29/11/2022
There’s been a major energy forum today in Canberra.
It featured engineers, scientists and even a few MPs.
And the whole purpose was to put nuclear energy on the agenda.
The accelerated closure of coal plants has left Australia on the road to blackouts.
In NSW- AGL is closing Liddell next year… while Origin shuts Erraring by 2025.
By the end of this decade- we’ll need 98 gigawatts of new supply.
We have averaged only 2.2 gigawatts over the past five years.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen wants Australia to powered by 82% renewables by the end of the decade.
To get there- it requires the building of 22,000 new solar panels A DAY.
And 40 large wind farms a month.
At the same time- Mr Bowen continues to mock nuclear power.
He says an Australian nuclear industry would be:
“Absolutely unfeasible and unrealistic”… leading to “the most expensive form of energy.”
But a quick look around the world tells a different story.
The International Energy Agency says:
“Nuclear can make a significant contribution to achieving sustainable energy goals and enhancing energy security.
“In advanced economies, nuclear has long been the largest source of low-carbon electricity, providing 18% of supply in 2018.”
32 countries operate a total of 400+ nuclear reactors.
Australia also boasts some of the largest uranium reserves in the world.
But ridiculously- there’s been a ban on nuclear in our country since 1998.
These scientists and engineers want our leaders to start a mature conversation.
Dr Adi Paterson is the former CEO of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
He tells us:
“A long, thin grid with very dilute wind and solar is not going to be able to sustain us into a strong position.
“If you look at Germany and California- both countries are having to keep nuclear power plants on… despite their long resistance to nuclear technology.
“The Greens in Finland are fully aligned with nuclear. They are the modern, up to date Greens.
“We need firm, reliable sources of energy that are low carbon.
“The firmest, most reliable, lowest carbon and safest form of energy on the planet today is power from small nuclear reactors.”
Dr Paterson has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
His letter reads:
“The Government is being misled on nuclear.”
If 32 countries can have nuclear power- why can’t we?
