Risks of Seven UK Electricity Generation Options Part II: The Risk of Large-Scale Accidents

Abstract

Large-scale accidents cause great social disruption and public alarm and the risks of such accidents must be considered together with those arising during normal operation (Ball and Roberts, 1995). The record of severe accidents in the technologies that contribute to electricity generation is summarised; the UK figures compare favourably with the average in the world. Since such events are rare, future risks have to be assessed by applying the methods of risk analysis to individual installations. Risks of severe accidents should reduce further as modern methods of risk analysis and safety management are developed and applied.