MYTHS AND FACTS
Radiation levels around nuclear power plants are actually extremely low.
The average radiation dose from living near a nuclear power plant is about 0.001 mSv per year, which is less than a chest X-ray.
Nuclear energy is one of the safest forms of power.
Modern nuclear plants have rigorous safety protocols.
Over the past 60 years there have been continuous technological advancements to minimise risk.
There have only been 3 major accidents in almost 20,000 cumulative reactor-years of operation across 36 countries.
There’s very little nuclear waste compared to the amount of energy it produces.
Over 90% of nuclear fuel can be recycled and reused. Until then, it is safely stored on secured sites often adjacent to the reactors.
Nuclear energy is a very low-cost energy option.
Once a nuclear plant is built, they then have very low operating costs and a long lifespan. They provide a stable, cost-effect energy supply.
US Nuclear plants operate at 92% capacity making them highly efficient and reliable.
Nuclear is emissions-free energy generation.
Alongside wind, solar and hydro, it’s a zero carbon energy source which can help us reduce emissions and reach climate goals.
Current global use of nuclear power means around two billion tonnes of C02 are not released into the atmosphere each year.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and new technologies are being designed for faster deployment and reduced construction times, making them an exciting option to meet growing clean energy needs.
While renewables are essential, they alone cannot provide the dispatchable energy required for a stable grid. Nuclear energy fills this gap, ensuring a reliable and continuous power supply.
Nuclear energy complements intermittent renewables by providing a stable, reliable power source that can operate over 90% of the time.
Australia is best positioned to enjoy the benefits of nuclear energy due to:
– 60 years of uranium mining
– 60 years of operation for the Lucas Heights nuclear research reactors, and
– an emerging nuclear submarine program
All of these together complement a civilian nuclear industry.
Nuclear uses a similar amount of water as coal plants per MWh.
Nuclear power uses about the same amount of water as coal plants per megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated.
Water in nuclear plants is primarily used for cooling the reactor and steam turbines.
Nearly all of this water is safely returned to the environment, either as liquid in rivers or lakes, or as steam through the cooling towers.
Modern nuclear reactors are built with advanced safety systems and fail-safe measures to prevent accidents.
When you compare the safety of different energy sources, nuclear is just as safe as wind and solar per unit of energy produced.