Almost two-thirds of those working in the UK’s power industry do not believe there will be a positive impact on their sector as a result of the Brexit vote.
In a survey conducted by Power Engineering International, 61 per cent answered ‘no’ to the question: Do you think the UK power sector will be positively impacted by Brexit?
However, it’s in the nuclear power sector that there appear to be the greatest concerns. Many of the people working in this area are worried about the government’s decision to leave the European Atomic Energy Agency (Euratom).
They told the organisation that this is expected to lead to declining influence and could have “implications for the country’s nuclear research”. Having to deal with extra administration is also a worry for those in nuclear engineering and the wider nuclear industry.
There are concerns across the board though. One respondent commented: “There should be opportunities to trade more widely but there is a danger that the UK will be less able to participate in EU R&D projects unless some arrangement is made to continue them.”
Others felt that the UK could benefit from being able to negotiate its own trade agreements, and are hopefully that this will mark the beginning of a resurgence for the country’s power industry.
Last month, the Lords EU energy and environment sub-committee published a report stating that the UK could be more vulnerable to power supply shortages once it leaves the EU. They also argued that Brexit could result in less-efficient energy trading, which will in turn impact customers’ bills.