Australia's Nuclear Future | Chris Uhlmann, Helen Cook, Adi Paterson and Aidan Morrison

Leading organisations in the energy space have taken a single minded approach to the energy transition. They view weather dependent renewables as the sole option for a cleaner grid.

This unwillingness to look at all alternatives to fossil fuels has led to gaps in the scientific reasoning.

Experts Helen Cook, Chris Uhlmann, Adi Paterson and Aidan Morrison spoke at a recent CIS lunch where they laid out a clear path forward for nuclear energy.

They looked at what Australia can learn from other countries' energy transition. And they answered some of the most pressing questions in the nuclear debate: how long and how much? This isn’t just about lifting bans or debating renewables; it’s about envisioning a feasible, practical path to nuclear energy.
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[cmp]

Put nuclear power stations where coal power stations already exist and the infrastructure is already in place.

[keithbeaty]

At last, a rational discussion re nuclear power production for Australia. But, I think we’re missing the bigger picture here. Australia has over 40% of the world’s uranium reserves. Australia could become the one stop shop for the sale and thence the safe storage of uranium once used. That’s in addition to the ten or so nuclear reactors we need for power production. We should have started 30 years ago - lots of catch up to do.

[Kelvins]

As an engineer I never understood the opposition of Nuclear in Australia. Some general population sounds like worried as well as Govt. But that is not from technical expertise. What happened in Germany didn't make sense either, but I will say good for France and other European neighbors there can benefit from Electricity exports.
Australia doesn't have that option. Grid sharing with other continent is also not that viable in near future.

[aussietaipan]

Build a nuclear power station or 3, put a cafe and tours in the plant, public opposing mitigated. I can see nuclear as technology, industry, jobs and future for our kids as well as power security. Yes, the nuclear moratorium for nuclear power should be removed so we can start planning to get it right. We MUST start now. I drive a Tesla, I have a roof solar array and home battery but I'm also a nuclear advocate.

[mbos]

Australia is in a wind drought and have been for 2 weeks since this talk. Wholesale prices have been very high.

[stephenbrickwood]

Aidan Morrison argument that if "free" renewable electricity was true then the grid costs added into the customers electricity bills would still be substantial.
He is right.
Grid costs are a huge majority part of the costs.
Grid maintenance costs add to total grid costs. 24/7 servicing capacity.

Other nuclear promoters have said $1million per km new grid construction costs.
Government publications refer to 1million km of grid total length to 20million buildings.

$TRILLIONS construction costs in a 1TRILLION GDP economy.

I am an old Construction Civil Engineer contractor who has worked on coal fired and gas turbine generation electric plant new construction.
I have worked on new transmission lines construction 1, 700 tower transmission line.
I have worked in busy street construction with their access restrictions and daily time frames.

I have grandchildren and their future is more important than the chaotic thinking about the wrong problem that comes from ignorant understanding.
Experts laugh at the non experts speaking about the experts area of knowledge.

Sadly experts outside their own expertise remain embarrassingly confident.
Confident and foolish.

Solve the right problem.

[BelloBudo]

This was a highly enjoyable discussion on nuclear. This was largely down to our guest speakers being able to say what they had to say in a way that we could all understand.

I do wonder if location of nuclear plants will be the biggest hurdle we face. But I agree with the speakers that once the ball gets rolling on this, it will gain momentum quickly. It just needs to get off to a good start with Facts, Facts and more Facts leading the charge.

And I do like that point about Ecology rather than Environment. I am astounded at the potential damage being caused to flora & fauna in the interest of saving the planet.

[theycallmebruce]

I've been investing in uranium since 2020, I have watched a lot of interviews regarding this energy. For those who haven't herd of Rick Rule his knowledge is second to none and has stated a couple of times now that the world has spent trillions on renewable energy for less than a 2 percent gain, this is what I would call insanity. Because this is such a critical decision moving forward for Australia should we be voting for a separate body of experienced people to over look our mission to achieve the desired outcome . As all I can see by around 2035 the politicians will realise they have stuffed up and then they will play the usual blame game and none of them will have any accountability for there actions. Great talk and I hope a lot of people watch this.

[aarongrech]

We need these knowledgeable people to be heard by the people of Australia. The courage to discuss these matters without the fear pushed by politicians and media.. The most important thing is cheap power for manufacturing to be restored in Australia let alone green hydrogen. Contract Rolls Royce or General Electric before it’s too late.

[infow]

Nuclear is a proven and safe form of energy for major first-world economies used successfully and reliably in practice for over 50 years (e.g. France, Canada, etc.) and we have an abundance of uranium resource which we already export. This should be a bipartisan solution and a sure path to prosperity and higher living standards.

[dominicgalante]

WHAT A TEAM OF TALENT AND TRUTH YOU TO ALL

[yodaandthebike]

Fantastic panelists, fantastic presentation

[jimgreen]

Great debate? Well it might have been a great debate if you included a neutral or critical speaker. No chance of that from the CIS of from Chris's new employer Sky.

[damianmousley]

Open and frank discussions by people that know what they are talking about ……

[harrypidd]

Fantastic discussion with a very informed panel and moderator. Thank you.

[davefoord]

Nice to see a discussion that doesn’t mention politicians.

[stefancostanzo]

I really like the discussions coming out of the CIS, however I can’t seem to find a discussion similar to this, with a pro-renewables panel. Would you consider doing one if one has not already happened?

[Gingerzilla]

I'm pro Nuclear, still, the Mr. Paterson's claim that solar doesn't pay / work, is simply not true. My relative installed solar a few years back in WA and it and I have seen their power bills drop by more than 50%. Nuclear shouldn't be an all or nothing argument, it should be a case of combination with existing and future energy solutions. Frankly the presentation comes off as rather combative, which is counter productive, being flippinet and dismissive of the general public (treating them as they are stupid) doesn't help the cause of upgrading Australia's power grids.
Because it's far easier to argue against nuclear, so perhaps showing a more solution based approach would work better.

[KF-bjce]

A real problem with Labor, holding back Australia's prosperity with its dogmatic refusal to adopt nuclear base load power generation. Hence never support Labor to be elected again.

[johnd]

I cannot understand Labor's refusal to consider nuclear. It's an area that is revealing new scientific breakthroughs on a consistent basis. Labor is shutting its mind to any new discovery that may come along. Absolutely bizarre.