powerful people the case for nuclear power. electricity
TRANSCRIPT
Powerful people
the case for nuclear power
Electricity
Powerful people
Back in Stoneage times
…over 200,000 years ago
early humans discovered how to make fire…
Why was fire so important to them?
Fire gave people power
• To cook food
• To keep warm
• To provide light at night
• To frighten away animals
• To fire pottery
• To smelt metal
Open fires still very popular...
Most people in the
world still use open fires
Every year, 1.6 million people die from cooking over open fires – that’s more than the number of deaths caused by malaria!
www.practicalaction.org
The Victorians In the UK most people
had open fires – originally burning wood until cheap coal became available in the Victorian age
The 1920’s Mains gas was being
provided into the homes of those who could afford it…
The railways and the power stations relied on coal to make them work…
The 1930’s …more electricity
power stations were coming on line…to provide street lighting and power to wealthy people…and not so wealthy…
Battersea Power Station
The iconic
Battersea Power Station (London)– which closed in the 1980’s is now a Listed Building…
Changing people’s lives
How would people have lit their homes prior to electric lamps?
What new appliances could they have in their homes?
Coal won’t last forever... The burning of coal
causes pollution…
Smog's in large towns
Acid Rain
Climate Change
There are other energy sources…
Oil
Natural Gas
Renewables
Nuclear
How do power stations work?
Most power stations work by turning around a large turbine, which looks a bit like a wheel
It’s all about steam…
Coal, oil, biomass and nuclear
power stations use steam to turn the turbines around…
Source: Wikipedia
…into electricity
The turbines turn motors which then generate electricity…
Source: Wikipedia
Oil fired power station
A Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power does not produce greenhouse gases linked to Climate Change
It is reliable in all weathers
It provides us with a ‘base load’ of electricity to run our hospitals, railways, schools, factories etc…
Nuclear Power
Nuclear power does not produce greenhouse gases linked to Climate Change
It is reliable in all weathers
It provides us with a ‘base load’ of electricity to run our hospitals, railways, schools, factories etc…
Insight Event 19 June 2012 © 24 November 2009 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved.24
The Policy Case for Nuclear
Helps combat climate change
Reduces reliance on imported gas
Benefits customers and UK competitiveness
Low Carbon
Emissions
Security of Supply
Stability of Costs
Facts and figures…
Energy mix:
2009 figures - UK Energy in Brief 2010 – DECC
Fuel Type % of total supply
Coal 27.8
Oil 1.1
Gas 45.5
Nuclear 17.6
Hydro 1.1
Wind 2.6
Other Fuels 3.5
Net Imports 0.8
www.jointhepod.org
Over to you…
What kinds of power stations are there?
We can all do something to make energy go further and not be wasteful…any ideas?
Join the pod…www.jointhepod.org