{"id":81611,"date":"2023-09-14T23:59:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T23:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/\/?p=81611"},"modified":"2023-09-14T23:59:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T23:59:45","slug":"nuclear-energy-may-ease-emissions-and-dust-generation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalroadtechnology.com\/nuclear-energy-may-ease-emissions-and-dust-generation\/","title":{"rendered":"Nuclear Energy may Ease Emissions and Dust Generation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The atomic energy topic in Australia has always come with its fair share of baggage.\u00a0<\/span>Whether a relic of the World War 2 atomic age or a mixture of different concerns, the N-word is more likely to send people that way than affect the status quo.<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, here we are in 2023, and the debate still rages.<\/b><\/p>\n

And at least one of Australia\u2019s major political parties hopes to hang its hat on nuclear energy heading into the next election, anticipating significant and broad support for the technology.\u00a0<\/span>So why is nuclear energy such a hot-button topic, and why won’t it go away?<\/span><\/p>\n

Atomic energy may solve many industrial problems, including one close to GRT\u2019s heart: dust generation.\u00a0<\/span>But the most significant feature of nuclear is its almost unlimited ability to produce consistent and completely clean power.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a <\/span>1998 ban<\/b> was imposed in Australia, we\u2019ve fallen behind in our radioactive proficiencies.\u00a0<\/span>But worldwide, there are plenty of examples of nuclear power generation being used successfully and even replacing coal-fired power stations \u2013 and their jobs \u2013 in regional areas. <\/span>But let\u2019s take a minute to explore the other side of the debate.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Problems with Nuclear Energy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While it may seem a one-sided debate, nuclear power also poses a few inherent challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

For one, it’s expensive \u2013 really expensive.<\/b><\/p>\n

And critics of nuclear ambitions in Australia say the current push is more about winning votes than offering a real solution.\u00a0<\/span>Building a series of \u201cmega CAPEX\u201d infrastructure projects will be popular, but it will also ignore cheaper clean energy resources like wind and solar, both prevalent across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Secondly, there is the issue of radioactive waste to dispose of or store.<\/b><\/p>\n

It’s a difficult question to solve, as Plutonium-239, one of the waste products, has a half-life of 24,000 years! About 100 locations around Australia currently hold low-level radioactive waste, but people are debating where and how to store it moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, Resources Minister Madeleine King confirmed the government would not appeal against a ruling by the Federal Court quashing plans for a waste dump on South Australia\u2019s Eyre Peninsula following an appeal brought by traditional owners. <\/span>While there are genuine concerns to be discussed, voices on both sides of politics say that nuclear may need to represent a portion of Australia\u2019s energy generation capacity if we are to meet our existing climate goals of <\/span>net zero carbon by 2050<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the Bright Side<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With that said, there is still the added benefit of zero emission and zero dust generation from nuclear energy facilities.\u00a0<\/span>Nuclear fission generates electricity without the byproducts that coal, oil and natural gas produce. There are a group of pollutants that nuclear energy keeps out of the air we breathe, including:<\/span><\/p>\n