Thread: Nuclear

I have No doubt that the tech for using the power left in nuclear waste will be developed in the not so distant future so there won't be a waste problem.
As for earthquakes being a problem in Aus , Well I call BS on that call.
Solar and wind generation are definitely the way forward But we need a RELIABLE back up source to keep the grid going at night or when the wind isn't blowing.
Battery storage works But at the end of the day a battery has a limited lifetime and then we end up with the problem of disposing all that heavy metal in the batteries.
Nuclear is by far the best option to supplement the grid

Hi all

I particularly agree with ramblingboy42's comments about having country councils setting up and maintaining their own independent power generation systems. It gives us a lot more resiliency and local ratepayers get more control over operation and pricing. All really good points that he raises below.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

NO

for no other reason than the timing is now way out of whack.

we should have seriously considered it 30yrs ago before the onset of alternatives or renewables.

every town in Australia can now , relatively cheaply , set up their own independent power generation system.....(again)

the days of big centralised power generation facilities are over.

I grew up in the bush and every town had its own power station or generator shed...no national grid. No power monopoly companies except in the cities.

because of renewables per se, it appears to be reverting back to the old system where the power generator was owned by the local town council and the users only paid what it cost.

it wasn't a profit making business for the councils but a part of the council's job to provide power to the town.

modern renewable/alternative systems now allow the local councils to control electricity production and costings independent of the big monopolies.

if we were to plan for and build a suitable nuclear power facility in Australia , by the time all feasability studies and costings were done and accepted and the project started , it would be 25+ years into the future before it would even be commissioned.....I just don't think there is an opportunity left now for serious consideration , with the alternative options running along side it.

Originally Posted by trout1105

I have No doubt that the tech for using the power left in nuclear waste will be developed in the not so distant future so there won't be a waste problem.
As for earthquakes being a problem in Aus , Well I call BS on that call.
Solar and wind generation are definitely the way forward But we need a RELIABLE back up source to keep the grid going at night or when the wind isn't blowing.
Battery storage works But at the end of the day a battery has a limited lifetime and then we end up with the problem of disposing all that heavy metal in the batteries.
Nuclear is by far the best option to supplement the grid

Five earthquakes were recorded in Australia yesterday and 10 on Tuesday. So far today there has been one.

Latest earthquakes in and around Australia interactive map & list: past 30 days / VolcanoDiscovery

The whole world is a bit shaky.

Interactive Map of Active Volcanoes and recent Earthquakes world-wide

Originally Posted by speleomike

Hi all

I particularly agree with ramblingboy42's comments about having country councils setting up and maintaining their own independent power generation systems. It gives us a lot more resiliency and local ratepayers get more control over operation and pricing. All really good points that he raises below.

Holly crap .... Our ****house council can't even be relied on to pickup rubbish bins once a week. The lights would NEVER be on if those clowns were responsible for power generation (except in there own mansions .... and the mansions of there big business friends of course). At least it would make it harder for them to be seen in the dark heading for Queensland to hide from the police (again) when they have finally been found fiddling the books (again)

seeya,
Shane L.

Nuclear power stations are two to three times as expensive as renewables and gas and can't compete without massive government subsidies. Obsolete nuclear plants are closing and being replaced with gas and renewables.
It's just not going to happen.

Nuclear Energy in the U.S.: Expensive Source Competing with Cheap Gas and Renewables | Climate Nexus

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Nuclear power stations are two to three times as expensive as renewables and gas and can't compete without massive government subsidies. Obsolete nuclear plants are closing and being replaced with gas and renewables.
It's just not going to happen.

Nuclear Energy in the U.S.: Expensive Source Competing with Cheap Gas and Renewables | Climate Nexus

Lots of countries are still building them... World Nuclear Power Reactors | Uranium Requirements | Future Nuclear Power - World Nuclear Association

The key word above is 'obsolete' as I see it. As many/most of these were built in the 60s and 70s and have a service life of 40 years (with 20 year extension if updated) I think we are seeing a natural lifecycle of old equipment being retired and being replaced with modern equivalents that make sense in the current political and environmental landscape. "Nuclear" is still a dirty word and there is a lot of pressure to close down existing ones and not build new just due to that alone. You don't get votes for building a nuclear anything, but bung in a wind farm or a few hectares of solar and you are in with a chance. Equally, once built, our access to the required raw materials to fee it are second to none so running costs aren't directly comparable with other countries. if governments actually just did things that genuinely made sense there would be much cleverer decisions being made. But instead they are looking at the next election and how they'll get up.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Five earthquakes were recorded in Australia yesterday and 10 on Tuesday. So far today there has been one.

Latest earthquakes in and around Australia interactive map & list: past 30 days / VolcanoDiscovery

The whole world is a bit shaky.

Interactive Map of Active Volcanoes and recent Earthquakes world-wide

Anything much under 3 isn't generally able to be felt even if you are right on top of it and there's not much on that list breaching even that low limit. Not sure these quakes are really what we're talking about. We are in the dead centre of a nice big plate so we get tremors where those in areas less fortunate have half their country levelled. The odd exception, sure, but rare and relatively minor (ie. easily able to be engineered around). Cool link though

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Nuclear power stations are two to three times as expensive as renewables and gas and can't compete without massive government subsidies. Obsolete nuclear plants are closing and being replaced with gas and renewables.
It's just not going to happen.

Nuclear Energy in the U.S.: Expensive Source Competing with Cheap Gas and Renewables | Climate Nexus

It is easy to mount arguments both ways. Renewable stored as hydrogen might be a option soon but not yet. Pumped hydro and similar storage is a great idea but not any where near sufficient unfortunately. Batteries ( I have two 10kwh at work) are not cost effective at a large scale. Pumped hydro is in my view a lot more effective than large scale batteries. hydrogen 20time more effective again. Nuclear is where done correctly the best option in my view.

Hot topic with power shortages forecast for Vic yet again for this coming summer!