Nuclear power producers scared of wind competition in UK

international | environment | other press Thursday March 26, 2009 00:26 by Diet Simon

The French government-owned power monopoly EdF and the German power giant E.ON have warned the British government they may be forced to drop plans to build a new generation of nuclear power plants in that country unless the government scales back its targets for wind power.

The threat has turned into an own-goal because in it the power companies admit what nuclear opponents have always maintained: Serious expansion of renewable energy sources leaves no room for inflexible nuclear power stations, which are designed for the most constant output achievable.
"The analysis of EdF und E.ON is correct,” says Ulrich Kelber, a senior member of the Social Democratic parliamentary party in Berlin. “A high proportion of nuclear power does not jibe with a high proportion of renewables.”
Kelber says the latest move by the power giants makes ever clearer that nuclear energy is a hindrance-technology standing in the way of climate-compatible energy production and more competition on energy markets.
EdF’s and E.ON’s demands – contained in submissions to the British government's renewable energy consultation – reinforce the worries of wind developers that the two sectors cannot thrive simultaneously.
The power giants said attempts to reach 35% of electricity generated by renewables is not only unrealistic but also damaging to alternative schemes such as nuclear plants.