Major UK energy player switches to renewables
Scottish and Southern Energy, one of the major UK energy companies has announced it is considering switching its future development to renewable energy, rather than continuing their plans for more nuclear plants.
Scottish and Southern Energy, one of the major UK energy companies has announced it is considering switching its future development to renewable energy, rather than continuing their plans for more nuclear plants.This follows a swathe of governments and countries moving away from nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster earlier in the year.
A spokesman told the Financial Times that, “a review of our involvement in new nuclear is currently under way,” and that they are, “expected to make an announcement shortly”. SSE is part of one of three consortiums vying to build new nuclear stations in Britain and is a major blow to the government who are advocating new nuclear plants.
Green groups have welcomed the news, with groups like the WWF stating that, “We simply don't need nuclear power to keep the lights on and so we'd warmly welcome it if SSE were to abandon its involvement in this expensive and dangerous technology,” he said. “Pursuing a 100 per cent renewable future is the correct path to take and we'd encourage all those companies left in the consortium – including Scottish Power's owners Iberdrola – to also consider abandoning their nuclear ambitions,” says Dr. Dan Barlow, Head of Policy at the WWF.
SSE is the UK’s second biggest energy producer and has a 25% stake in the NuGen consortium.Iberdrola of Spain and GDF Suez of France are also part of the group.
