Antinuclear

Rebuttal to Senator David Leyonhjelm’s enthusiasm for “cheap” nuclear power

Nuclear power, CEDA and manufacturing Nuclear power is not cheap, AFR, Reg Lawler, 17 Oct 16 Senator David Leyonhjelm wants a supply side revolution which includes reducing energy costs by ” .. in the longer term by removing the ban on nuclear power” (October 14).

The main costs in nuclear power are the cost of construction, the cost of fuel and operation, the cost of permanent disposal of waste, the cost of insurance and the cost of eventually dismantling the plant (which is more than twice as expensive as building it).

The proposed Hinckley plant in the UK will deliver power at about twice the cost of the current supply and be considerably more expensive than renewables.  That is even though it already has a 2 billion pound subsidy from the government and only pays for costs of construction and fuel and operation.  The government and the community carry all the other costs.

If there is an argument for nuclear power generation it cannot be because it is cheap. http://www.afr.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letters-nuclear-power-ceda-and-manufacturing-20161017-gs40nh

October 19, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News