Price of power

Published on Sunday 21 June 2009 21:26

I DO not know the source of Cllr Euan McLeod's claim that it costs 9-12 p/kWh (sic) to build a nuclear power plant (Letters, 16 June). He may call this "extremely expensive" but what matters is the actual cost of the electricity produced, allowing for amortisation of the capital cost. Various analyses show that nuclear generation is the cheapest method.

In a written answer in the House of Commons on 11 November, 2008, various costs (p/kWh) were given as follows: nuclear 3.8, coal 5.1, gas 5.2, onshore wind 7.2, offshore wind 9.2 (these costs are a function of the total generation output of the plant over its whole operational life). I have seen no indication that these data need revision; other estimates of the nuclear cost have ranged from 1.7-2.3 p/kWh.

It is not true that renewables and energy efficiency are more effective at providing jobs and tackling climate change; nuclear power is better at both.

STEUART CAMPBELL

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh