Antinuclear

As the debate around renewables and nuclear continues, here is what the experts say

By Adam Shirley, Stateline, ABC News 10 Apr 25

Russell Mowbray lives in one of the 39 per cent of all Australian homes that have solar panels. 

His house renovation doesn’t include loads of energy features, that are in his words “the bee’s knees”, but what his growing family can afford. 

Installing solar was a priority.

“That’s the big one. As soon as you go and do all these new fancy things they come with bills, but offsetting those costs helps massively,” Mr Mowbray said.

“Most of the roof is covered, apart from the odd skylight here and there, but most of that’s covered with panels … We’re getting a fair bit [of power] and not paying a great deal.

“We’re not actually paying anything in summer. So summers are free!”

On how his energy use has changed, Mr Mowbray is blunt.

“It’s not like a conscious decision now that we have to go and turn the air conditioning off or … we can’t use the heating,” he said.

Mr Mowbray runs a house extension and renovation company. 

He said every single customer asked him about solar power and electricity.

“There’s limits of costs on what [customers] want to put into their solar and energy efficiencies … Most are pretty comfortable putting solar on because that’s a nice, easy, quick way to help them out with bills. That’s the end game,” he said.

A heated debate

Modern day solar panels have their origins in suburban Canberra.

When ANU professor of engineering Andrew Blakers switched to studying solar energy in the 1980s, it was a little-known niche industry.

“When I started, solar energy was a very small endeavour, small panels in remote areas and on satellites … and today, it is a global juggernaut,” he said.

Professor Blakers has been a key influence in that industry. 

He’s watched Australia’s current and future energy needs become a very hot topic. 

The source — and cost — of our power is a key federal election issue, with the opposition arguing nuclear must be a key component of our energy mix.

It’s an issue Professor Blakers has a clear position on.

“Pure politics is driving the so-called debate on nuclear energy,” he said.

“It’s ludicrous to suppose that nuclear energy will have a resurrection. It’s akin to saying that film cameras will take over from digital cameras.”

Australian households don’t have the choice of nuclear power right now, and it’s unclear if there will ever be an option of household nuclear systems anywhere in the world.

Household solar systems have been around for a while, and costs have reduced significantly in the past 10 years.

Depending on which state or territory you live in, the payback period for a fully installed system is four-and-a-half to eight years. 

And depending on the size of the system, a household will save anywhere from $510 to $1,120 every year on power bills.

……. UNSW associate professor Edward Obbard has decades of experience in nuclear engineering and design.  He acknowledges that compared to other sources, nuclear power is “an expensive form of electricity”…………………..

We have renewable technology ‘that works’

Alison Reeve is the deputy program director of energy at the Grattan Institute. 

Part of her job is to assess the most practical, cheapest and reliable energy that Australians need. 

She said the vast majority of energy in Australia should come from solar and wind plus storage, with a small amount — two to 10 per cent — of gas……………………

“Two things to understand about nuclear power. One is that it’s the most expensive form of generation, and the second one, that it takes a long time to build.”

‘We’re going to live in a changed climate’

A challenge is the need to lay cables and connections for new power sources across the country. 

Both Professor Blakers and Ms Reeve acknowledge this, but argue it’s a problem that can be solved. 

They say that if Australia continues to follow the renewable path it’s on, there are significant economic benefits………………………………………………………..

The unstoppable momentum of solar

As Australians make day-to-day decisions about how to reduce their bills, Russell Mowbray says renovations and rebuilds are all going in one direction.

“It’s always part of the conversation with the clients we’re dealing with,” he said…………………

And Professor Blakers points to the broader numbers to illustrate what he says is unstoppable momentum.

“Nuclear is being deployed at about two gigawatts per year around the world. Solar and wind last year did 700 gigawatts,” he said.

“It’s game over.”

What Australians are saying about energy prices……………………………..https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-10/act-solar-and-nuclear-experts/105155684

April 10, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | energy