional nuclear power station as part of Government plans for a new breed of reactor. It was no more than a potential idea and it was soon lost as it became clear that there were many other more suitable locations.

Today, however, we report that Harwell is being spoken of as the location of a nuclear power station of the future — namely one that takes advantage of the emerging technology of nuclear fusion.

With Harwell’s reputation for nuclear research, including in this area, and its ability to house such a venture, there is more chance that a nuclear power station of this kind could be built here in Oxfordshire.

The prospect will bring with it a mixture of excitement and concern.

Proponents of nuclear fusion say it will be cleaner and safer than conventional nuclear power, and that it will help to solve the world’s energy crisis.

We are no experts, but there does appear to be a lot of scientific interest and investment by governments from across the globe going into this area.

It would be no surprise to find the scientific expertise of Oxfordshire placing us at the cutting edge of new power generation.