Peter Dutton: turn coal-powered plants to nuclear

The Opposition Leader has proposed converting old coal-fired power sites into locations for small-scale nuclear plants.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton has proposed converting old coal-fired power sites into locations for small-scale nuclear plants as part of the Coalition’s future energy plan as the Opposition Leader launches his most strident attack yet on the “renewable zealotry” of the Albanese government.

In a speech to the Institute of Public Affairs on Friday morning, the Liberal leader will double down on the party’s plans to pursue nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels, claiming the “renewables only” agenda was “fanciful” and putting the nation at risk.

Mr Dutton will suggest the site of the decommissioned Liddell Power Station, in the NSW Hunter Valley, was an example of where a small modular nuclear reactor that could power 300,000 homes alone could be located.

The Albanese government has rubbished his proposals for nuclear power bases, arguing they would be too costly, and has previously challenged Mr Dutton to nominate where they would be located.

BHP has also argued for Australia to remove prohibitions on nuclear energy, arguing it could help achieve the 2030 and 2050 climate change targets.

In an attack on the environmental credentials of the renewable energy industry, Mr Dutton will say while renewables were necessary, the pursuit of wind, solar and batteries alone would not solve the energy problem he says has catapulted Australia’s domestic energy to among the highest-priced in the world.

He has also linked the need for nuclear energy to national security, claiming renewables alone would leave the nation vulnerable, outlining three pillars for the Coalition energy policy based on clean power, cost-effective power and consistent power.

“If the government wants to stop coal-fired power and phase out gas-fired power, the only feasible and proven technology which can firm up renewables and help us achieve the goals of clean, cost-effective and consistent power is next-generation nuclear technologies, which are safe and emit zero emissions,” Mr Dutton will say in the speech.

“Namely, small modular reactors or ‘SMRs’. And microreactors or micro modular reactors – ‘MMRs’ – which are also known as ‘nuclear batteries’.

“A single SMR can power 300,000 homes. A microreactor could power a hospital, a factory, a mining site or a military base.

“Chris Bowen has burrowed so deeply down the renewable rabbit hole that he refuses to consider these new nuclear technologies as part of the solution to our energy problems.

“In the Energy Minister’s eyes, he sees nuclear and renewables as competitors. Whereas we need to see them as companions. New nuclear technologies can be plugged into existing grids and work immediately.”

Mr Dutton identified Liddell Power Station, claiming an SMR needed only about 18 hectares of land. Liddell, he said, occupied about 100 hectares. “We could convert or repurpose coal-fired plants and use the transmission connections which already exist on those sites,” he will say. “It’s no wonder more than 50 countries are exploring or investing in new SMRs and nuclear batteries.

“Energy security is a primary reason why Australia must consider new nuclear technologies as part of the energy mix.

“The government has committed to building nuclear-powered submarines in Australia under AUKUS.

“The submarines are essentially floating SMRs. The most modern reactors in the submarines in operation today don’t need to be refuelled for 30 years.”

In remarks likely to ignite a fierce response from the renewables industry, Mr Dutton also questioned the environmental benefit of building 58 million solar panels and 3500 wind turbines he claims would be needed to reach the government’s 2030 clean energy targets.

“Of course, we all understand the need to invest in the development of renewables and the important role they play in the energy mix,” Mr Dutton said.

“But the government is not being technologically agnostic or objective. On the contrary, its ‘renewables only’ mentality – its renewable zealotry – is putting our nation at risk.

“The Albanese government is recklessly rushing to renewables and switching off the old system before the new one is ready.

“We hear too from the ‘renewables only’ campaigners that they are better for the environment.

“By 2050, the plan includes carpeting our landscape with 28,000 kilometres of new transmission poles and wires – the equivalent of almost the entire coastline of mainland Australia – at a cost of more than $100bn.

“Putting aside the fact that a rollout on this scale is fanciful … how on Earth is it environmentally friendly?”

Mr Dutton first flagged nuclear energy as part of the Coalition’s energy plans in September 2022 and again in his budget reply speech in May.

But his speech to the IPA is the first to identify potential locations for the SMR reactors.

Nationals leader David Littleproud on Wednesday praised Mr Dutton for having the “courage” to get the Liberal Party on board with a pro-nuclear position already held by the Nationals.