☢️ with the #coalition expected to announce its #nuclear plan on wednesday, here are 18 questions every diligent journalist should be seeking answers to:
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1. how will dutton remove the ban?
the coalition would require control of the senate to repeal the ban, which is embedded in two acts.
the coalition hasn’t controlled the senate since 2004-2007.
the coalition would require control of the senate to repeal the ban, which is embedded in two acts.
the coalition hasn’t controlled the senate since 2004-2007.
2. which state(s) would dutton build the reactors in?
only VIC, NSW and QLD grids are big enough to handle a large nuclear reactor.
WA, SA and TAS grids are too small to host a GW-scale reactor.
only VIC, NSW and QLD grids are big enough to handle a large nuclear reactor.
WA, SA and TAS grids are too small to host a GW-scale reactor.
3. how would a dutton gov't remove the state bans?
nuclear is banned in VIC, NSW and QLD.
the state labor governments _and_ liberal oppositions have all been clear they oppose the removal of the state bans on nuclear power.
nuclear is banned in VIC, NSW and QLD.
the state labor governments _and_ liberal oppositions have all been clear they oppose the removal of the state bans on nuclear power.
4. what if locals object?
how will acceptance be measured?
will all residents within the emergency planning be consulted?
what is the threshold of approval required from residents within the area?
how will acceptance be measured?
will all residents within the emergency planning be consulted?
what is the threshold of approval required from residents within the area?
5. how would a dutton gov't secure the sites?
dutton has been clear they’ll be built on sites of exiting coal power stations.
the c'wealth doesn’t own any coal power stations and many former coal power stations are now (or will soon be) hosting large battery or solar farms.
dutton has been clear they’ll be built on sites of exiting coal power stations.
the c'wealth doesn’t own any coal power stations and many former coal power stations are now (or will soon be) hosting large battery or solar farms.
6. who will be the project proponent?
industry has no interest in building large reactors. the first large reactor is likely cost more than the combined valuation of origin energy, AGL and energy australia.
realistically only the gov’t is placed to run such a project.
industry has no interest in building large reactors. the first large reactor is likely cost more than the combined valuation of origin energy, AGL and energy australia.
realistically only the gov’t is placed to run such a project.
7. how will a vendor be chosen?
will supply from russia and china be considered?
will supply from russia and china be considered?
8. how will a dutton gov't indemnify the vendor against cancellation?
very likely that labor would threaten to cancel the contract as soon as it is returned to power — at federal or state level.
no contractor would build without an expensive cancellation clause.
very likely that labor would threaten to cancel the contract as soon as it is returned to power — at federal or state level.
no contractor would build without an expensive cancellation clause.
9. when will the first reactor generate its first kWh?
the newest reactors in the US took 18 years from announcement to commercial operation.
in the authoritarian UAE, it took 13 years.
very difficult to see how the first unit could be delivered before 2040 or 2042.
the newest reactors in the US took 18 years from announcement to commercial operation.
in the authoritarian UAE, it took 13 years.
very difficult to see how the first unit could be delivered before 2040 or 2042.
10. how many units will be built?
if we delivered the first in 2040 and built as fast as france in its heyday — unrealistic — we could have ~16 units by 2050.
if we delivered the first in 2040 and built as fast as france in its heyday — unrealistic — we could have ~16 units by 2050.
11. what will they cost?
very optimistically, the first unit would cost ~$24bn.
if all goes well, the 5th and subsequent one might be ~$12bn. 16 units would cost ~$221bn.
…assuming no cost blowouts.
very optimistically, the first unit would cost ~$24bn.
if all goes well, the 5th and subsequent one might be ~$12bn. 16 units would cost ~$221bn.
…assuming no cost blowouts.
12. who will buy the power?
will it be sold into the spot market, or in swap contracts with retailers? if in the spot market, finance will be a challenge.
if in swap contracts, which retails are interested?
will it be sold into the spot market, or in swap contracts with retailers? if in the spot market, finance will be a challenge.
if in swap contracts, which retails are interested?
13. how will the cost premium be recovered?
the power produced would be significantly more expensive than existing and projected costs.
how will the premium be paid? will it be recovered from the market (pushing up power prices) or covered by general revenue (taxes)?
the power produced would be significantly more expensive than existing and projected costs.
how will the premium be paid? will it be recovered from the market (pushing up power prices) or covered by general revenue (taxes)?
14. who will provide disaster insurance?
while serious nuclear power accidents are _very_ rare, the costs of an accident can run into hundreds of $billions — fukushima cleanup projected at $350–750bn.
each power station will need to be insured. who will be the insurer?
gov't?
while serious nuclear power accidents are _very_ rare, the costs of an accident can run into hundreds of $billions — fukushima cleanup projected at $350–750bn.
each power station will need to be insured. who will be the insurer?
gov't?
15. how will the waste be managed?
will it stay indefinitely on site, or will it be moved to a centralised repository?
will the storage be above ground, or in a deep geological repository?
how will the site(s) for a long term waste facility be chosen?
will it stay indefinitely on site, or will it be moved to a centralised repository?
will the storage be above ground, or in a deep geological repository?
how will the site(s) for a long term waste facility be chosen?
16. how do we fill the coming energy gap?
if we slow down renewables roll-out, we will have a large energy gap between current coal closure dates and nuclear coming on line.
how much extra coal & gas will be burnt?
will we require new gas power stations to bridge the gap?
if we slow down renewables roll-out, we will have a large energy gap between current coal closure dates and nuclear coming on line.
how much extra coal & gas will be burnt?
will we require new gas power stations to bridge the gap?
17. how much will it cost to fill the energy gap?
coal and gas are costly fuels.
as we’ve seen with eraring in NSW, operators required hundreds of $millions a year to extend life.
as we've seen with muja in WA, coal refurbishments can be extremely expensive, and fail.
coal and gas are costly fuels.
as we’ve seen with eraring in NSW, operators required hundreds of $millions a year to extend life.
as we've seen with muja in WA, coal refurbishments can be extremely expensive, and fail.
18. what will be the emissions impact?
under this plan — slowing renewables and building nuclear — there’s no realistic way to get to net zero in 2050.
a recent report shows the coalition's expected plan could result in 3.2 GtCO₂ of additional emissions.
under this plan — slowing renewables and building nuclear — there’s no realistic way to get to net zero in 2050.
a recent report shows the coalition's expected plan could result in 3.2 GtCO₂ of additional emissions.
without good answers to the 18 questions above, the coalition cannot be taken seriously.
…and any plan that has us paying more and blowing our carbon budget is a toxic joke. ☢️
…and any plan that has us paying more and blowing our carbon budget is a toxic joke. ☢️
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