Over the years I have had swayed for or against nuclear power.
Technology has advanced significantly to warrant a re-look at this.
Costs are saved by using old coal sites and innovation.
We supply the world’s uranium and we do not use it ourselves; (that’s) weird.
We could replace the present coal boilers with nuclear ones thus creating the steam to run the turbines.
Way back when Chernobyl in Russia happened, everyone scared about the subject rejected any thought of going the nuclear way, knowing that Australia was already using it for medical reasons.
It is believed Russia was not particularly good at safety protocols.
In World War II the world’s first experience of nuclear power (showed) frightening results at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but technology shows huge improvement in the applications of its use for peaceful purposes for industry, medical, nation safety (military), space travel – it goes on.
Now Australia is rethinking, thank heavens.
My main (gripe) with renewables is the ugliness of them, the use of fertile food-bowl lands, the cost of replacement from China, and coastal placements of wind turbines, (poor whales, ships etc).
The cost of renewables is three times greater than for coal and gas.
Nuclear may be expensive to build, but further down the decades and generations it will be a hell of a lot cheaper.
Our generation will hopefully see some reduction in our blowout costs of power.
So, I am wanting nuclear, as I reckon everything will work better, business costs will work and life will improve, especially for those who want to build and or start-up a new business.
Eventually people (will) be able to afford their own home.
The most important thing is it’s cleaner.
I believe nuclear is the future and the way to go.
Email, Jul 3
Gaye Clark, North Gosford
Gaye Clark makes a practical and convincing case for Australia to reassess nuclear. She has dismissed the absurd claim that “renewables are the cheapest form of energy”. The fact that there are some 400 nuclear reactors operating today in over 30 countries and that 61 are in construction, together with COP28 concluding that nuclear is helpful to reduce emissions, shows that nuclear would seem to have a bright future. Even more to the point, nuclear is the only large-scale dispatchable electricity source with zero emissions. Gas is next, it is dispatchable but still emits, even though lower than coal for the same amount of electricity. We will need more gas while we gear up nuclear.
Ms Clark’s comments gives me some hope that we may arrive at a sensible energy policy, in the interests of the average Australian who wants reliable and affordable electricity, carbon-free and with minimal harm to the environment. Renewables is a dodgy word, more correctly solar and wind are weather-dependent intermittents and many do not see the limitations and costs this imposes on their use.