• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Archives

Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Ireland discussing nuclear power again

January 13, 2008 By Rod Adams

According to an opinion piece titled The debate on Irish nuclear power should be fuelled by pragmatism the recent decision by the UK to include nuclear power in its future energy plans is causing an increased level of discussion about a domestic use of atomic power within Ireland. Another useful source about the discussion can be found on the Independent.ie (Ireland) under the title of Nuclear debate.

Apparently there have been calls from unions and business leaders for Ireland to rethink its current official prohibition on the use of nuclear energy. As one might expect, one of the things that people opposed to nuclear power bring up is the fact that Ireland is a rather small place, with a population of about 5 million people. They claim that there is no need for the kinds of power plants that the UK is considering, since those are in the range of 1100-1600 MWe and the entire island power demand is on the order of 4000 – 5000 MWe.

Of course, there is always the option of smaller atomic power plants like the 600 MWe AP-600 (complete with a US NRC design certification, by the way), the 750 MWe CANDU 6, or even the 10 MWe Adams Engine (TM). (I have to get that plug in now and again.) Any of those reactors would be useful additions that provide room for adequate redundancy in a grid the size of Ireland’s.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Rod Adams

Rod Adams is Managing Partner of Nucleation Capital, a venture fund that invests in advanced nuclear, which provides affordable access to this clean energy sector to pronuclear and impact investors. Rod, a former submarine Engineer Officer and founder of Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., which was one of the earliest advanced nuclear ventures, is an atomic energy expert with small nuclear plant operating and design experience. He has engaged in technical, strategic, political, historic and financial analysis of the nuclear industry, its technology, regulation, and policies for several decades through Atomic Insights, both as its primary blogger and as host of The Atomic Show Podcast. Please click here to subscribe to the Atomic Show RSS feed. To join Rod's pronuclear network and receive his occasional newsletter, click here.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Join Rod’s pronuclear network

Join Rod's pronuclear network by completing this form. Let us know what your specific interests are.

Recent Comments

  • Eino on Oil and gas opposition to consolidate interim spent fuel (CISF) storage facilities in Permian Basin
  • Rod Adams on Can prototype nuclear reactors be licensed in the US under current rules?
  • Rob Brixey on Can prototype nuclear reactors be licensed in the US under current rules?
  • Jon Grams on Oil and gas opposition to consolidate interim spent fuel (CISF) storage facilities in Permian Basin
  • Rod Adams on Oil and gas opposition to consolidate interim spent fuel (CISF) storage facilities in Permian Basin

Follow Atomic Insights

The Atomic Show

Atomic Insights

Recent Posts

Oil and gas opposition to consolidate interim spent fuel (CISF) storage facilities in Permian Basin

Atomic Energy Wells

Enough with “renewables!”

Can prototype nuclear reactors be licensed in the US under current rules?

Atomic Show #303 – Bret Kugelmass, CEO Last Energy

  • Home
  • About Atomic Insights
  • Atomic Show
  • Contact
  • Links

Search Atomic Insights

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Atomic Insights

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy