Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says replacing Australia’s coal-fired power stations with small modular nuclear reactors would cost taxpayers $387 billion, suggesting the option would not get backing from industry.

More than 70 small modular nuclear reactors would be needed to offset the power generation lost when the existing coal-fired station fleet is retired, according to analysis from the Climate Change Department, which Mr Bowen said showed nuclear was not a viable option for power generation.