The myth of nuclear reliability

International experience suggests that Peter Dutton’s ambition to build nuclear reactors in Australia to guarantee electricity supplies may not be the best course for the future.

Dutton’s nuclear gamble

Peter Dutton needed a big idea to challenge Labor at the next election, and his proposal to meet Australia’s future energy needs with up to 7 nuclear plants is a gamble which will either make or break his political career.

What the experts say…on nuclear power

Peter Dutton has announced he will go to the next election promising to build seven nuclear power stations, located across the country. The sites will be located at retiring or retired coal sites, and the opposition leader says the new stations will be operational by between 2035 and 2037. What do the nation’s experts say?

Could Australia go nuclear?

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.

AUKUS Christi?

Australia’s embrace of nuclear powered hunter-killer submarines seems at odds with the country’s long-standing opposition to nuclear generated electricity supplies.

Future nuclear options

There are several new technologies which may transform the nuclear industry, possibly lowering costs and improving flexibility, but such promises have been made for decades and renewables are already proving their worth.

Is nuclear power a solution for Australia?

Nuclear power has again been proposed as a long-term solution for Australia’s energy problems, but the engineering issues and high cost of these plants still mitigates against their adoption.