OPINION | NUCLEAR & INDUSTRIAL DECARBONISATION
Time to get smart on decarbonisation
Micro modular reactors are among several nuclear options that potentially offer an attractive solution to decarbonise industry. To do so means the right structures have to be in place though
By: Charlotte Nichols MP
IN JUST OVER A YEAR, energy has become the conversation, as the existential issue of climate change has been joined by another critical threat to UK livelihoods and economy – the energy price crisis. The public have never been more aware of the need to insulate their homes, cut unnecessary consumption and reduce bills – but the struggle faced by the public is only one part of the picture. A lesser-told story is how the British industries that
provide many of the jobs, products and services we all rely on are also facing significant challenges, and soaring energy costs is one of the biggest. Despite government support, businesses have had to shoulder significant additional burden, and it’s no secret that this is forcefully driving businesses in droves to look for new ways to secure competitively priced power. Of course, as we move towards 2050, energy prices
aren’t the only paradigm shift being grappled with – savvy businesses know they need to decarbonise to remain competitive as the world accelerates towards net zero. This poses a wealth of opportunities and challenges alike, with investment urgently needed in new emission-cutting technologies and processes, as well as access to clean power supplies.
Act now to develop the green industries of the future The UK currently has a real window of opportunity to rapidly decarbonise its industrial and manufacturing sectors. But we need a clear and ambitious strategy from government to support businesses with the low-carbon transition, and to develop the new green industries that will build the foundation of a net zero economy. As we face difficult economic headwinds, setting out a
clear plan for industry will allow the UK to stay ahead in the global green economic race. Across the media, we hear calls for government support to attract investment in new green steel manufacturing and gigafactories, highlighting the challenging UK context. Businesses need to make significant investment decisions, and the next few years will determine if the UK is able to retain and build its industrial and manufacturing sector, or see these relocate abroad. With all this talk of the UK, we must not forget that we
are players on a global stage, and policy decisions and tools elsewhere have knock-on impacts for our domestic industries. For example, the US Inflation Reduction Act, a major stimulus for green technologies and industries, increases the risk of us being left behind in the global race.
Above: Nuclear technology is an attractive option to decarbonise industry Photo credit:
www.dvlcom.co.uk/Shutterstock.com
24 | October 2023 |
www.neimagazine.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49
