Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Just look at Europe

Letters to The Advertiser,20 Aug, 26

It is interesting that those who are in favour of nuclear power have been silent recently.
Could it be due to the shutdowns of power stations in Europe because of the lack of water.
Carol Lloyd, Goodwood 

AI has other options

Several writers advocate for AI data centres to be powered by nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) (Letters, 20/8).
There are two problems with this.
First of all there are no commercially available SMRs.
Secondly, Australia has nowhere to put the nuclear waste.
It will be much easier and cheaper to power data centres with renewables, which are available now.
R. Wood, Valley View 

August 25, 2026 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, South Australia | Leave a comment

Too dry for nuclear

Letter to The Adelaide Advertiser, Jim Allen, Panorama, 21 Aug, 26

Techno-optimists are entitled to their views about supplying nuclear power to data centres any time soon, but I am a realist.
We are the driest State in Australia.
Both water shortages and heatwaves are limiting factors.
Look at what’s happening in Europe now.
European nuclear plants can’t cope, and we need solutions that can withstand what global warming throws at us here.

Early data centres will no doubt locate where there is good transmission already – like the proposal at Bundey – and nearby, there are large wind and solar projects that either have been commissioned or have at least have necessary approvals in place. Again Bundey fits the bill.
Thirsty facilities of all kinds bring risks to our state.
Also, what assurance is there that there can and will be effective safeguards to protect consumers from further electricity price hikes regardless of energy sources relied on by data centres? A “let it rip” attitude to these projects could be an unmitigated disaster. You only need to look at a few examples in the US to see that.

August 25, 2026 Posted by | environment | Leave a comment

According to Alexander Downer Australia must get small nuclear reactors, to power data centres? Really?

Letter to The Advertiser, 20 Aug 26

Alexander Downer and his fans have jumped on the data centre band wagon as the latest reason why Australia should build nuclear reactors. They claim nuclear reactors will provide cheap, reliable electricity to power these data centres.

Presumably the data centres they have in mind are the ones that will be built around 2050, because they won’t be getting electricity from nuclear reactors any time soon. It’s worth remembering that currently no commercial ‘micro’ or ‘small modular’ reactors actually exist.

And ‘reliable’ power (let’s not say ‘cheap’) might just be in winter. Nuclear reactors in Europe are getting shut down left right and centre in summer because their cooling systems can’t handle the heat. Of course, the world will be much hotter by 2050. By then, I expect the nuclear illusion will have vanished like a mirage on the horizon.

August 25, 2026 Posted by | technology | Leave a comment