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https://theconversation.com/if-the-opposition-wants-a-mature-discussion-about-nuclear-energy-start-with-a-carbon-price-without-that-nuclear-is-wildly-uncompetitive-184471>
"The idea of nuclear power in Australia has been hotly debated for decades.
Most of this discussion has been unproductive, focusing on symbolism and
identity politics rather than the realities of energy policy. For that reason
alone, we should welcome the commitment by opposition party leaders David
Littleproud and Peter Dutton to a mature conversation about nuclear power, free
of political taboos.
Far and away the most important such taboo is the unwillingness of either Labor
or the LNP to consider an effective price on carbon. A string of inquiries into
nuclear power such as the 2006 Switkowski Review and the 2016 South Australian
Royal Commission concluded nuclear power will never be commercially viable
without a high price on carbon dioxide emissions.
The reasoning behind this conclusion is simple. Nuclear power directly competes
with coal-fired electricity as a source of continuous 24-hour generation. But
building nuclear plants is much more expensive than new coal-fired plants. In
Australia, nuclear power would compete with existing coal plants, the
construction costs of which were recovered long ago.
So nuclear power could only replace our ageing coal plants if its operating
costs are lower. But as long as coal generators are permitted to dump their
waste (carbon dioxide and particulate matter) into the atmosphere at no cost,
nuclear power can’t compete, except in rare periods of ultra-high coal prices.
As energy minister Chris Bowen pointed out yesterday, nuclear is “the most
expensive form of energy.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
