The Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claims there is “no hope” of reaching net zero emissions without nuclear power. If his plan goes ahead, such a proposal is one the nation may come to regret.
Russia’s war in the Ukraine revealed to the world how easily an aggressor can disable a country by targeting infrastructure. Generating power from a single source such as coal fired, or nuclear power stations would be first on the hit list.
Imagine life without electricity?
While Australia is currently not under threat from foreign entities, no one knows the future.
Solar panels on household roof tops have reached 4 million or one in three houses in Australia. With so much low-cost power generated during daylight, both the energy and financial sector have declared coal fired power generation is not commercially viable.
Schools, shopping centres, and small businesses realise the cost advantages of installing photo-voltaic cells.
Currently, home battery systems do not offer good financial return (solar choice). Sodium-ion batteries are being developed. Sodium is abundant and at a fraction of the cost to lithium.
Electric vehicles are another potential source for storage. The expected life of a car battery is some ten years. Such batteries, while not powering a car, still hold ample capacity to run household appliances. The industry expects used EV batteries given an extended life as low-cost rooftop solar storage.
A nation with electrical power supply independent of a grid network would be that bit more secure from drone or rocket attacks.
Kane Thornton, chief executive of the Clean Energy Council points out “you can’t switch off a reactor when it’s not needed.”
The argument is, and has always been, a nation cannot rely on electrical power dependent on environmental conditions.
Arguments such as that are being addressed by engineers and innovations promoted regularly.
Nuclear power stations are expensive. Consumers will ultimately pay for them. Switching off consumer’s rooftop solar when it is abundant and free, to buy more expensive nuclear generated power is absurd and an insult to the electorate’s intelligence.
ajhenryblog 
I agree. Totally absurd. Nuclear power is an outdated technology that is super expensive and fraught with problems.
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Thank you. As reported by the ABC, a video has emerged of an interview with Matt Canavan recorded some months ago. He admits nuclear power is a political fix:
“Video has emerged of a Nationals senator saying his party’s nuclear policy shows it is not serious about cheap energy, arguing if it was it would instead pursue more coal.”
Says it all.
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I am gobsmacked that they have no integrity and play the political game as if every voter is a dunce.
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