Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is nuclear the future of energy… again?
#NuclearEnergy
#cleanenergy
#FutureOfPower
#RenewableVsNuclear
#EnergyDebate
The UK is among a group of countries working on the commercial development of so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) which promise to be safe, with simpler designs that can be produced off site, in the hope that they can avoid many of the cost overruns of the large-scale designs. Nuclear fusion, the alternative to nuclear fission, has yet to reach commercial levels of electricity production, although several commercial companies have found investment.
Many leading environmentalists have accepted that nuclear must be part of the drive to Net Zero. But there are often confusing claims made over the economics of nuclear versus renewables such as wind and solar.
Is nuclear power the grand solution to our problems or just one part of the energy mix? Is nuclear just too slow and too expensive to build – or are the costs of renewables being understated? How will we cope with all the extra demands for electricity in the future, from heating to transport? Is the aim of generating unlimited energy that is ‘too cheap to meter’ – as we were promised in the Fifties – now off the agenda completely?
The speakers are:
Emma Bateman - environmental campaigner; founding member, Together Against Sizewell C; organiser, Green Women's Declaration for Sex Based Rights
Dr Dominic Standish - writer and commentator on energy; professor, University of Iowa; author, Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and reality
Robert Reid - policy development officer, ALBA Party
The chair is:
Dr Paul Reeves - developer of manufacturing simulation technology
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
Is nuclear the future of energy… again?
#NuclearEnergy
#cleanenergy
#FutureOfPower
#RenewableVsNuclear
#EnergyDebate
The UK is among a group of countries working on the commercial development of so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) which promise to be safe, with simpler designs that can be produced off site, in the hope that they can avoid many of the cost overruns of the large-scale designs. Nuclear fusion, the alternative to nuclear fission, has yet to reach commercial levels of electricity production, although several commercial companies have found investment.
Many leading environmentalists have accepted that nuclear must be part of the drive to Net Zero. But there are often confusing claims made over the economics of nuclear versus renewables such as wind and solar.
Is nuclear power the grand solution to our problems or just one part of the energy mix? Is nuclear just too slow and too expensive to build – or are the costs of renewables being understated? How will we cope with all the extra demands for electricity in the future, from heating to transport? Is the aim of generating unlimited energy that is ‘too cheap to meter’ – as we were promised in the Fifties – now off the agenda completely?
The speakers are:
Emma Bateman - environmental campaigner; founding member, Together Against Sizewell C; organiser, Green Women's Declaration for Sex Based Rights
Dr Dominic Standish - writer and commentator on energy; professor, University of Iowa; author, Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and reality
Robert Reid - policy development officer, ALBA Party
The chair is:
Dr Paul Reeves - developer of manufacturing simulation technology
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
