By Tabish Ahmad, senior research & development chemist and regulatory compliance at Pental/Dulux Group, and Australian Prime Minister’s Youngest Distinguished Global Talent awardee
Australia stands at a crossroads in its pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. With growing concerns over climate change and the need for reliable, low-emission energy sources, nuclear power has emerged as a contentious yet pivotal topic. It is key to delve into the scientific, technical, and economic aspects of nuclear energy in Australia, exploring both its potential benefits and inherent challenges.
Current Landscape and Political Proposals
Recently, Opposition Leader Hon Peter Dutton MP, proposed the construction of seven nuclear power plants across Australia. The suggested sites, located in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia, are primarily former coal-fired power station locations, chosen for their existing infrastructure and workforce. Dutton claims these plants could be operational by 2035 to 2037, although this timeline is sceptical. The plan has also attracted interest from international investors, particularly from Japan and South Korea, who see long-term strategic benefits in participating in Australia’s nuclear rollout.
Economic Viability
The economic feasibility of nuclear energy in Australia is a major point of debate. According to the Smart Energy Council, the proposed nuclear plan could cost as much as $600B and supply only 3.7 per cent of Australia’s energy needs by 2050. This estimate contrasts starkly with the Albanese government’s renewable energy plan, which aims to achieve nearly 100 per cent renewable energy by the same year at a similar cost. The high capital costs, coupled with potential cost overruns and delays, raise questions about the financial prudence of investing in nuclear power.
Moreover, the CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) have indicated that nuclear power remains more expensive compared to renewables such as wind and solar, even when accounting for the construction and operational costs.
Technical Feasibility and Infrastructure Requirements
Technically, the deployment of nuclear power in Australia faces significant hurdles. The construction of nuclear reactors requires extensive regulatory approval, the development of safety and waste management protocols, and overcoming existing state and federal bans on nuclear energy. Additionally, the timeline for bringing nuclear reactors online is lengthy. The CSIRO’s GenCost report estimates that it would take at least 15 years to construct a large-scale nuclear plant, making it unlikely for nuclear energy to contribute to near-term emission reduction targets.
Retrofitting existing coal plant sites for nuclear use could mitigate some of these requirements but would still involve significant investment and time. Furthermore, integrating nuclear power with renewable energy sources presents technical challenges. Nuclear reactors operate best with a constant output, while renewable sources like solar and wind are variable. This mismatch could complicate grid management and potentially undermine the benefits of existing renewable energy infrastructure.
This article is continued in next week’s edition of The Adviser.
