Nuclear missing from net zero plan, SACOME tells #FearlessConversations | Watch a full replay

The net zero plan bets everything on new technology. But why is the most obvious technology missing? Watch a full replay of the Fearless Conversations live chat.

Failure to put nuclear energy in the federal government’s net zero by 2050 emissions plan is a glaring gap, South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy chief executive Rebecca Knol says.

The plan says 40 per cent of reductions must come from technological change, plus 15 per cent from global technology advances and 15 per cent from unknown technologies.

“It is extraordinary that in the plan the federal government has put forward that there is no (explicit) mention of nuclear,” Ms Knol said.

“Nuclear is a technology we should be looking at.”

Speaking on Wednesday as part of the Fearless Conversations series of events, livestreamed by Flinders University and The Advertiser, Ms Knol acknowledged there were significant hurdles facing nuclear. These started with the federal ban on the technology, laws which dated back to the 1980s.

“That was based on political horse trading at the time, it wasn’t based on scientific fact,” she said.
She rejected suggestions it was too late to pursue nuclear.

South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy chief executive Rebecca Knol was among the panel of experts tackling some of the big issues in the energy and mining sector during Wednesday’s Fearless Conversation.

More than half of the national electricity market’s coal-fired power capacity will close before 2040 and nuclear would require skill development, private sector investment decisions, environmental and other regulatory approvals on projects and site selection and construction.

Ms Knol said nuclear could be deployed in time to cover the gap when coal closes.

“The technology has moved substantially,” she said. “We’re no longer talking about a large nuclear reactor that would take decades.

“We’re talking about mobilising small modular reactors which are five to seven years away from full commercialisation – so they’re a lot closer to market than hydrogen.

“They’re basically plug and play.”

The federal government’s emissions’ reduction plan for net zero by 2050, says development of small nuclear reactors would be “monitored”.

It says there “may be potential” but gives no commitment to pursue third and fourth generation nuclear generators in Australia.

The plan says nuclear generation globally must increase, and that Australian uranium exports could nearly double from $762m a year now to $1.3bn by 2050.

The Flinders University Fearless Conversations forum, held in partnership with The Advertiser, brings together leading South Australian voices to tackle the big issues facing the state. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Streamed live on advertiser.com.au every Wednesday from 10.30am, the series encourages the community to engage in the debate about SA’s future. Questions can be submitted through advertiser.com.au or on Twitter via #fearlessconversations