Sizewell C nuclear plant is part of Labour’s investment in nuclear, which it argues will bring jobs to the UK and will “get Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster”.
A sign protesting against the new Sizewell C nuclear power station (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Concerns have also been raised about the impact on the local environment and wildlife.
The most immediate benefit from Sizewell C will be the jobs it brings to the surrounding area.
Ministers say the project will employ up to 10,000 people during construction, including 1,500 apprentices.
Ten years
The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said it will take “about a decade” for Sizewell C to become operational, at which point it should create enough electricity to power the equivalent of around six million homes.
Dungeness B nuclear power station, which is currently being decommissioned (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
For its proponents, nuclear will play a crucial role in helping wean the UK off of its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
While not a renewable energy source, such as wind or solar, nuclear power is often referred to as “clean” as it does not release carbon dioxide emissions, unlike gas or coal fired plants.
In 40 years time the UK should have phased out fossil fuels and be reliant on a net zero energy system.
Investing in nuclear means the UK will have a diversified energy supply. Unlike renewables, nuclear energy offers a continuous baseload supply and is therefore considered reliable.
The cost of nuclear
But not everyone agrees that it is a good idea to build new nuclear reactions in the UK, and Sizewell C has faced significant opposition.
Hinkley Point C (above) is now eight years over deadline and £18bn over budget (Photo by Anna Barclay/Getty Images)
The Green Party also opposes the development, arguing that nuclear is “hugely expensive and far too slow to come on line”. They point to EDF’s other nuclear project, Hinkley Point in Somerset, which originally promised to deliver power by 2017 for a budget of £22bn, however the project has spent £40bn to date and is still not online.
“The money being spent on this nuclear gamble would be far better spent on insulating and retrofitting millions of homes, bringing down energy bills and keeping people warmer and more comfortable,” Green Party leader Adrian Ramsay argued.
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