Let's Take Nuclear Seriously

At Tuesday night’s meeting on December 3, 2024, Past President Roger Gray gave and excellent talk to members and guests entitled “ Let’s take nuclear seriously”.

 

Roger outlined the need for clean dispatchable power (i.e. capable of matching supply with demand) from the grid when needed and capable of sustaining growth. Renewables are both weather dependent and not capable of matching supply with demand, moreover battery storage requires further dispatchable energy sources.

Nuclear is both clean & proven in many countries including USA, France UK & Finland. It is adaptable in that it can complement renewables and respond to demand changes. Generation plants can be built on retired coal generation sites, using exiting transformers & grid distribution setups, so much smaller sites than solar and wind.

 

In Australia, nuclear is being excluded by legislation - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998.

Australia is the only OECD country where nuclear power remains illegal. Inclusion of nuclear power in the future energy generations mix is being examined by a select committee which cannot refute that coal emissions would continue for a decade or longer whether nuclear is adopted or not. Inclusion of nuclear in the future mix is proposed by the Coalition - yet to be fully explained or costed.

 

Also, there is uninformed concern about waste treatment and storage which is disproven in other countries. Concern over often quoted safety events Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island were due to several reasons, including poor design or site selection, mismanagement and attempted coverups. Such occurrences are well overcome with today's better designs and safeguards. Environmental concerns were also found not to be a problem with properly designed plants.

 

Roger concluded the constructive publicising of the advantages of nuclear energy must occur:

•         Refute misinformation being spread by opponents

•         Promote nuclear as a reliable source of dispatchable energy that will complement renewables in the drive for net-zero carbon

•         Seek endorsement through expert prepared publications, TV documentaries, presentations and discussion panels

•         Reference the best overseas examples of nuclear energy developments

                             (e.g. Finland – 5 nuclear plants generating >30% of electricity needs)

 

Everyone present was most appreciative of the efforts that Roger went to in making such an interesting and understandable presentation on this important subject

A full copy of Roger's presentation is available Nuclear Talk

RECOGNITION OF CLUB DONATIONS

The club's continued support of ShelterBox over the last 3 years, together with funds from the  Lechner fund grant has resulted in the club receiving a BRONZE CHAMPION AWARD

 

 

In 2024 ShelterBox supported emergencies in Gaza & Lebanon, floods in Bangladesh and a growing crisis in Sudan. 

In total ShelterBox and its affiliates supported429,000 people in 2023 (equivalent to 85,00 families) working in 11 countries and working with Rotary on the ground in Turkiye and Morocco.

 

We will arrange for a speaker from ShelterBox to address a club meeting next year.

What's Happening

Bonanza Christmas Raffle

The flyer says it all - just spread the word and support a great cause!

The link is here

Christmas 2024:

 

Bring an unwrapped Christmas Present - they will be used by Dalwood Splistead services for their families in need. 

Planner:

 

Photo of Roger Gray: John O'Brien

FINALLY:

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

  Here is a collection of really intelligent one liners from Albert Einstein: ENJOY

·       Information is not knowledge.

·       Intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them.

·       You can't blame gravity for falling in love.

·       I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.

·       Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.

·       Politics is for the present, but an equation is for eternity.

·       Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

·       The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

·       If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

·       Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.