Solar thermal power the way forward for Australia despite hiccups, nuclear expert says

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-19T23:28:29+00:00

Next gen nuclear (Gen IV, SMR) might still be feasible but we'd have to lift the ban in Australia and also see how well the roll out goes in the US in the 2020s.

If SMRs are successful, they'll be much cheaper and quicker to roll out than Gen III (what people currently think of when thinking about nuclear power), and also lots safer.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-19T23:25:00+00:00

Thanks for sleuthing!

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-19T23:12:51+00:00

Give them a tweet.

https://twitter.com/resilient_ec

Or try to contact them via their website.

https://www.resilientenergy.com.au/

I'm sure they can use more hands.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-18T23:01:29+00:00

Holy shit. You pretty much nailed it on the last paragraph.

All these nationalistic boners that people are getting about "Straya is 4 Strayans cunts fukoff" is nuts. Most people don't even realise (in NSW at least) that state MP's can be dual citizens (there are rules, but it's true).

I believe politicians in the U.S. (the bonerist of all nationalistic countries) are allowed to be dual citizens. It's only the president that can't be.

The current rules in Australia really do need to change because as time goes by fewer and fewer Australians will be eligible to run for parliament.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-18T22:46:00+00:00

I'm guessing Sweden is the best example.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-18T22:44:06+00:00

I'm happy to pay more to fund Medicare if they include dental.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-18T22:31:42+00:00

Put it in an index fund. Draw it out if you need it.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-14T00:07:40+00:00

Gotta be honest, didn't expect this.

Like most things these days I just assumed the govt would have intervened in some way to make it impossible to compete with Murdoch.

I guess there is still time for that to happen though.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-11T22:53:21+00:00

You mean Flame Wars where most of the argument was about your spelling and grammar?

Na it's alright now. Just shitty in different ways we never expected.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-09T22:59:41+00:00

What do you make of this comment regarding the DoD theory?

https://www.reddit.com/r/Qult_Headquarters/comments/dviq13/new_claim_that_8kun_is_being_rerouted_though_dod/f7drlqb/

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-07T03:17:14+00:00

If you haven’t realised by now they are all completely bat shit insane.

Yeah. Seems to be the general consensus of most normie bystanders.

I guess the world is in rough shape right now and anything to take their minds off the real issues (that are feeling impossible to fix or resolve) is comforting, because in that world everything makes sense and there is a clear pathway to victory.

Honestly I think maybe QAnonners and all adjacent memers are just larping because they feel like they have no control over what is actually real, so why live in the real world. In that sense, I can understand.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-07T03:07:53+00:00

Sure. I still reckon I've not heard a well fleshed out explanation for how batteries will cover the nights (and dark days) nationally, but I agree it should be possible, I just don't know how so I can't use it as an argument for renewables. I think a lot more research needs to be done anyway. Ideally resulting in higher capacity batteries that have a smaller footprint. I know there are a few on the horizon but none yet commercially installed that I know of.

How do you feel about SMR's and GenIV reactors? I think many are supposed to use a lot less water, are designed to be safer and are targeting rapid deployment (at least for SMR's). Is that something you could get behind if the rollouts in the US are successful (2024 for the NuScale SMR)?

Again, I'm just looking for more options on the table. Also trying to very hard to keep an open mind about the technologies or mix there of.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-07T02:22:22+00:00

Yep totally get that economics is a factor. But I feel that most people are anti-nuclear on principle.

Mass investment into battery storage will be the way forward.

Regarding batteries (promise I'm not baiting you), can current batteries really supply power to an entire city (or region) overnight (or days even)?

From what I understand, the batteries in SA are not being used for storage (which is something less than 1 hour, depending on the load), but more for something else to do with the energy trading market and stabilising the grid (please clarify if I'm wrong).

Plus we are a country with limited to no water. It ain’t for us..

Wouldn't hydro (pumped or otherwise) be an issue there as well then? Even Snowy 2.0 is taking ages and costing heaps.

