Push for nuclear energy ignores glaring problem
It’s a pressing problem that won’t go away but the ‘solution’ isn’t what it seems – and it’s wildly expensive too.
Herald Sun, David Llewellyn-Smith, 21 Sept 23
ANALYSIS
Federal politics is currently debating the usefulness of nuclear power versus renewables. As usual, the debate is replete with hysteria and rubbery figures designed to evoke high emotion and partisanship over reason and good policy.
The debate began when Energy Minster Chris Bowen released figures this week indicating that the Opposition’s proposed shift to Small Nuclear Reactors (SMR) would cost $387bn.
Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, countered with the claim that Labor’s renewables rollout will cost $1.5tr if investment in new distribution networks, polls and wires, is included.
………………………………………………in practice, there are some very big problems with SMRs.
The most pressing is that they do not currently exist. There are only two working prototypes worldwide. They might exist in the future in economic form if many of them are manufactured. But, for now, only China and Russia are operating them, and they were very expensive to build.
Australia would not want to become dependent upon such tyrannies for strategic technology. Nor should we punt an urgent energy transition on an unproven technology that could take decades to become economic.
Other drawbacks include NIMBYs and nuclear waste.
Conversely, wind, solar and batteries do not face these problems.
Dutton is right that Australia’s energy regulators are concerned about the need to expand poles and wires networks to bring in new wind and solar farms. However, this is short-term.
Critically, as battery technology advances in both power and cost, more localised energy production and storage investment will take off. The technologies are already widespread and coming down in cost.
More to the point, such decentralisation means fewer poles and wires not more.
Peter Dutton’s $1.5tr of new network cost is a preposterous figure that could string a gold-plated cable around Australia several times…………………………………………….
the coup de grace for renewables is cost. Renewables plus batteries are far cheaper than SMRs. …………. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/economy/push-for-nuclear-energy-ignores-glaring-problem/news-story/a1a6fdcabab448ce60642adcfcd9318a
Let’s Label #USPropaganda – Call it out. Our crews at Boeing and disrupting General Mick Ryan/
Age Peace 21 Sept 23
Wage Peace friends have been out disrupting the US propaganda machine.
Last week our friends interrupted this public lecture. General Mick Ryan is there at the lectern. He’s an ex-ADF General – now a #USPropagandist – and he’s about to tell people about why we must prepare for war by buying more US weapons.
ALP stalwart Paul Lucas moves in. But even 30 minutes later we were still there telling an alternative story about what is going on!
| –Last week our friends interrupted this public lecture. General Mick Ryan is there at the lectern. He’s an ex-ADF General – now a #USPropagandist – and he’s about to tell people about why we must prepare for war by buying more US weapons. ALP stalwart Paul Lucas moves in. But even 30 minutes later we were still there telling an alternative story about what is going on!Watch on YouTube as we disrupt his latest propaganda engagement. #BewareBoeingsWars Boeing is a weapons companyOur friends also attended Boeing slowly walking up to their suburban location in Brisbane. We prevented the weapons dealers arriving for work. Beware Boeing’s wars we warned. Boeing is a weapons company. With BAE, Thales, and General Dynamics, Boeing is pushing for war while taking the big bucks from Australians. #EarthCareNotWarfare |
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 