Australia Future Should Include Nuclear Energy

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 03/29/16

Kieran Lark and Armin Rosencranz opine that the Australian rejection of nuclear energy originates from fear, a lack of understanding, and a lack of vision. What was once a hazardous technology (not true) will soon be safer and more efficient than ever before (somewhat true). The economic, safety, and security concerns that once cast a pall over nuclear energy will cease to exist (an exaggeration ...unfounded fear of radiation and ignorance prevailed). The Australian political consensus is that nuclear energy is too capital and labor-intensive to implement (but not true) The public consensus is that nuclear energy is hazardous and harmful (exaggeration by a few). These positions however, are largely uninformed, underpinned by a few nuclear tragedies (only one ...Chernobyl) and a lack of foresight. Nuclear energy discussions consistently refer to incidents such as Chernobyl, failing to consider how far technology has advanced in the past 30 years (the was a Soviet Union failure, not the west). While it is claimed that traditional nuclear reactors are priced out of Australian current energy economy (not true), Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) have been designed to alleviate capital costs. More importantly however, they have been designed with efficiency and safety chiefly in mind. While their final release will not be until 2019 (probably earlier), the World Nuclear Association has already canvassed their enormous potential. By virtue of their small form factor, they are less expensive and a marketable investment. The modularity of their design provides for in-factory construction, decreasing assembly time and cost, while increasing quality. They have passive cooling systems, removing electricity and mechanical maintenance from the equation, furthering economic viability as well as safety. They have the capacity to be situated underground or underwater, providing passive protection from both natural and man-made hazards. Read on with caution re facts ...