Considerations for nuclear power in Australia

Abstract

The world's demand for energy will rise over the next 50 years with the economic development of countries outside the OECD. But the world has consumed about half of its endowment of conventional oil and it appears unlikely that further increases in the consumption rate of oil will be possible. A similar situation is likely to occur with natural gas reserves soon. In addition efforts to curb the production of greenhouse gases will require the reduction of the use of conventional coal-fired power-stations. Nuclear power emits less than 1% of the greenhouse gases of fossil fuel source power and its fuel source, uranium, is abundant. This article examines the prospects for the use of nuclear pow..