Nuclear energy plant in Georgia emitting steam from its cooling towers
Letter to the Editor
A late entry for the ‘anti-carbon-cult’ story. Commenting on “It’s detrimental aspect is waste storage, though there are many secure locations in Australia the place you possibly can retailer the spent, radioactive gasoline.” Nuclear does have constructive attributes comparable to 0.022 deaths per TWh in comparison with 32.72 for brown coal, indicating how poisonous hydrocarbons (so-called fossil gasoline) might be. However Hydro/Wind/Photo voltaic have far much less deaths per TWh so it’s not a great metric as Wind and so on has much better efficiency.
(Queensland produces largely good high quality black coal for its energy stations and emissions over the previous 25 years or extra after the set up of extremely environment friendly emission scrubbers have decreased their sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) to safer, low ranges. Cairns Information analysis reveals the environment is in want of rather more carbon dioxide simply to take care of present ranges of 425.4 ppm and maintain life-Editor)
projected to supply 89 GW
World Power is a posh matter, and there are alternate options to discover. Isolating nuclear as a one-stop answer is about as childish as assuming wind and photo voltaic farms, even with massive batteries, can produce baseload energy. Listed below are some “details”:
* Nuclear, as soon as working, is way much less poisonous than the by-products of burning oil and coal, though options nuclear waste and enormous ‘fossil gasoline’ extraction and refinement prices.
* The world’s largest energy stations are all hydro: 8 stations from 8 to 22 GW. Nuclear is method down the size!
* A single nuclear reactor, usually 1 GW, takes 15 years and prices round $9 billion to construct (topic to x3 value blowouts!), requires 850,000 tonnes of concrete, and 150,000 tonnes of metal. NONE of that is TRIVIAL!
* As a viable various, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors are fabricated within the manufacturing facility though have restricted energy and better finish prices per vitality unit produced.
* There’s already 250,000 tonnes of nuclear waste worldwide, with no answer in sight on dispose, aside from sending all of it to Australia. Extensively coated in two information studies: Waste & Weapons for Australia: https://www.abc.web.au/information/2024-08-09/aukus-radioactive-waste-marles-denies-us-uk-obligation/104184608 . Paul Keating spoke out however was closely criticized. Additionally https://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2024/07/25/anthony-albanese-and-peter-dutton-go-nuclear-with-their-lies-to-voters/ .
* The consequence right here is proliferation of nuclear weapons {hardware} in addition to the world’s dumping floor for nuclear waste. Loads of locations for 250,000 tonnes? Australia is MY again yard, so no thanks.
* As a distinction to a nuclear reactor of 1 GW: The proposed Grand Inga Dam within the Congo is projected to supply 39 GW.
* The Penzhin Tidal Energy Plant Mission is projected to supply 89 GW, equal to 25 nuclear energy vegetation! 40% of Russia’s capability!
Labor blocks tidal energy venture in North of Western Australia https://www.abc.web.au/information/2023-07-21/million-dollar-tidal-project-dead-in-the-water-after-decade/102610068
* A smaller bay round Derby in Western Australia has related tides. Is that this viable?
* Australia’s Darwin Photo voltaic Park, for the Australia-Asia Energy Hyperlink, is projected to supply 20 GW.
* World Geothermal is round 20 GW in 2020, projected to be 100 GW by 2050.
* The world’s largest nuclear energy station in Japan at simply 8 GW (8 1 GW reactors) has been suspended since 2011 resulting from seismic exercise and intentionally falsified knowledge surrounding security inspections. By no means thoughts the Fukushima catastrophe!
* A nuclear energy station has 3 fundamental pumps. Fukushima meltdown was attributable to a seawater breach that disabled these pumps.
* Equally, a coronal mass ejection from the solar, or an electromagnetic pulse from a nuclear explosion in house, might injury the grid in order that diesel-powered mills would ultimately run out of gasoline, with a whole lot of potential meltdowns world-wide.
* Miracle Thorium reactors seem like a pipe dream, too good to be true. It doesn’t fission with out weapons grade uranium or an accelerator, creates much less vitality, is much less financial, and creates a blended waste stream that’s tough to get rid of. Do we’ve 50 years to attend for this to come back on line?
* Tidal Power Converters (TECs) are under-water wind generators that produce ultra-reliable energy, resulting from a satellite tv for pc known as the moon! Not like intermittent wind generators. Restricted capability, nevertheless.
* Dynamic Tidal Energy with a 30km causeway, in distinction, has VAST potential at a developmental stage. Think about dozens of hydro know-how factors, a really mature know-how, alongside the size of the causeway!
* Australia’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs program, investing over half a billion {dollars} to construct electrolyser hubs at key places like Pilbara, Kwinana, Gladstone, Townsville, Bell Bay, Port Bonython, and the Hunter. That is projected to generate $50 billion in extra GDP by 2050. (Most inexperienced hydrogen vegetation have been closed in latest occasions resulting from difficulties with manufacturing)
* There’s an estimated 10 trillion tonnes of Pure Hydrogen (additionally termed White or Gold) underground! Versus Grey, Blue, Inexperienced and Orange hydrogen. Though Aquifiers MUST be shielded from over-exploitation.
* Zero-point vitality apart, magnetics could but revolutionise the best way vitality is produced, in addition to gravity.
There are intensive references for all this data, however may have no impact if completed alone. Undecided for those who’re satisfied, however together with your help the subject of magnetics might be launched on this discussion board, with large potential.
From George Neo, NSW
