Ever since the Fukushima nuclear accidents of March 2011 the discussion about the future of energy has taken something of a different tone. Many people who were previously supporters of nuclear energy began to have second thoughts, while (perhaps a bit strangely) prominent thinker George Monbiot declared that he now supports the technology, moving from a neutral stance.
At present it's too soon to get a feeling for what the future will hold - but already there have been news reports on the possible future of nuclear being hampered by the reaction of policymakers who may now be reluctant to use nuclear.
In the weeks prior to the Fukushima incident, news stories had begun to emerge about the possible use of thorium reactors. Apparently the possibility of using thorium had been considered as far back as the 60s, but wasn't followed through as it's not suitable for weapons, which was probably a sine qua non of any nuclear programme during the cold war.
Given that China's development moves inexorably on, and that its use of power isn't going to lessen, it's no surprise that Chinese scientists are looking into thorium.
While I don't agree with everything George Monbiot said in his controversial Guardian piece, I do believe that there could be a 'third way' for nuclear - the thorium reactor.
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