Comments on: Should Australia Go Nuclear? Welcome Nuclear Waste? Readers Write Back…

By: KB1

KB1 — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:54:28 +0000

Does anyone know more about the slither technology for producing solar panels mentioned by Viv. R (11/12/06)?

By: Viv. R

Viv. R — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 02:14:50 +0000

The recent screening of Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth” should prove to anyone that global warming is happening. And the Stern Report warns we may only have a ten-year time slot left to affectively address the issue. Our government’s response has been to cite clean coal technology having an accompanying carbon dioxide sequestration that may take ten years to prove, and a nuclear path that has terrorist targeted nuclear fuel and facilities likelihood and has an unenforceable safeguards system trying to prevent covert weapons production the only options for base power production in the future. This is absolute rubbish. The fact is we have mature technology in Australia that allows us now to produce base power using the sun. Concentrated Solar Power is used in many countries and in Australia. And the star performer in this type of power is Solar Thermal Power because it can provide base, medium and peak power 24 hrs a day! Storage of the energy for night, cloudy weather and varying loads has been achieved by Australian scientists in a unique way by splitting ammonia during the day and recombining it at night. Linked with this system is the production of hydrogen for motor vehicles and other spin-offs that make it 80-90% efficient! Scientists state that all of Australia’s energy requirements could be supplied by solar thermal alone meaning that if we didn’t have coal, oil, gas, or nuclear power we would still flourish. Present day cost to the consumer in other countries using other types of storage has been found to be about 18 cents/KWH and this is without carbon trading. A demonstration solar thermal station Solar Oasis has been proposed by the Whyalla City Council, which would be the start of a large solar thermal station in the northern Eyre Peninsular and would supply South Australia with power. Solar thermal power represents a new horizon and wealth for Australia and jobs for Australians. The Solar Oasis project has not been given the go ahead by the South Australian government and the Commonwealth Government is certainly not interested in solar thermal power!

By: Warwick Hunt

Warwick Hunt — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:02:23 +0000

Hi folks,most people are still in the yesteryear of old technology and the dangers of uranium/radiation exposure, largely fostered by media supporting those companies etc who wish to see a continuation of the above. The changes in technology, costwise as well as safety, has been nothing less than breathtaking. The use of hydrogen, thorium and even the use of uranium together with the development of pebble type reactors has and will continue to turn the debate on its head and will be embraced by the vast majority of the population, once they get to understand thenew technology. It may not be by mine(I am in my seventies) but undoubtedly the current and next generations, will not only develop it, but will require it. Enjoy readind your comments, keep up the good work. It is so important that we have a forum where anyone can air their beliefs or point of view.

By: Viv. R

Viv. R — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 05:05:09 +0000

The safest thing Australia and the world can do economically, environmentally and strategically is to shift from a carbon economy to a solar economy. The Stern Report calls for low carbon emission technology but a rapid shift to solar with a vastly reduced time scale of carbon trading will address the Stern Report 10 year time slot the quickest way. Uncertainties as to how fast climate change could happen as there is evidence that some time in the past greatly significant climate change happened within a 30-year period should be borne in mind. Solar is the answer and not nuclear power. We do not live in a world that will support safe nuclear power. It will be a case of spending a few billions now to save trillions later. Solar thermal power is able to provide all power including the production of hydrogen for motor vehicles and other spin-offs make it 80-90% efficient the energy input is free and safe and nonpolluting everywhere and has not and will not inherit a polluted fuel input and despite the intrinsic safety of modern nuclear reactors, nuclear produced power has inherited dangers of rogue state and terrorist targeted nuclear fuel and facilities and has an inextricable link with nuclear weapons. Those who argue this would not be a concern and that this will all be controlled only need to look at history, the psychology of the human species and the present world state. For the first time in history we are now able to extract reliable power from the sun 24/7 by means of solar thermal technology alone. And solar chimney and solar pond are also part of the solar thermal spectrum though not directly involved in hydrogen production. Ten times cheaper slither technology produced solar cells which must be a mandatory requirement to be placed on every roof will greatly contribute to the production of power in the grid. The technologies are mature to do this, economies of scale, the true cost of pollution and further technological advancement will come into play making power from these safe sources competitive with any.