The Case For<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Zero emissions with one quarter less CO2 emissions than solar farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s proven and works well overseas: Nuclear generated 10% of all global electricity last year. The USA\u2019s 90 nuclear plants produced over 55% of the USA\u2019s \u2018green\u2019 energy. France gets 75% of its power from nuclear. Canada\u2019s 19 nuclear reactors produce around 15% of the country\u2019s power. Slovakia, Belgium, Sweden, China and many more have successful operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s safe: With over 17,000 cumulative years of operation, nuclear is safe and proven. There have been only three incidents with Chernobyl and Three Mile Island decades ago with old technology, and Fukushima an earthquake. Many more people have been killed installing wind turbines and in conventional power stations than by nuclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a reliable baseload: Australia\u2019s and many global economies are built on reliable, cheap and abundant energy. The energy transition to renewables will degrade reliability, increase \u2018load shedding\u2019, and reduce Australia\u2019s GDP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has a smaller \u2018footprint\u2019 and uses existing infrastructure: building nuclear in the place of old coalfired power stations can utilise the existing \u2018poles and wires\u2019. It has a much smaller footprint that swathes of land with solar and wind farms. This obviates the challenges of the renewables rollout, which requires billions more invested in transmission which has catalysed community opposition, just as the community is frequently opposed to the location of wind and solar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Case Against<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s expensive: The CSIRO\u2019s Gencost 2022-23 report suggests that nuclear has a capital cost of $18,167\/kW vs large-scale solar at $1,058 and offshore wind at $1,989. But these numbers are contested as incomplete, not allowing for the considerable capital duplication necessary with renewables to manage intermittence and provide \u2018firming\u2019, as well as additional transmission needed. Alternative evidence from Canada shows nuclear provides energy at 7.2c per kW\/h vs wind at 15.9c and solar at 51.3c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a \u2018red herring\u2019 to delay renewables rollout: Investment in renewables remains fickle, with investors seeking long-term certainty for long-life assets in an environment of continued policy volatility. If the Government was seen to be considering nuclear, the practical effect may be to increase investment uncertainty and materially reduce investor interest in building renewables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small modular reactors (SMRs) aren\u2019t proven: SMRs, a civilian adaption of the systems used in nuclear submarines, are an emerging technology. But so is hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, next-gen batteries and other renewables. It is widely accepted that technology and innovation will be needed to decarbonise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Safety and social licence: Irrespective of the facts and a nuclear reactor in the middle of Sydney at Lucas Heights, there is a solid public perception that nuclear isn\u2019t safe which will certainly stoke robust community opposition to any nuclear plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The waste is dangerous: True, nuclear waste is dangerous. But the last 70 years have shown that waste can be safely stored, especially in Australia, with considerable remote and geologically stable land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia is the only G20 country with a ban on nuclear energy. The question facing Energy Minister Chris Bowen now is whether nuclear power should continue to be banned. If it is uneconomic, then he should release the ban and let the market decide. What\u2019s your view?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" H. A. G. 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