The average nuclear power station costs up to three times more than expected and takes four years longer to build than planned, according to a team of UK consultants, commissioned by environmental pressure group Greenpeace.

The research found that managing the construction of increasingly complex reactor designs was leading to “dramatically“ longer construction times.

The report says significant and widespread questions remain over the basic safety, waste disposal and decommissioning of existing nuclear plants.

It also claims that new and untested technology is causing delays to nuclear power projects costing billions of pounds.

Steve Thomas, professor of energy policy at Greenwich University and one of the authors of the report, said: “The nuclear industry has always made unfulfilled promises about its ability to meet energy demands, yet history reveals a damning testament to its failure.

He added, “Pursuing a new programme of nuclear reactors would deny us the opportunity to make the necessary investment in renewable technologies and energy efficiency to meet future energy demands in an economically viable and sustainable way.“

Greenpeace’s energy campaigner Nathan Argent said, “This independent analysis explodes the myth that nuclear power is a viable and affordable source of energy and clearly indicates that the sums just don’t add up for nuclear.“

PIN/ CHANNEL4.COM