Going the hybrid way (Image: David Hills/iStock)

THE long-anticipated nuclear renaissance has arrived. In his State of the Union address last month, President Barack Obama announced plans for the US to build a new generation of nuclear power plants, and his budget for 2011 proposes large funding increases for the industry.

Several European countries are also likely to restart their nuclear power programmes soon. The UK plans to increase to 20 per cent the proportion of its electricity generated from nuclear.

A return to nuclear power is attractive right now for many reasons. It promises to help cut carbon emissions …