Sir, As representatives of many of the UK’s leading university-based nuclear engineering and science teams, we applaud the efforts of the government, EDF and their Chinese partners to agree a financial package to allow construction of the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset (letters, Oct 20).
A future energy mix with a significant nuclear component plus gas and renewables will deliver secure, affordable low-carbon energy to UK households. During its lifetime Hinkley Point C will provide 7 per cent of the UK’s base load generation needs, avoiding the need to import about £650 million worth of gas. It will mean that 9 million tons of carbon dioxide per annum will not be emitted — a significant part of our battle against global warming.
The UK academic sector has been gearing up for a UK nuclear new-build programme by investing in teaching programmes and research centres. The construction of Hinkley Point C and of the new fleet of planned reactors will provide challenges that we are ready to take up.
Professor Bill Lee, FREng, Imperial College London; Professor Richard Catlow, FRS, University College London; Professor Peter Flewitt, FREng, Bristol University; Professor Chris Grovenor, Oxford University; Professor Francis Livens, Manchester University; Professor Colin Boxall, Lancaster University; Professor Neil Hyatt, Sheffield University; Professor Bruce Hanson, Leeds University; Dr Geoff Parks, Cambridge University