Australia's future should include nuclear energy

Acceptable level of risk

Radiation is a scary thing to the uninformed. It's energy on the move, and simply by existing we experience between 1.5 – 2.0 'milliseverts' (mi) of radiation each year. Of course this number fluctuates depending on one's environment and activities; for example, a house tiled with granite would increase your annual exposure by 1.0mi, and a return flight from Sydney to Los Angeles would dose you with 0.16mi. Don't be alarmed however, the annual occupational limit is 30mi – a large figure in context. With those values in mind, people situated on the boundary of a nuclear reactor would receive an annual exposure of 0.15mi, while those working on the site would receive between 1.8mi and 2.4mi per year. Radiation is therefore of little concern.

Australia is the ideal nuclear home

Australia is an ideal candidate geologically, geographically and politically for nuclear energy. We have uninhabited geologically stable land to situate nuclear reactors; an abundance of uranium and thorium to fuel them; a stable democracy with established and effective legal and governmental infrastructures; and an economy driven by high value products and innovation.

All talk and no walk

Over the past 70 years, Australia has seen four proposals for the implementation of nuclear energy; however, nothing eventuated.

In 1969, the Commonwealth government submitted approval for the construction of a nuclear reactor in New South Wales' Jervis Bay. While environmental studies and some site work took place, the project was deferred on the basis of being too capital-intensive, and was later abandoned with a change in government.

In 1967, the State Electricity Commission of Victoria sought to reserve Westernport's French Island as a nuclear reactor site. However, public opposition saw the Victorian Government conduct a planning study, which declared it unsuitable for industrial purposes.

In 1979, the Western Australian Government pushed for the construction of a reactor in Wilbinga, Perth. While the site was acquired in 1981 by the State Energy Commission of Western Australia, construction never commenced due to political and social opposition; which saw plans permanently shelved.

Since 2007, Australia's Upper Spencer Gulf region has been intermittently discussed as a prospective reactor site. However, to date, no formal propositions have been submitted.

Since SMRs largely alleviate the issues clouding the adoption of nuclear energy, isn't it about time for Australia to establish an SMR-based nuclear power plant?