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The looming threat of climate change has put the once feared option of nuclear power back on the political agenda in Australia and elsewhere, according to nuclear and uranium analyst Pepita Maiden.
Like any other form of power, nuclear energy has pros and cons, but Ms Maiden sees a role for nuclear among other future energy options in meeting the world’s energy needs.
“Gas is expensive; coal pollutes; solar power is intermittent and diffuse; wind power is also expensive; hydropower has its limitations; and for nuclear power there are still going to be community concerns,” Ms Maiden said.
But for Australia, the cost issue weighs heavily when it comes to developing a nuclear power industry.
“A new nuclear reactor, for instance a new fourth-generation AP1000 from Westinghouse [Electric Company], will cost Australia around $2.6 billion. The reason it’s so pricey is because we don’t have the infrastructure, we don’t have the technology and we don’t have the people who know about the industry,” she said.
“So the capital costs for Australia to build a new reactor are very high compared to a country that already has the infrastructure.”
On top of the cost issue is the fact that Australia’s abundant reserves of cheap coal mean there isn’t a pressing need for the nation to go nuclear, Ms Maiden said.
“The biggest issue is that we have lots of coal, and most of our electricity - around 65 to 70 per cent - comes from coal-fired power stations.
“Until there are taxes, perhaps on emissions, or some other way of carbon trading, then it’s not going to be economic for Australia to build nuclear power stations,” she said.
Yet in considering alternatives to fossil fuels in generating electricity, nuclear power does have its supporters and is likely to increase in importance globally.
Currently supplying the world with around 17 per cent of its power supply, Ms Maiden says the figure could soon reach 19 per cent as China, India and other countries bring on new nuclear power plants.
As of January 2007 there were 435 commercial nuclear power reactors in operation in 38 countries worldwide, with another 28 under construction, 64 planned and 158 proposed, according to the World Nuclear Association. Energy-hungry China and India have the highest number of reactors currently under construction.
Ms Maiden says the fears may soon be outweighed by the benefits given the alternative of catastrophic climate change.
“Issues of radiation control and waste management and cost and even non-proliferation are manageable when compared to the problems surrounding climate change,” she said.
Copyright Starlink Media TM
Like any other form of power, nuclear energy has pros and cons, but Ms Maiden sees a role for nuclear among other future energy options in meeting the world’s energy needs.
“Gas is expensive; coal pollutes; solar power is intermittent and diffuse; wind power is also expensive; hydropower has its limitations; and for nuclear power there are still going to be community concerns,” Ms Maiden said.
But for Australia, the cost issue weighs heavily when it comes to developing a nuclear power industry.
“A new nuclear reactor, for instance a new fourth-generation AP1000 from Westinghouse [Electric Company], will cost Australia around $2.6 billion. The reason it’s so pricey is because we don’t have the infrastructure, we don’t have the technology and we don’t have the people who know about the industry,” she said.
“So the capital costs for Australia to build a new reactor are very high compared to a country that already has the infrastructure.”
On top of the cost issue is the fact that Australia’s abundant reserves of cheap coal mean there isn’t a pressing need for the nation to go nuclear, Ms Maiden said.
“The biggest issue is that we have lots of coal, and most of our electricity - around 65 to 70 per cent - comes from coal-fired power stations.
“Until there are taxes, perhaps on emissions, or some other way of carbon trading, then it’s not going to be economic for Australia to build nuclear power stations,” she said.
Yet in considering alternatives to fossil fuels in generating electricity, nuclear power does have its supporters and is likely to increase in importance globally.
Currently supplying the world with around 17 per cent of its power supply, Ms Maiden says the figure could soon reach 19 per cent as China, India and other countries bring on new nuclear power plants.
As of January 2007 there were 435 commercial nuclear power reactors in operation in 38 countries worldwide, with another 28 under construction, 64 planned and 158 proposed, according to the World Nuclear Association. Energy-hungry China and India have the highest number of reactors currently under construction.
Ms Maiden says the fears may soon be outweighed by the benefits given the alternative of catastrophic climate change.
“Issues of radiation control and waste management and cost and even non-proliferation are manageable when compared to the problems surrounding climate change,” she said.
Copyright Starlink Media TM
