Since the discussion yesterday strayed onto nuclear power, check out this link to Bill Gates Travelling Wave Reactor, a fourth generation large reactor due to commence construction with a Chinese partner by 2018 (Fact Sheet: The TWR: Bringing Nuclear Technology to its Fullest Potential.)
For a number of reasons the chance of such a large nuclear plant in Australia in the foreseeable future is about zero.
However there is great interest around the world in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs)
One that is expected to be at the construction stage shortly is the Nuscale version. It uses third generation technology as do most of the others, probably in the interests of getting something to market sooner rather than later.
Nuscale expects 1000 of these units to be in service by 2035. Their website is worth exploring. It is a possible candidate for use in the NEM in Australia at some stage. Fourth gen would have enormous benefits eg no need to refuel in 60 year life time and all the reasons mentioned in Bill Gates article above plus weapons grade plutonium almost non existent and added safety of being buried. It needs a breakthrough in materials technology.
http://www.nuscalepower.com/
A discussion on safety, non proliferation, security etc is included in the excellent 344 page Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Report of 2016, available for those with the endurance to read it at
https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/pages/nuclear-fuel-cycle-royal-commission-report-release/
Les Rodgers
For a number of reasons the chance of such a large nuclear plant in Australia in the foreseeable future is about zero.
However there is great interest around the world in the development of small modular reactors (SMRs)
One that is expected to be at the construction stage shortly is the Nuscale version. It uses third generation technology as do most of the others, probably in the interests of getting something to market sooner rather than later.
Nuscale expects 1000 of these units to be in service by 2035. Their website is worth exploring. It is a possible candidate for use in the NEM in Australia at some stage. Fourth gen would have enormous benefits eg no need to refuel in 60 year life time and all the reasons mentioned in Bill Gates article above plus weapons grade plutonium almost non existent and added safety of being buried. It needs a breakthrough in materials technology.
http://www.nuscalepower.com/
A discussion on safety, non proliferation, security etc is included in the excellent 344 page Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission Report of 2016, available for those with the endurance to read it at
https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/pages/nuclear-fuel-cycle-royal-commission-report-release/
Les Rodgers
