CANBERRA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Nuclear power is not a viable option for Australia's plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, a report has found.
Net Zero Australia, a collaboration between top universities and consultancy firm Nous Group, recently published a report modeling Australia's path to its 2050 climate target.
The report said the federal government must accelerate all options that could make a "material contribution" to net zero including batteries, solar, onshore wind and pumped hydro.
It was found that nuclear power should not be part of Australia's energy transition, warning that relying on the technology would risk not achieving net zero by 2050 or "doing so at an excessive cost."
"Nuclear power should not be in our plans, because it's too expensive and slow," Richard Bolt from Nous was quoted by the Guardian Australia on Wednesday. "Only a dramatic fall in costs and prolonged renewable constraints would prompt a rethink."
Under current laws, the construction of nuclear power stations is banned in every Australian state and territory.
Net Zero Australia modeled six approaches to meeting the 2050 target, and concluded that carbon capture utilization and storage will be "crucial" to any strategy despite the technology not yet having delivered any meaningful emissions cuts. ■
