UK could double nuclear role after 2030 - report

LONDON Aug 5 (Reuters) - Britain could double its nuclear power output to ensure energy security and cut carbon emissions after 2030, according to a report commissioned by the government published on Wednesday.

Even with most of its ageing nuclear plants running at capacity, Britain produces less than a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power.

The report by former energy minister Malcolm Wicks said much more atomic energy would help limit Britain's growing reliance on gas fired power plants and fossil fuel imports.

"Nuclear power is a proven, large-scale, low-carbon way to generate electricity," the report said.

"To enhance energy security and reduce our reliance on imports, a range between, say, 35-40 per cent of electricity from nuclear could be a sensible aspiration beyond 2030."

All but one of Britain's existing nuclear power plants is due to close before 2030 and although many of Europe's biggest utilities plan to build replacement plants the first is not expected to be operational until the end of 2017.

The report for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said support for renewable energy sources should be complemented with investment in cleaner ways of burning coal and a push to stem the decline in Britain's own fossil fuel production. Wicks also said the government should consider setting out how much power should be generated from different sources to avoid Britain becoming too reliant on relatively cheap gas-fired power plants, which the market tends to build when left to decide.

"This would be a significant move away from the 'market knows best' orthodoxy, but might be justified on energy security grounds," the report said.

The Labour government welcomed the report by one of its own parliamentarians.

"We are already taking a number of responsible far-sighted steps to put the UK on a secure, low carbon, affordable energy footing in the long-term and I am grateful for the work undertaken by Malcolm Wicks," Brown said in a statement.

"The ability to maximise domestic energy reserves and establish home grown energy sources is vital alongside the UK's ability to pull on every lever internationally in support of energy security."

(Reporting by Daniel Fineren)