I suppose it would be too much to expect Dr Ziggy Switkowski, as head of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, and an ex-nuclear physicist to give a fair and balanced view of the nuclear vs renewable issue. After all, to a man with a hammer, every problem is a nail.
What Australia should be doing is developing an industry based on its key energy asset - sunshine. The Earth receives 12,000 times more energy from the sun everyday than is used by civilization worldwide. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants sited in hot desert regions of Australia would easily provide more power than the country could use.
CSP uses a technique of concentrating sunlight with mirrors to create heat, and then using the heat to raise steam and drive turbines and generators, just like a conventional power station. It is possible to store solar heat in melted salt or other substance so that electricity generation may continue through the night or on cloudy days. This technology has been generating electricity successfully in California since 1985 and half a million Californians currently get their electricity from this source. CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world.
CSP works best in hot deserts and, with transmission losses at only about 3% per 1000 km, it is entirely feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity throughout Australia from the Australian desert using highly-efficient 'HVDC' transmission lines. A small portion of the Australian desert would be sufficient to meet all of the country's needs for electricity.
Waste heat from electricity generation in a CSP plant can be used to create fresh water by desalination of sea water: a very useful by-product in arid regions.
Further information about CSP may be found at www.trec-uk.org.uk and www.trecers.net . Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm . The many problems associated with nuclear power are summarised at www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no_nukes.htm .
I am a year 10 student at Centenary State High School.
Recently in my geography class, we have been learning all about uranium and nuclear energy. Both for and against have clearly stated their arguments about nuclear energy.
In my opinion, I believe Australia should go nuclear.
Many arguments suport my opinion falling under economical, social and enviromental.
Perhaps buring coal may give us energy and perhaps coal power reactors could not be a terrorist, but how much longer can we burn fossil fuels before they run out? Oil itself is estimated of only having 50 years left of usage.
Is this the same as coal?
May I remind the person who left the comment about 'solar energy' that this is about the debate of 'nuclear energy'.
I am 15 and a boy so please take note of what an individual boy has to say about nuclear energy.
Robert PalgraveMar 13th, 2007 - 17:11:49
I suppose it would be too much to expect Dr Ziggy Switkowski, as head of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, and an ex-nuclear physicist to give a fair and balanced view of the nuclear vs renewable issue. After all, to a man with a hammer, every problem is a nail.
What Australia should be doing is developing an industry based on its key energy asset - sunshine. The Earth receives 12,000 times more energy from the sun everyday than is used by civilization worldwide. Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants sited in hot desert regions of Australia would easily provide more power than the country could use.
CSP uses a technique of concentrating sunlight with mirrors to create heat, and then using the heat to raise steam and drive turbines and generators, just like a conventional power station. It is possible to store solar heat in melted salt or other substance so that electricity generation may continue through the night or on cloudy days. This technology has been generating electricity successfully in California since 1985 and half a million Californians currently get their electricity from this source. CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world.
CSP works best in hot deserts and, with transmission losses at only about 3% per 1000 km, it is entirely feasible and economic to transmit solar electricity throughout Australia from the Australian desert using highly-efficient 'HVDC' transmission lines. A small portion of the Australian desert would be sufficient to meet all of the country's needs for electricity.
Waste heat from electricity generation in a CSP plant can be used to create fresh water by desalination of sea water: a very useful by-product in arid regions.
Further information about CSP may be found at www.trec-uk.org.uk and www.trecers.net . Copies of the TRANS-CSP report may be downloaded from www.trec-uk.org.uk/reports.htm . The many problems associated with nuclear power are summarised at www.mng.org.uk/green_house/no_nukes.htm .
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