Another reason to say no to nuclear – global warming causing more and more jellyfish blooms clogging nuclear power stations from Australia to East Lothian and forcing shutdowns

Professor John Robertson OBA Thanks to gavinochiltree for: Four reactors at the EDF French nuke plant at Gravelines have been forced to close down on Sunday and Monday because of a swarm of jelly fish getting into the cooling system. If it had been Hinckley Point, what would be the back up, as we scots are frequently asked about wind. And jelly fish? There are millions around the UK–check out Ayr beach. Fish used to keep them in check by eating them when young, but there ain’t so many fish these days. and to Dotty for alerting me to this: … Continue reading Another reason to say no to nuclear – global warming causing more and more jellyfish blooms clogging nuclear power stations from Australia to East Lothian and forcing shutdowns

Reluctantly reported then sanitised falsely by ‘your’ media the radioactive tritium emissions leaking from 1 500 badly maintained pipes in Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet

Professor John Robertson OBA Today, from BBC Scotland, the above and: Radioactive water from a Royal Navy nuclear weapons base leaked into a loch after old pipes repeatedly burst, according to official files. The Guardian, external and The Ferret, external found the material was released into Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, after a six-year battle to access documents which involved Scotland’s Information Commissioner, external. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said its assessments found the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was “of no regulatory concern”. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also said there had been “no unsafe releases of radioactive material” into the environment. The … Continue reading Reluctantly reported then sanitised falsely by ‘your’ media the radioactive tritium emissions leaking from 1 500 badly maintained pipes in Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet

10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

Professor John Robertson OBA Sky News in September 2019, reported: France is to give free iodine tablets to more people living near the country’s 19 nuclear plants. Around 2.2 million people living within 20km (12.4 miles) of a nuclear plant will be given the tablets to protect their bodies from the effects of radiation in the event of an accident. In 2016, five years after the nuclear accident in the Japanese city of Fukushima, France gave iodine to those living within 10km (6.2 miles) of a nuclear plant. Thyroid cancer incidence in France has increased dramatically over recent decades, particularly … Continue reading 10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

‘A bottomless pit of hell’ – US researchers confirm the risk to Scots children of living downstream of sites like Sellafield, Europe’s ‘most toxic radioactive waste site’

Professor John Robertson OBA From the Journal of the American Medical Association (Impact factor 50 – 7th highest of 500 peer-reviewed medical research journals) published 16 July 2025: Question  Is there an association between cancer incidence and living near Coldwater Creek [map above] as a child when it was actively being contaminated by radioactive byproducts from the Manhattan Project? Findings  In this cohort study of 4209 participants, living near Coldwater Creek as a child was associated with an increased risk of overall cancer during long-term follow-up, with evidence of a dose-response association. When comparing those living around the creek or its floodplain … Continue reading ‘A bottomless pit of hell’ – US researchers confirm the risk to Scots children of living downstream of sites like Sellafield, Europe’s ‘most toxic radioactive waste site’

Does Scotland really need SMRs for a resilient energy system?

By stewartb ‘At the time of writing there are only two SMRs actually operating – one in Russia and one in China. For this reason alone, we must question reliance on a technology not yet fully tested, as the basis for a national programme of work.’ So it’s a novel technology. The OECD in 2024 recognised three SMRs as operational, with over 50 SMR technologies currently still under development. (https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/small-modular-reactors-an-overview) If a company or nation state has relevant indigenous technological capability, an energy need AND national ambition to develop and then sell as exports SMRs, one might see the sense of being … Continue reading Does Scotland really need SMRs for a resilient energy system?

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on existing UK nuclear sites: ‘all land dedesignated or reused’ by 2380 – but sooner at Dounreay, by 2334!

By stewartb It’s clear from statements made, if Anglo-British political parties gain power in Holyrood after the 2026 election, Scotland in Union will see a new generation of nuclear power plants (large ‘conventional’ and/or small modular reactors) built here. Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, July 4, 2025 stated: “In other parts of the UK, the UK Government is driving forward nuclear power, as are countries across Europe and indeed the world. But in Scotland the Scottish Government clings to its ideological objection to new nuclear sites. That means that Scotland is being left behind, missing out on … Continue reading The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on existing UK nuclear sites: ‘all land dedesignated or reused’ by 2380 – but sooner at Dounreay, by 2334!

Impartial intelligence confirms that Labour’s Small Nuclear Reactor strategy is based on none in operation in the West, no concrete order and two already cancelled in France and the US due to soaring costs

By Anonymous When I questioned Small Modular Reactors, DeepSeek said You’re absolutely right to question the readiness of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—while they are often touted as a potential solution for clean energy, they remain largely unproven at scale, with significant uncertainties around cost, deployment timelines, and real-world performance. Key Issues with SMRs Today1. Limited Real-World Deployment No Operational SMRs in the West: While Russia’s Akademik Lomonosov (a floating SMR) is operational and China’s HTR-PM (pebble-bed reactor) is connected to the grid, Western SMR projects are still in development. First US/UK SMRs Years Away: NuScale (US) had its first project canceled (2023) due to soaring costs. Rolls-Royce SMR (UK) … Continue reading Impartial intelligence confirms that Labour’s Small Nuclear Reactor strategy is based on none in operation in the West, no concrete order and two already cancelled in France and the US due to soaring costs

Scottish newspaper is suppressing fair and informative debate on new nuclear power in Scotland

Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald in recent weeks has had a heavy presence of reports pushing for new nuclear power stations to be be built in Scotland along with a few token oppositional reports such as one on the cracks in the ageing Torness reactor. The overwhelming message [Try searching for ‘Herald nuclear‘ to see for yourself.) has been that the SNP is betraying Scotland’s industrial, employment and energy prospects and completely ignoring the plethora of reports here revealing the weakness of, and the risks in, the case for new nuclear energy in Scotland. To read these, click on: … Continue reading Scottish newspaper is suppressing fair and informative debate on new nuclear power in Scotland

In current heatwaves, Labour’s new nuclear reactors will be more vulnerable to lower efficiency and productivity

Professor John Robertson OBA TuS Reader Legerwood commented yesterday under our piece on the widespread corrosion of Frances’s nuclear reactors (https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/06/27/reliability-of-nuclear-energy-takes-another-blow-as-france-fears-return-to-2022-when-57-of-all-reactors-were-offline-due-to-corrosion/): It is not just corrosion in its nuclear reactors that France has to worry about. The high temperatures that France now regularly experiences -at the moment 40C or above – affects the nuclear reactors and can lead to them being taken off-line. The high temperatures also heat up river water etc and reduce the water available making it difficult to cool the reactors leading to shut downs. All in all not a good time to go nuclear when the … Continue reading In current heatwaves, Labour’s new nuclear reactors will be more vulnerable to lower efficiency and productivity

Reliability of nuclear energy takes another blow as France fears return to 2022, when 57% of all reactors were offline due to corrosion

Professor John Robertson OBA Frances McKie has just alerted me to this reserved report from Reuters on the Civaux 2 nuclear reactor in France: PARIS, June 11 (Reuters) – European power contracts jumped on Wednesday on concerns France might have to reduce its nuclear output after the industry regulator said it had identified “hints” of possible stress corrosion in a reactor. The ASNR watchdog said testing had highlighted possible defects in the Civaux 2 reactor, but that there was no confirmation of corrosion at this stage and more testing was required. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/report-defects-french-nuclear-reactor-civaux-2-lifts-european-power-market-2025-06-11/ On it’s own and with that wording, it … Continue reading Reliability of nuclear energy takes another blow as France fears return to 2022, when 57% of all reactors were offline due to corrosion