A 94% solution - low carbon energy without nuclear power (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

A 94% solution - low carbon energy without nuclear power

June 1, 2007 9:49 AM

Lib Dem Energy Spokesperson, David Howarth, has published a paper entitled 'A 94% solution - low carbon energy without nuclear power'. The Paper sets out proposals to reduce emissions from electricity generation by 94% without the use of nuclear power by 2050.

The paper was published as the government launched their own energy white paper, which backed the use of nuclear power at the expense of carbon capture and renewable technology.

The paper sets out proposals to reduce emissions while avoiding the use of nuclear power, it states,

"The goal of a completely renewable energy system in Britain is entirely plausible in the long term. Britain is enormously rich in renewable energy resources. There is sufficient wind, tide and wave energy, not to mention solar energy, biomass and geothermal energy, to provide Britain's current electricity demand many times over. Even looking at readily accessible resources, it is already possible to envisage an entirely renewable electricity generating system. A fully renewable system would simultaneously solve the two biggest problems of energy policy: it produces no carbon emissions and its fuels - the wind, the tide, the waves and the sun - would be entirely secure."

David Howarth MP

"Liberal Democrats argue that the real choice now is between nuclear power and carbon capture and storage as a transitional technology. We believe that the ultimate goal has to be a fully renewable system, but the immediate question is how to reach that goal. Our contention is that carbon capture and storage is a better interim solution than nuclear power."