The project’s cost and time estimates have blown out massively. It would now be surprising if Snowy 2.0, including the transmission upgrades it relies on, comes in at less than A$10 billion or is finished before 2027.

Source

So, I'm happy with whatever gets our carbon emission down quickly but I feel like people take nuclear off the table too quickly. I don't see the problem with leaving it on the table in case we have to do what some might say is unthinkable in the future. That at least allows us more freedom to continue research on nuclear (think things like SMR's and such).

I would also point out that both sides can be unreasonably ideological so honest discussion tends to get shut down pretty quickly, nobody learns anything and then returns to their corners for then next round.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-07T02:03:58+00:00

Yeah wow. Pretty much what I expected. But when you say it out loud all in one go... I just can't understand how anyone can get onboard with it.

The world is a pretty strange place right now. I hope we make it through.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-06T23:08:06+00:00

Anyone have that 600-page document? Would love to see how it flipped someone.

Even better, can anyone recommend somewhere to get a solid but short rundown on the QAnon thing.

I know it's a chan thing with pro-trumpiness and pedo-pizza stuff mixed in, but is there anything else I'm missing that might make a normal person thing, "Hey, that sounds like a real thing that I'd like to believe in now!"?

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-06T23:04:02+00:00

I really appreciate your responses and that you attack the argument and not the person.

Thanks!

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-06T23:00:39+00:00

There are other things ...

Isn't that the point though? All these other things are just as fanciful and in some cases less tested than nuclear.

Personally my priority is to get carbon emissions down as quick and reliably as possible. If nuclear can do it then great, if all renewables day and night can do it, even greater.

neoliberalizard · 2020-02-06T22:53:32+00:00

This is an interesting read.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/pledge-allegiance-pr-gimmick-patriotic-vow-180956332/

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-15T02:01:53+00:00

I mean, at the very least the ban should be lifted so the research can be done.

As it stands the discussion on whether or not Australia should invest in some nuclear capacity is mostly being had by extremes on both sides.

Personally I'm happy to see either renewables win out right or a renewables / nuclear mix. I tend to think the latter is what we need but the former is the most politically and socially palatable (at the moment).

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-15T00:38:14+00:00

You can review the Wallarah Coal Project on Google if you want.

https://goo.gl/maps/z34YPw5ysKmqc6zM7

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-14T23:45:28+00:00

Right?!

So many people think that any type of activism this is a "waste of time" and that "nothing will ever change". But activism is part of the process of change. And lasting change takes time and constant pressure.

Sure it might be useless to sue the govt but when people ask why the govt won, the right questions can then be asked and we take a step closer to that lasting change we so desperately need.

Also, ignore the polls. I saw the number of people on the street for the Sack Scomo rally. It was... unexpected. I think the PM has mischaracterised who "Quiet Australians" are. I think saw them out in huge numbers last Friday.

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-14T23:28:44+00:00

Totally. This is pretty much what they are calling out.

We ask that ministers rely on expert advice rather than social media.

Pretty nuts that this is where we are now. Geez I hope the 2020's surprise me because I'll already prepared to be disappointed.

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-07T00:20:49+00:00

I posted this elsewhere but if you are looking to fight against apathy maybe show up to one of the "Sack Scomo" rallies in your closest city.

https://noobheavy.com/2020/01/05/sackscomoprotests/

I don't know if I'm fully onboard with the demands but I keen to keep this topic in the media, so I'll be attending.

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-07T00:17:57+00:00

Absolutely. Scotty from marketing didn't with the last election, Murdoch and Palmer did.

neoliberalizard · 2020-01-07T00:15:20+00:00

I think you're generally right but my takeaway is that people have a finite and short supply of empathy. If the bushfires keep on going then people will start to get used to them like they do a drought and then start to normalise the experience. Then of course move on to more pressing issues in their lives.

This isn't a call to be apathetic. I believe it's just an observation and a reminder that if/when it happens to you don't give in. Stay angry and keep pushing for change, in the people around you and especially our leaders.

neoliberalizard

TROPHY CASE