Let your voice be heard.
IT’S TIME TO TALK NUCLEAR
Australia’s energy system is coming under growing pressure and Australian families and businesses will pay the price.
Reducing emissions while delivering low-cost, reliable, and clean energy will require a balance of technologies working together.
It’s time for a mature national conversation about the possibility of introducing advanced nuclear technology into Australia’s energy mix.
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IT'S TIME TO TALK NUCLEAR.
Energy Crisis
Energy prices are already skyrocketing and are set to rise by another 56% by next year, as the Government’s energy policies limit supply and force the premature closure of baseload power stations, without any guarantee of replacement.
Record amounts of renewables are being built at a big cost, but wind and solar can’t do the job alone. To succeed they need help from complementary technologies.
New Technologies
Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and South Korea are all investing in next generation, zero-emission nuclear technology including Small Modular Reactors.
They are doing this because it makes sense economically and environmentally, helping them shore-up energy security and meet their net zero emissions targets.
Climate Change
Australia is part of a global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to deliver net zero by 2050. Other comparable nations are turning to nuclear as a source of clean energy to achieve this goal.
At the recent COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt, the United States’ Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, said “we don't get to net zero by 2050 without nuclear power in the mix."
About
This survey is part of a discussion being led by the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O’Brien, about advanced nuclear technology.
Your feedback can help progress a mature and intelligent conversation about the prospect of nuclear energy as part of Australia’s future energy mix.
“There is no greater prerequisite for nuclear energy than consent from the Australian people and this is why we need a national conversation.”
― Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O'Brien
FAQs
What is nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is the process of splitting heavy atoms to generate electricity. Nuclear energy now provides 10% of the world's electricity from nearly 440 power reactors. About 55 more reactors are under construction in 15 countries.
For more information and research on this topic, the following sites might be useful: whatisnuclear.com
Is nuclear energy clean?
Yes! Nuclear power’s total life-cycle carbon emissions and raw material requirements are the lowest among other energy sources, even lower than wind and solar.
Read the UNECE report on Life-Cycle Assessment of Electricity Sources.
How is nuclear technology used in Australia?
While there are no nuclear power reactors in Australia at present, we have been operating a research reactor for over 60 years that produces important nuclear medicine for things like diagnostics and cancer treatment.
Learn more about the OPAL reactor and ANSTO’s work in nuclear science & technology.
SMR power plant (courtesy of NuScale Power)
What's at Stake
Nuclear energy is a source of clean energy used extensively worldwide, but not here in Australia. This means as a nation, we can learn from the policies and approaches that other countries have taken.
A once-in-a-century transformation of the electricity grid has enormous cost implications for Australia, which will be borne by consumers and taxpayers.
Australia must make the best decisions with the full knowledge of all available options.
Nuclear power is the only low-cost, reliable and emissions-free source of energy that can back up renewables at night or at low wind speeds.
Australia needs to have a mature discussion about the role that nuclear energy could play, alongside other technologies, as we move towards net zero-emissions.
