Nuclear Energy Power Plants in Australia.
Australia has one nuclear reactor, the OPAL reactor located in Lucas Heights, Sydney. This reactor is a multi-purpose reactor used for research, medical isotope production, and industrial applications.
This Heavy Water reactor (HIFAR) operated between 1958 and 2007.
Australia’s nuclear ban was introduced in the Senate on 10 December 1998, but allowed for the Sydney nuclear reactor to continue.
On 12 August 2006, a 20 MW Open-pool Australian lightwater reactor (OPAL), replacement was located on an adjacent site.
The two reactors ran in parallel for six months while OPAL was being tested. In 2007 HIFAR was permanently shut down, and OPAL took over.
The new Coalition plan to build seven nuclear power plants to replace Australia’s ageing coal-fired power stations could be viewed as a way of leveling the energy transition playing field, and of opening up discussion on options for the nation’s decarbonisation strategy.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) projects that all coal-fired power stations will likely have retired by 2037.
90% of them are expected to be retired in the next decade. Other forms of power will need to replace all those coal-fired power stations by 2037.
The Coalition plan states that nuclear plants will start producing electricity by 2035 if using the small modular reactors.
https://iceds.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/coalition%E2%80%99s-nuclear-plan-does-it-add
Australia and Saudi Arabia are the only two out of the 20 richest nations in the world that do not use nuclear power.
Saudi Arabia is currently building a nuclear power station.
Nuclear energy is used to produce electricity in 31 countries from some 450 nuclear reactors, providing around 10 per cent of global electricity.
Many nations are building new nuclear power plants because they provide reliable, emission free power. There are 54 nuclear power stations under construction.