[Jan Fisher]

There’s been a bit of chatter in the media lately about introducing more nuclear power to solve Australia’s energy crisis.

I predict this is sound and fury signifying nothing.

Apart from a few die-hards, Australians by and large have no appetite for nuclear power. Even if you do think it’s a good idea, you can bet your neighbours don’t and won’t want a reactor anywhere near their property.

After the Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011 it would be hard pressed for any electorate to embrace the idea.

Part of the recent push has promoted small reactors, but many suggest the technology doesn’t even exist in a ‘meaningfully’ way.

And even if it did exist, the reality is completing a nuclear reactor would take decades from approval to completion. That’s to say nothing of the cost, which would be estimated to run into the billions.

Do you think it’s a good idea?

[Lyn]

No no no

[Marianne Melnikas]

Yes, we do need to build nuclear power facilities.

What horrifies me, is that the media keeps showing the really old versions of a nuclear facility.

Right now, in the Nordic countries they run nuclear power facilities that are the size of two twenty foot containers, are fully self contained and do not need human interaction.

When they are reaching the end of life, they are simply picked up, removed and a new one installed, the life span of one of thee modules is around 100 years.

These new designs are safe and secure. We should be embracing these as part of our future energy source.

[Gordon Nussey]

Which Nordic Countries are you referring to, could you give a reference soo that the information can be varified.
Norway only has 2 experimental reactors, Finland & Sweden have large reactors, there are non listed being the size that you have specified.

[Robert L Emeny]

Yes, Yes, Yes, A nuclear reactor would be welcome in my back yard. Modern technology has made Nuclear power safer than the modern motor vehicle that kills thousands each year. My bet is that none will give up their cars. Vote yes for nuclear and our power problems are solved for hundreds of years,

[Diogenes]

Would rather have a nuclear reactor in my back yard that a wind turbine, or ground covered in plastic solar panels (ironically made with fossil fuels). So I agree with Marianne and Robert , modern small mobile nuclear reactors are safe and efficient , with no emissions.

[Bundabergian]

Yes. We lived for a few years in France where they use a lot of nuclear. Power there is reliable and reasonably priced. Modern reactors can be small and are designed fail safe. It is the old ones that cause the issues.

[JEPY]

Yes, yes, yes.

[ronloby]

Yes, we do. They also don’t have to be built near any built-up area. There is plenty of room for a couple in the outback. All that is needed are transmission lines to link the cities.

[Gordon Nussey]

If the Government changes their mind and allows Nuclear Power Plants, it will be at least 2030 or later when the first units could be brought online.
It will take upwards of a decade to built and test and commission a full size Nuclear Power Station.
As for SMR’s, they, at the moment, do not exist, they are in the design and development stage with the first units scheduled for testing sometime between 2025 & 2030 depending which source you read, and then at least another 5 years before they will be commercially available.
In the meantime, what is the solution to our Power Supply & Distribution problems ??

[KSS]

I do wish people such as Jan Fisher would do some up-to-date research before trotting out the fearmongering citing Fukushima as ‘evidence’. In 2017 all restrictions imposed immediately after the tsunami hit, including those nearest the site of the nuclear power plant, were lifted. The WHO has determined were no acute radiation injuries or deaths among the workers or the public due to exposure to radiation resulting from the FDNPS accident. ONE person died of lung cancer linked to radiation 6 years later. a further 6 people developed leukemia, 37 people had physical injuries and 2 people were taken to hospital with radiation burns. the other 18-20,000 people who died did so as a result of the earthquake and resulting tsunami that followed, including those that died as a result of being evacuated – dying during transportation. There was NO significant damage to any of the reactors due to the earthquake. It was the 15mtr tsunami that did the damage by flooding. The flooding disabled 12 of 13 backup generators onsite and also the heat exchangers for dumping reactor waste heat and decay heat to the sea. The three units lost the ability to maintain proper reactor cooling and water circulation functions. Electrical switchgear was also disabled. By 2017 all access restrictions at Fukushima were removed.

Both Fukushima and Chernobyl were graded the same level 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. But consider this: 31 people died immediately and the UN estimates that a further 50 people also die. 134 were confirmed cases of acute radiation syndrome. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation has concluded that, apart from some 5000 thyroid cancers (resulting in 15 fatalities), “there is no evidence of a major public health impact attributable to radiation exposure 20 years after the accident.” Chernobyl remains largely restricted access.

Clearly, we learned a great deal in the years between 1986 and 2011 and have learned further lessons since Fukushima. Compare the deaths with say the Australian road toll just this year at 1204. Nuclear power plants are not the devil incarnate the naysayers would have us believe. The tide has turned in Australia and despite what Jan Fisher claims, I suggest most people would support nuclear power in the sustainable energy mix. And they can out a small reactor in the park behind where I live if they want. Better that than cover the part with solar panels or stick a wind turbine in the middle of it.

[Cosmo]

While I’m ambivalent to the idea of nuclear power, the truth is there are small packaged nuclear power plants available and they have been tested and in service for around fifty years. They are installed in nuclear powered submarines. Companies like Rolls Royce are working on packaging similar systems, small modular reactors (SMRs), for community electricity generation. However these packaged systems are vastly more complicated and extensive than the currently installed gas turbine generators which are basically a jet engine attached to a gas supply and a generator and are air cooled. Critically SMRs are not.
Much is said about the reliability of France’s 56 nuclear reactors but in the winter of 2022 the reliability of their power output dropped from around 70% of consumption to 40% and rationing and restrictions needed to be applied.
One of the big issues with nuclear power is the need for large, reliable volumes of cold water for cooling purposes. So the idea of putting these reactors out in the bush away from your back yard is highly unlikely to be feasible. They are more likely to be at a beach suburb near you!

Remember it took Australia fifty years to decide where to build and turn the first sodd of Sydneys second airport. It’s taken from WW2 until now to discuss and not build a high speed East Coast railway, the Millenium promise of a Sydney to Brisbane motorway is yet to be completed and we still haven’t found anywhere in our vast land where we can store our small amount of depleted uranium. So don’t get too excited about nuclear power because unless your grandchildren read YLC, like Australian operated nuclear powered submarines, the likelihood of any current YLC readers witnessing nuclear power in Australia is about the same as winning the Powerball lottery.

[Cosmo]

Compact nuclear power packages have been around and in service for over fifty years, in submarines. However, I wouldn’t get too concerned or excited about nuclear power. Unless your grandchildren read YLC nobody reading this will see nuclear power plants in Australia. It took 50 years to turn the first sodd on the new Sydney airport; it’s taken since WW2 not to build an East Coast high speed railway; the Millenium motorway from Sydney to Brisbane is still being built and in our massive wide nation we still haven’t found a place to store the small volume of nuclear waste we’ve so far accumulated.
Nuclear power needs massive amounts of reliable cold water for cooling so it won’t be built in anyone’s back yard but it might eventually, one day perhaps be built in a beachside suburb near you!
Due to decisions by our politicians and investors we no longer have the ability or facilities to build even a lawnmower engine in Australia, So where do you think the poltical vision, technical skills and entrepreneurial courage to build and maintain even one nuclear power station will emanate?

[Taragosun]

They do live with it at Lucas Heights NSW and have for many decades.

[Author]

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