Looking at NEM Watch just now I see that about 16 GW of 24 GW electricity demand comes from burning coal and gas. We've had the renewable energy target since 2001 for only a modest reduction in fossil fuel dependence. Logic says to try a different approach. We're also supposed to shift to electric cars and replace gas appliances with electric without knowing where this extra electricity will come from at the times it is needed.

For just 3 days of energy storage we would need hundreds of billions worth of overheating prone lithium batteries. The beauty of SMRs is that they could be installed at former coal sites like Hazelwood. They would not need new transmission lines nor require frequency correction like wind and solar. We have the uranium though likely to be enriched overseas noting the new laser enrichment process was invented in Australia. Those who oppose nuclear for Australia will have to explain to the public when there are energy shortages.

Agree with most of this, Graham. As for the problematic waste? We can burn and reburn his product, ours and theirs. For centuries of virtually free power in MSR technology! And reduce the half-life to 300 years. Producing a far less toxic product in the process. Which is eminently suitable as long life space batteries that burn up with reentry.

Moreover, if the latter option is exercised? We could earn annual millions for providing the service. Nuclear power and nuclear reprisal weaponry? It's a no brainer! And we need to make this decision now! Given there' no longer the luxury of time or deferring decisions!

We also need to get very active in space to be able to knock out missile weaponry there! Preferably in the space above those who have fired them! And not as difficult as some might choose to believe! Nor as costly as some would believe! I kid you not!
Alan B.

Taswigen, as usual, you make perfect sense! Moreover, if we would reduce the 75% transmission and distribution losses by more than 50%? Overhead transmission lines and distribution solutions, could be progressively replaced over time, with underground graphene cored cables.

Reducing losses is a guaranteed way to reduce reticulation costs as would cooperative employee-owned distribution! The proposed outcome would enable lower voltages, fewer staging reduction facilities and fewer of the problems associated with the latter. Note that underground solutions are less costly over time, given they are less impacted by firestorms, and tempest!
Alan B.

Ever since they dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima in 1945 the conservative right has felt all warm and fuzzy about all things nuclear. They tell us to forget the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island melt down disasters, all is rosy in the world of nuclear power generation these days, those horrific nuclear disasters of the past, were just teething problems which are all fixed now, so they would have us believe. Heck, that fool in Britain, Johnson has commissioned the Rolls-Royce car company to build nuclear reactors that fit in your garden shed or some such place. The idea is to have a proliferation of these little nuclear generators on every street corner. Reminds me of Westinghouse and his push for DC power in the early days of electricity generation, he wanted to build dirty coal fired power generators on every street corner, a man before his times it seems. As for wind and solar, just as RR are producing 2021 model cars now, and not stuck in some time warp of the 1960's, renewable technology will progress, resulting in reduced costs, and increased reliability.

Interesting that; "We conducted polling in late May and early June of this year" who are the we, its usurping the survey gives results that favour nuclear power generation, that's what "we" wanted. What is amusing is the fruitcake groups; far right nationalist, the racists and the religious fundo's ae the big supporters. Not to be out done by Johnson in the UK, the one term wonder of Queensland politics Campbell Newman is also gung-ho with the idea of nuclear power, well blow me down what a surprise. We've signed up on the never never for Yankee nuclear attack submarines to menace China with sometime in the distance future, when Uncle Sam orders us to do so. The 'Usual Suspects' want us to sign up to the crazy idea of nuclear power, no thanks from me.

OPINION POLLS ARE AGAINST NUCLEAR SUBS AND ENERGY

Continuing anti-nuclwear Labor-Green dominance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Graphical_summary

before the next Federal Election spells the end of the AUKUS submarine project before its begun.

Labor Green electoral dominance will also make nuclear energy aspirations moot.

Put another way:

Polls http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_next_Australian_federal_election#Graphical_summary

pointing to a win by anti-nuclear Labor-Greens in the next Federal Election make nuclear energy aspirations moot.

That anti-nuclear Labor-Greens win will also spell the end of the AUKUS submarine project before its begun.