australian nuclear power

I posted the following discussion on the general thread but it needs a run here too.

Nuclear Power could provide South Australians with improved water supplies as well as low priced, carbon neutral power.

Three problems for a start. Firstly, South Australia currently is a net importer of power and the proposed Olympic Dam expansion will more or less double SA power needs. Secondly, SA is a great state but much of the water is disgusting. After all, it does sit at the gutter end of the Murray Darling sustem. Thirdly, Australians have been indoctrinated against nuclear power for decades so there is powerful public resistance.

Nuclear Power Stations are very expensive to build but relatively inexpensive to operate. Provided the plants are large enough to provide economy of scale, the economics justify the expense. An expanded Olympic Dam means demand will certainly be there. Additionally, competitive electricity supply will always attract more energy hungry industries. Adopting a modular design and staged construction can keep costs in control. Add to this mix an Australian construction industry sophisticated enough to provide assured quality, on time and on budget.

Nuclear Power is base load. Always on, it generally attracts the lowest premium. If it is to have any chance of gaining acceptance it must provide low cost power, especially retail power. However, this does not mean that all power from a nuclear plant should be cheap. Couple base load nuclear with with load levelling, variable capacity desal, and nuclear power economics get more attractive. If the generating entity can always choose between feeding the grid or feeding a variable capacity desal industry, then market economics should move to favour the seller. There is already a demonstrated need for improved water supply in SA. Increasing stress in the Murray Darling system can be expected to make water supply problems progressively worse. A large scale desal industry in SA would improve both the quality and quantity of potable water.

Generations of Australians have learnt that Nuclear Power is expensive, dangerous and not needed. It is expensive. It is dangerous, but building coal power plants is now unacceptable. This brings a powerful need for alternative, base load power generation. Nuclear and geothermal are both candidates.

Both the expense and the dangers of nuclear power can be acceptably controlled with modern, tested, modular designs. Public acceptance remains a real issue but I wonder how South Australians would feel if the nuclear option came with offers of cheaper power, better water and improved employment prospects.