Nuclear remains a topical and contentious issue for Australia, with Labor firmly opposed to this form of energy while the Coalition wants to build nuclear power stations on the sites of  existing coal fire stations.

Alan Finkel, former Chief Scientist of Australia believes it is worth removing the legislated ban on nuclear power.

“Nuclear power is a credible source of abundant zero-emissions electricity, but it would take 20 years to commence operations from a standing start in Australia,” Dr Finkel said.

Less than two years ago Dr Finkel shot down the possibly of nuclear power playing a significant role in the nation’s energy transition, saying there is little need and “no social licence” for it in Australia. 

(InnovationsAus.com) 

At the time he was the Federal Government’s advisor on low emissions technology.

Since then, the battle lines have been drawn over Australia’s energy future. 

With the nation committed to net zero emissions by 2050, the Albanese Labor government is committed to renewables. 

The Coalition wants nuclear.

“While nuclear power might experience a resurgence globally and eventually have a role in Australia, right now, no matter how much intent there might be to activate a nuclear power industry, it is difficult to envision before the mid-2040s,” Dr Finkel said in a paper published by 360info, a public interest journalism initiative.  

“The reality is there is no substitute for solar and wind power this decade and next, supported by batteries, transmission lines and peaking gas generation,” Dr Finkel wrote.

“Any call to go direct from coal to nuclear is effectively a call to delay decarbonisation of our electricity system by 20 years.

“It is unlikely that Australia would switch from being a laggard to a leader. That is, we would not proceed before we saw a licensed SMR (not a prototype) operating in the US, Canada, UK or another OECD country.

“After that, we would need to beef up the regulatory system, find the first site, find and license the first operator, approve and issue construction contracts, establish a waste-management system, establish the decommissioning rules and decommissioning fund, run the environmental and safety regulatory gamut, train a workforce, respond in the streets to the inevitable protests, and respond to the inevitable legal opposition all the way to the High Court.

“Only then could construction begin.  

“It is difficult to imagine all this could be accomplished and deliver an operational nuclear reactor in Australia before the mid-2040s. Introducing nuclear power when we can, starting in the 2040s, would bring benefits.

“Most importantly, nuclear power generation would reduce the ongoing mining footprint for the regular replacement of solar panels, wind turbines and batteries and the expanded electricity generation to support decarbonising our exports and population growth.

“For these reasons, it would be worth removing the ban on nuclear power so that we can at least thoroughly investigate the options.”

This article appeared in The Riverine Grazier, 24 April 2024.