16.01.08: UKERC Clarifies Its Position on Nuclear Power

The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) regrets that its name became associated with a recent statement that can be interpreted as signalling UKERC's advocacy of nuclear power. We must underline that we are not pro- or anti- nuclear power or any other technology. UKERC supports the sentiment, embodied in the published statement, that a range of options should be on the table and indeed will be needed if ambitious energy and climate goals are to be met. But the wording of the statement has been interpreted as offering specific support for nuclear power. UKERC would like to make it clear that taking such a position was never intended and it would not be within our remit to do so.

To be clear, the UKERC position is as follows:

UKERC was set up by the Research Councils to take a leadership role in the field of energy research, and to be a source of independent authoritative information on sustainable energy systems. Its strength comes from the range of individuals and institutions that are part of the collaboration and the breadth of disciplines and perspectives that they bring.

UKERC decided from the start, with the advice of its external Advisory Board, that its role would be to provide informed analysis and comment on developments in the energy field building on research evidence. UKERC is not and cannot be an advocate for, or act in opposition to, specific technologies or policies. There are indeed aspects of energy policy on which we would find it impossible at a practical level to reach agreement between such a diverse range of participants.

UKERC was pleased to see that some of its own work was drawn upon in the recent Nuclear White Paper. But UKERC still does not either advocate or oppose any specific actions or investments that may follow its publication.