There's a lot of problems with nuclear

1. We know it's expensive, and it takes so long to build that if that's the only plan, it makes no sense not to install solar. So ultimately my the time it is built, it will be even less economical

2. Same problems as coal. You can't simply turn it on. It can take hours. That's part of the reason for recent blackout in Vic (turbines need to sync up same speed and phase as the grid or they shit themselves, and that can take hours). Solar/batteries take 100ms and will always get the contract. Cheaper too..

3. It's still centralized so power in rural areas will still be crap. If you put batteries and solar in those areas though and treat them as microgrids, everyone will have more reliable power. They can stop whining about their blackouts

4. The cost of solar and batteries right now is irrelevant. In 15 years by the time this plant is built, based on the current price drops, i think I calculated that batteries and solar are 66% - 90% cheaper. It would be stupid to think this technology doesn't drop in cost, and improve in efficiency.

5. We have a lot of space here in Australia for solar. So, energy density doesn't matter like many countries.

Instead of wasting all this gd money on nuclear, they should be using it to build manufacturing factories for lithium batteries and solar.

Nuclear doesn't solve any real issues here in Australia.