Natural England - Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy
The Government is committed to nuclear energy for the foreseeable future. The current nuclear power stations are beginning to reach the end of their lives and will need to be replaced by new facilities.
Nuclear energy is not carbon neutral, but it is relatively low carbon and could play an important role in meeting targets for greenhouse gas reduction. However, the longstanding issues of radioactive waste and decommissioning, as well as potential impacts on the natural environment, still need to be addressed.
As with existing nuclear power stations, new sites are likely to be located on the coast. These are often close to and sometimes within areas designated for their international wildlife importance.
