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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc. (Hons.) Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Ross Tester Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc Nicholas Vinen Photography Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Kevin Poulter Dave Thompson SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Offset Alpine, Lidcombe, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $105.00 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or the subscriptions page in this issue. Editorial office: Unit 1, 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 Recommended & maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip Publisher’s Letter Small nuclear power stations are ideal for Australia This month we have a feature article by Dr David Maddison on the topic of small nuclear reactors and when you read it, I am sure that you will agree that small nuclear power stations would be ideal for many locations within Australia. I know that some people may be outraged that anyone would suggest that nuclear power should be used in Australia but it really should be given serious consideration because the other options for base-load power stations are becoming increasingly less attractive to the people who ultimately make the decisions – our politicians. And while the increasing emphasis on renewables does mean that there is presently a glut of power, at other times when the wind is not blowing, the Sun is not shining and there is a drought stopping hydro generation (eg, in Tasmania), base-load and back-up gas fired stations need to make up the difference. So we still need base-load power stations and presently it all comes from coal. That presents two big problems. First, most of Australia’s coal-fired power stations are very old and cannot keep going indefinitely. They have to be replaced with new coal-fired stations or (choke, splutter) nuclear power stations. Second, coal mining is politically and arguably, environmentally undesirable. This is despite the fact that Australia exports huge quantities of coal to the rest of the world. A third factor to consider is that Australia’s eastern seaboard grid is possibly the largest and most dispersed in the world and that means that large areas are vulnerable to major interruption in supply due to electrical faults, major weather events or even terrorism. It would be much more secure if the power generation was not so centralised in a few locations in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. And as the current failure of the Basslink shows, Tasmania is particularly vulnerable, especially when it is also experiencing a major drought. How much more secure would Tasmania’s electricity supply be if there were a couple of nuclear stations there? There could be one near Hobart and one near Launceston. And before anyone shrieks about the cost, consider the current pickle that Tasmania is in. Basslink is dead and who knows when it will finally be fixed? If it is actually fixed by June, it will have been out of operation for six months. They have very little water left in the dams and perhaps not even enough for human consumption, if the drought does not break soon. And finally, they have had to import dozens of large diesel generators to make up the shortfall. The greenies must find that excruciating – or do they just light another candle? My guess is that the present Basslink cable will have to replaced in its entirety. In truth, Basslink should not merely be replaced but duplicated, so that if one fails, the other keeps going. Do that twice and the alternative option of a couple of small nuclear power stations could be economically attractive. Nor does Australia need to go through the ridiculously labyrinthine approval process that is required to build any power station in this country. These small nuclear power reactors can be virtually bought as “turn-key” plants. Order it this week and it could delivered and running within a relatively short time! And consider that some of these plants could also provide desalinated water at a cost very competitive with the present “white-elephant” desalination plants in some states. Australian governments like to boast about their infrastructure projects. Well, our extended grid has many problems. Small nuclear power stations could be the ideal solution. Leo Simpson siliconchip.com.au