Grattan Institute Crunching the numbers on the Coalition's nuclear plan
Dec 18, 2024
Tony Wood and Alison Reeve, both energy experts at the Grattan Institute, tackle the Coalition's nuclear energy plan to replace coal-fired plants with nuclear power stations. They discuss the financial implications and compare the costs of nuclear versus renewable energy strategies ahead of the 2025 federal election. The conversation highlights the risks of transitioning to renewables, the complexities of nuclear energy integration, and the urgency of implementing effective energy policies to achieve emissions reduction.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Conflicting Cost Data
- The Coalition claims their nuclear energy plan is cheaper than Labor's renewable energy plan.
- CSIRO/AEMO's GenCost report suggests renewables are the cheapest new electricity generation option.
Assessing Conflicting Information
- Begin assessing conflicting data by examining all sources critically, not immediately believing any single one.
- The Coalition leverages uncertainties around renewable energy and transmission infrastructure to present nuclear as an alternative.
Coalition's Nuclear Proposal
- The Coalition proposes building seven nuclear power stations where existing coal plants are located.
- Five would use current large-scale technology; two would be smaller, still-experimental modular reactors.