Extract from oral answer (Lords) on Heat and Building Strategy - Dec 8
Wednesday, 9 December 2020 08:04
Lord Broers (CB) [V]: Are the Government in their heat and housing
strategy doing everything possible to use the heat from nuclear
power stations? Some 40% of the energy from nuclear reactors,
including small modular reactors is emitted in the form of heat,
which can be captured in district heating systems to heat
buildings. It can also be used to produce hydrogen and other
low-carbon fuels, thereby making the cost of nuclear power
competitive with that of renewables. Baroness Bloomfield
of...Request free trial
(CB) [V]: Are the Government in their heat and housing
strategy doing everything possible to use the heat from nuclear
power stations? Some 40% of the energy from nuclear reactors,
including small modular reactors is emitted in
the form of heat, which can be captured in district heating systems
to heat buildings. It can also be used to produce hydrogen and
other low-carbon fuels, thereby making the cost of nuclear power
competitive with that of renewables.
(Con): The noble Lord is quite right on the science of
his question. Indeed, the heat produced by nuclear power stations
can be used for many other purposes, rather than just heat
networks. After all, nuclear power stations in France are sited
often much closer to conurbations than they are here. As for heat
networks, the pipe infrastructure is fuel agnostic. Once
infrastructure is in place, heat networks can be developed to
exploit a range of lower-carbon heat sources. The Government
believe that nuclear could have a role in beyond-the-grid
applications, including hydrogen production. All nuclear reactor
technologies have the potential to feed into the hydrogen market,
by producing either low-cost electricity or heat for increasingly
efficient electrolysis production.
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