China takes another step towards global supremacy: Thorium

[rory_20_uk]

I disagree. If you have to build a dam, then yes you will have problems.

But there are many systems where one can use the natural flow of the water, used where there is already a steel incline present. No, these are not going to be massive projects that are going to singlehandedly generate Megawatts - but they are comparatively cheap, simple, almost enviromentally neutral and if done well almost invisible. No, they are not suitable for everywhere, so build them where they can be built. Scotland would be a good site, as would Wales; the South East far less so.

[Sigurd]

So, if you stopped selling you would be energy independant?

We should be energy independent, at least we have been the last 100 years with hydro power. During the last two decades though, the net import has been negative for at least 7 of those years (not successive). Meaning we have imported more than we have exported. We need new power plants, but our "green" policy is hampering the development.
As gaelic mentions, new water based power plants will make impacts to the nature. People don't want their favourite waterfalls in pipes. We have plenty of gas in the North Sea, but we don't want to emit more CO2. We have large deposits of Thorium, but we are scraping our feet, thinking we should wait and see.
While we debate - not so green coal power finds its way to our homes. A Paradox I tell you...

[gaelic cowboy]

I disagree. If you have to build a dam, then yes you will have problems.

But there are many systems where one can use the natural flow of the water, used where there is already a steel incline present. No, these are not going to be massive projects that are going to singlehandedly generate Megawatts - but they are comparatively cheap, simple, almost enviromentally neutral and if done well almost invisible. No, they are not suitable for everywhere, so build them where they can be built. Scotland would be a good site, as would Wales; the South East far less so.

That is know as microgeneration and is not only not cost effective it is generally in areas where there is no need for said power, the cost of high voltage lines to the wilds of Scotland to tap that source would mean it would not be viable in the end.

However it can be handy for small scale settlements to supplement there power, however they would still require outside sources to ensure security of supply.

While using the natural flow of the water sounds great it misses the point that the water may still go above or below the needed flowrates for generation even in rainy Scotland