Nett Energy Flow Analysis—Constraints on the Growth Rate of Power Station Construction Programmes

The construction of all energy supply devices requires an energy input. The intensive programmes of construction of non-fossil-fuel power stations which some have proposed to alleviate carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation would require a substantial energy input. It is shown in this analysis that the nett energy available to society, that is the energy generated minus the energy needed for construction, is critically dependent on the growth rate of the construction programme. All construction programmes are initially nett users of energy, but a rapidly expanding programme of construction can lead to a nett deficit of socially available energy for 20 years or more, and under some circumstances the entire construction programme can be a nett user of energy.

In particular, it is shown that a programme of construction of nuclear power stations to replace existing coal-fired stations and meet an expanding demand for electricity would produce a nett energy deficit until well into the next century. There would be no possibility of scrapping existing coal-fired power stations until about 20 years after the beginning of the construction programme.