From Robert Deuchar, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK
In your extended look at how to transform our energy system to a climate-friendly one, nuclear power doesn’t make the cut (7 August, p 34).
It should. For starters, Rolls-Royce is leading a consortium to produce small modular nuclear reactors producing about 450 megawatts each. It says that they could be operating in the early 2030s at a cost comparable with renewables such as wind.
In addition, you report a “lack of public and political support” for nuclear, but another technology, thorium-powered nuclear, may offer a way to address this. This is inherently safe as the reaction needs a beam of neutrons, so if there is a problem the beam can be turned off.
The public should be persuaded that thorium can be a major electricity generator in the medium term. Relying on wind and solar is putting all your eggs in one basket. Four major sources would be good: wind, solar, modular (uranium) nuclear and thorium nuclear.
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