Check out eminent scientist Kick Sorensen on google tech talks, on U tube, and others with numerous scientifically validated articles that back me up! When I say, thorium is both abundant and arguably the most energy dense material on the planet!

Other well credentialed scientists have postulated that they could build walk away safe, molten salt thorium reactors, that would return a handsome profit at 3 cents per KPH!

However, as back to the future, publicly provided essential service, I believe, we can do so much better than that?

We could have rolled out, factory built mass produced molten salt thorium reactors long ago, at least in the bush, where they'd get power prices way way down and keep them there for around the next 100 years and beyond?

And in so doing, give city folk plenty of reasons for a needed bush change!

Cheap energy will bring industry, jobs and snowballing economic growth where they are now sorely needed, and take all manner of pressure off overcrowded capital cities!

Go thorium! Get thorium! Or get new representatives, who will at least get out of the way, if they can't make a difference that's worth more than a plugged nickel! As our on farm, water and energy dependant, economy sinks slowly (unsubsidised) into the sunset!

Walk away safe, tried tested and not found wanting, molten salt thorium reactors work at normal atmospheric pressure and thorium is less radioactive than a banana!

And yes, I'd welcome one in my backyard or back paddock! As opposed to the current coal fired powered station and atmospheric/soil/water pollution spewing from it? That could include cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic and uranium to mention a few found to be emanating from some coal fired power plants.

Moreover, diesel has its own set of (carcinogenic)nasties!

We need to drift in a very different direction or change to leaders up to the task of leading us toward a bright new future rather than corporate farming? Where the bush is effectively depopulated and everyone heads for already overcrowded overpopulated cities!
Alan B.

Nowing that solar does not produce power when the sun sets is very reliable.
Noting that wind turbines do not produce power when the wind does not blow is kids stuff.
I would have thought that was common knowledge.

We need to diversify thinking instead of quoting local events. Some do anyway.
Whatever your preferance for power generation coal is doomed. You need to find an alternate power supply. Unbelievers can resist any advancement and push the far right ideals. Most people will go by way of solar, or small scale wind generator or a mix of both, and not worry about power prices again.

I went in early and my system has now completed nine years of fantastic service. The single most cost saving investment ever made. All household lighting now is 12 volt led..
Household lighting should have been 12 volt as a matter of course years ago for everybody.

I first discovered 12 volt power as a camping accessory about 1970 and wondered why it was never put in houses. My first makeshift lighting for camping was a very early model victa mower engine and a generator off a ford E 10 flat top engine.
All you need now is sunshine and a battery. No rope winding and no petrol even better.

@Aidan in truth I haven't been keeping records of when and where the blackouts have been occurring. However if you take a squinty eyed look at AEMO's market notices SA seems to have gotten more than its fair share in the last 12 months
https://www.aemo.com.au/Market-Notices
There's also the issue of pricing and it doesn't seem to be clear whether the new gas generator and solar battery banks will be paid for by taxes or power bills.

In the middle of SA is Olympic Dam the world's biggest uranium deposit which is curiously omitted from energy discussions. I roughly calculate its annual uranium output could create over 600 Twh of electricity whereas Australia as a whole uses 252 Twh. Maybe we're not seeing the forest for the trees.

Right on for the article. I've have small house on sole solar power for 15 years. Now onto the third lot of batteries. Sure they are getting better all the time - but not cheaper. Lights are now LEDs and this is much better. But fridge, freezer washing machine, heater - forget it. We use LP gas, for fridge and spot heating - also not getting cheaper. I started the system with a 240 volt gennie but now use a rectifier - but very limited output. In the late 50's we had a large desiel gennie in the shed, it was necessary ...seems crazy that we are going back to that.

As to thorium, so far still a dream to be shown to work on a reasonable scale...as are solar on batteries or wind power on batteries; also dreams.

Coal can be very clean if you invest in scrubbers - I've see this repeatedly in Germany.

I can't help thinking the nuclear lobby wants our agreement to their madness.

Anybody still cognitively unimpaired will be able to get on U tube and google tech talks to understand that thorium is anything but a dream but our most profitable, carbon constrained, future!

40 MW. may not seem much, but, enough power for around 8000 homes 24/7. Why 10 arranged in parallel 10 units could if you wanted pump out 400 MW in any one place and could be done in just days as bolt on trucked modules that'd work just about anywhere. And the current nuclear lobby wants almost anything else, as just the entire fossil fuel industry!

Yes some folks at least as dense as thorium can't understand that thorium is fertile not fissile and therefore just does not fit their understanding of all things nuclear!

Anyone who thinks as they do, is part of the problem, not the solution? As always, brainwashed green devotees/acolytes/sun worshipers, will declare only revered renewables have a place in our future! And as unsubsidised power coupled to batteries?

Possibly a part of that future? But only if you want to de industrialize the joint and trade places with the philippines, almost entirely dependant on the here today, gone tomorrow, (cut throat) fickle tourist dollar!

The recent cyclone took out around one and a half billion dollars from Queensland tourism? And calculated over the months need to rebuild and reestablish the industry.

We lost that much in just days as most coal exports experienced a few days of non production and no shipping!

The lesson, only untrammeled industry will provide a reliable future; and for that future to be ours, we need AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, CARBON FREE ENERGY, whether the wind blows or the sun shines!

Simply refusing to thoroughly examine the facts, while trotting out complete falsehoods?

Is the mark of a brain washed, pathologically ignorant ideologue, not someone who wants a real future for our kids and their kids!?

And or unprecedented prosperity, based on planet rescuing SAFE CLEAN CHEAP, CARBON FREE POWER!? Know the truth and the truth will set you free! U tube and google tech talks/Kirk Sorensen!
Alan B.

I just love the sound of those thump thump thump diesels.
In all the talk by the experts on solar/wind everything is loverly
and you can have batteries for those still nights.

It all works well and is economically feasible.
There is always a catch 22.

What none of them EVER mention is the cost when you get a series of
overcast days with little wind. They don't mention that when you get
a sunny day you don't just need enough solar to run the show, you have
to be able to recharge the battery as well at the same time.
However if you had enough battery to take you through, say 5 days,
then you need enough generation to charge for 6 days worth of power
in just one sunny day.
Plus you need a proportional increase in battery size !

Have you noticed the multiplication of the dollars of solar cells,
batteries and wind generators. Oh yes don't forget bigger controllers.
This what the experts just never mention.
Some are just starting to realise this problem exists on the
alternative energy systems that everyone seems to be wanting to install
for the whole nation.

This is dollar wise contrary to what is being preached about solar being cheap.

It has become cheap but you need a lot more than they are letting on.