Developing nuclear power in Australia is not a viable option, a report from a leading think-tank found.
The National Energy Emissions Audit, released by the Australia Institute on Tuesday, said Australia's rapid development of wind and solar power would render nuclear power uneconomic.
It was published after Angus Taylor, the Minister for Energy, announced earlier in August the potential for nuclear energy would be examined by a parliamentary inquiry, but said Australia's moratorium on nuclear energy would remain in place.
The Australia Institute found that for 44 hours in July, South Australia (SA), which has been plagued by blackouts in recent summers, generated enough wind and solar energy to power more than 100 percent of the grid.
Richie Merzian, the institute's director of climate and energy, said the data from SA proves there is no need for nuclear power plants to provide a baseload supply of reliable energy.
"What high renewables don't need is a baseload type of energy, so a consistent supply of energy that doesn't ramp up or ramp down to meet peak demand," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
"That usually happens when you have those extremely hot days in summer that are becoming more common.
"What our audit shows is the windows where you need that peak demand are few, but that's really where the additional support needs to come and that won't be provided by a baseload support like nuclear."
Editor:Cherie
