Nuclear Energy Board
Encyclopedia
The Nuclear Energy Board (NEB) was an Irish agency charged with developing nuclear power in Ireland. It was established in Ireland on November 30, 1973 by the Nuclear Energy (An Bord Fuinnimh Núicléigh) Act, 1971.
The board was responsible in the 1970s for pursuing the policy of developing a nuclear power
station, which was to be located at Carnsore Point
, County Wexford
. This policy ultimately failed and the board gradually faded from public attention, eventually concentrating on nuclear-related environmental reports, in any case it was not a large organisation, with the Electricity Supply Board
doing most operational work.
was established in order to develop Kinsale
gas field, this find four years earlier initially slowed the nuclear energy project as it was hoped it may be an alternative. However in 1974 planning permission
was sought for four reactors with County Wexford
County Council
, with one to be built immediately, most likely of pressurized water reactor
design.
became the new Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy
in 1977 the project once again became a priority of government policy, this time the plans becoming more serious and controversial, the government wanted to build a 650 MW plant at Carnsore at a cost of £ 350 million (Punt
) at the then prices. In 1979 the project was again postponed, with the change in government, as George Colley
, Minister for Energy
became the new minister in charge of the project. The incident at Three Mile Island, in the USA was the background to this decision, also Friends of the Earth
and other groups lobbied intensively against the plans. Finally in 1981 the Electricity Supply Board and the then government announced it was no longer national policy.
, and European Economic Community
policy was to reduce this below 50% by 1985, after two energy crises
.
the board became redefined in a new role as an environmentalist
. The board sponsored a number of reports, in particular on the Sellafield
plant which has long been a source of dispute between the Republic of Ireland
and the United Kingdom
.
Finally on April 1, 1992 the successor to the board was established, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland
. The production of electricity for supply to the national grid, by nuclear fission, is currently prohibited under Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (Section 18).
The board was responsible in the 1970s for pursuing the policy of developing a nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
station, which was to be located at Carnsore Point
Carnsore Point
Carnsore Point is a headland in the very South East corner of County Wexford, Ireland. This headland is Ireland's southern limit point of the Irish Sea....
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. This policy ultimately failed and the board gradually faded from public attention, eventually concentrating on nuclear-related environmental reports, in any case it was not a large organisation, with the Electricity Supply Board
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
doing most operational work.
Planning
In 1968 because Ireland's economic development required more energy production the Electricity Supply Board was evaluating ways of diversifying its electricity generation. The Turlough Hill project had just commenced and this was one of the most prestigious engineering projects since the foundation of the state and the Ardnacrusha power station. In the 1970s this need for new energy sources became more urgent, especially after the 1973 energy crisis, in 1975 Bord GáisBord Gáis
Bord Gáis Éireann , normally branded as Bord Gáis, is the main supplier and distributor of pipeline natural gas in the Republic of Ireland. The company has built an extensive network across Ireland. The company supplies gas to domestic and industrial customers on a fully regulated basis...
was established in order to develop Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
gas field, this find four years earlier initially slowed the nuclear energy project as it was hoped it may be an alternative. However in 1974 planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
was sought for four reactors with County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
County Council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
, with one to be built immediately, most likely of pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
design.
Uncertainty
The economic slowdown of 1974 and 1975 again saw the project been temporarily put on hold, but when Desmond O'MalleyDesmond O'Malley
Desmond Joseph "Des" O'Malley is a former Irish politician.Born in Limerick, O'Malley was raised in a local political dynasty that had a strong association with Fianna Fáil. Elected to Dáil Éireann in 1968, he quickly became a trusted confidante of Taoiseach Jack Lynch...
became the new Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the senior minister at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is Richard Bruton, TD...
in 1977 the project once again became a priority of government policy, this time the plans becoming more serious and controversial, the government wanted to build a 650 MW plant at Carnsore at a cost of £ 350 million (Punt
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
) at the then prices. In 1979 the project was again postponed, with the change in government, as George Colley
George Colley
George Colley was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, who served in a wide number of Cabinet poistions, most notably as Minister for Finance and Tánaiste. He was twice defeated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil in 1966 and 1979.-Early life:Colley was born in Fairview, on the northside of Dublin...
, Minister for Energy
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Ireland)
The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is the senior minister at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the Government of Ireland.The current minister is Jimmy Deenihan, TD. He is assisted by:...
became the new minister in charge of the project. The incident at Three Mile Island, in the USA was the background to this decision, also Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
and other groups lobbied intensively against the plans. Finally in 1981 the Electricity Supply Board and the then government announced it was no longer national policy.
Cancellation
Ultimately the board was remembered for plans put on and off hold, and immense controversy. Also there was criticism that the government overestimated the need of energy in Ireland in the future, at one point it was estimated that industry would consume 57% of energy by 1990, internationally this is rather large as 40% is a typical value. However Ireland in the 1970s was regarded as being in a dangerous position whereby 75% of energy needs were met by oilPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
, and European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
policy was to reduce this below 50% by 1985, after two energy crises
Energy crisis
An energy crisis is any great bottleneck in the supply of energy resources to an economy. In popular literature though, it often refers to one of the energy sources used at a certain time and place, particularly those that supply national electricity grids or serve as fuel for vehicles...
.
Aftermath
After 1981 the Nuclear Energy Board was not immediately abolished, instead rather than becoming nuclear advocateAdvocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
the board became redefined in a new role as an environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
. The board sponsored a number of reports, in particular on the Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
plant which has long been a source of dispute between the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Finally on April 1, 1992 the successor to the board was established, the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland
The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland is an independent public body in the Republic of Ireland under the ageis of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.The RPII was established in 1992 under the , which conferred on the RPII a broad remit in relation to...
. The production of electricity for supply to the national grid, by nuclear fission, is currently prohibited under Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (Section 18).