Nuclear power most expensive
There is a concerted push by conservatives for Australia to have nuclear power generation, in the belief that somehow cheaper electricity will substitute for a range of policies needed to solve the economic challenges that our economy faces.
I fear that unwittingly Bill Stefaniak (CW 25 May 2023) has fallen for some of the rubbish that these nuclear power boosters put into the public debate, especially on social media.
On 16 April 2023, Finland did expand the capacity of its Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant (OL3). The Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant began construction in 2005, and produced its first nuclear power in 2017 – eight years behind schedule. It has only now reached its full capacity. Power prices in Finland did reduce, but not by the 75 per cent that Bill has claimed; just back to levels prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Electricity in Finland now costs 0.74 Euros per kilowatt hour – the equivalent of $1.65. The reference price for electricity in Canberra is 28.2 cents per kilowatt hour.
Nuclear power is by far the most expensive and dangerous form of power generation, as a proper understanding of Finland’s generation would demonstrate. Finland generates more of its electricity by nuclear power than any other country and sells this energy at prices that Australian households would just not tolerate.
- Noel Baxendell, Holt ACT
Best headline
Congratulations on the best story headline I’ve seen in years: ‘ANU conducts groundbreaking research into earthquakes’ by Georgia Curry (CW website, 30 May 2023).
- Geof Murray, Ngunnawal ACT
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