To complement developing technologies, UQ researchers are conducting underlying economic, social and environmental research to ensure an energy future that is not just profitable, but also equitable and environmentally responsible.
Energy Economics & Modelling
Energy economics is a broad research area, which includes topics related to supply and use of energy in societies and draws on results of energy engineering, geology, social sciences and biology/environmental sciences.The Energy Economics and Management Group (EEMG) at the University of Queensland is a national leader in research in energy and environmental policy and design issues. The EEMG has an extensive range of consulting experiences across industry, government departments and international organisations, such as The World Bank and The United Nations. Members of the EEMG were recently appointed to an expert panel of the Australian Government to advise on the design and implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
The EEMG group draws from its member’s research and industry-related experiences to explore energy policies currently being introduced in Australia and the world. Their expertise incorporates a diverse range of fields.
The Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR) is dedicated to delivering excellence in environmental research, education and awareness to the national and international minerals industry, relevant government departments, non-government organisations and local communities.
The CMLR is widely recognised as the source of quality research at the cutting edge of issues in mining environmental management and sustainability across the full spectrum of resource commodities. It has built a reputation for the provision of the scientific research that is necessary to support and underpin the decisions that need to be made to minimise the risks and maximise the opportunities resulting from resource exploration, extraction and processing globally
CMLR provides scientifically rigorous research outcomes for rehabilitation management decisions.
The Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) conducts research on a range on a range of thematic areas, covering the interactions between resource projects, communities and other stakeholders. Across these themes, research includes quantitative and qualitative social research, framework development and customised studies. The centre also co-ordinate education and training activities.
Australia has a small world class reactor in the suburbs of Sydney that is used for producing medical isotopes and conducting scientific experiments. After the research for the present study was complete, but before publication, the Australian Government announced in partnership with Britain and the United States of America that it intends to procure nuclear-propelled (but not nuclear armed) submarines. However, Australia has never had a nuclear reactor for generating electricity or providing other civilian energy services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a small reactor to propel a submarine and a small modular reactor for land-based energy generation?
The basic principles of the technology are the same: American and British designs of nuclear powered submarines use pressurised water reactors (PWRs) as do the majority of existing land-based nuclear power plants and a number of proposed small modular reactor (SMR) designs, including the NuScale design shown as the example technology in the preliminary concept study report. The details differ according to the needs of the different applications.
The submarine reactors operate in a mobile vessel in a marine environment under defence sector performance requirements, with crew living in close proximity for months at a time. Details of the design and specifications of submarine reactors are confidential. The reactors are sealed units that operate for the full service life of the vessel (25 to 33 years) without ever needing to be refuelled, which requires more highly enriched uranium.
Reactors in civilian energy plants operate in a fixed position on land. Proximity to the reactor is more easily managed on land than in the close confines of a submarine. Far greater details and information on the design and specifications of civilian plants are publicly available through transparent regulatory processes. Civilian reactors operate on low enriched uranium, and are typically refuelled about every 18 months.
Q: Why does the report talk about nuclear energy and not about renewable energy or energy efficiency?
Renewable energy is mentioned in several places: in the introduction under context and background, in chapter 1 on technology, in chapter 3 on energy governance, in chapter 6 on plant siting, in chapter 7 on economics, in chapter 8 on financing, and in a number of the references cited. However, the study report is focused on answering the research question: ‘What would be required for nuclear energy plants to be operating in Australia from the 2030s?’ In-depth consideration of renewable energy falls under other research questions. UQ is a leader in many aspects of renewable energy research which are under active study in various engineering and other schools at the University of Queensland. UQ has also invested substantial capital in renewable energy projects under the ‘living laboratory’ philosophy. Stephen Wilson is also a supervisor on a PhD study looking at the system cost economics of integrating renewable energy in a grid such as Australia’s National Electricity Market and also on a PhD study on the role of frontline workers in overcoming barriers to industrial energy efficiency.
Q: Why is the University promoting nuclear energy?
The University is neither promoting nor opposing nuclear energy. The study is simply answering a research question as factually as possible with the best available information. The research question does not ask whether Australia should deploy nuclear energy (that would be political or policy advocacy), nor whether Australia will deploy nuclear energy (that would be forecasting or predicting the future). It simply answers the question: What would be required? Readers are encouraged to read the Foreword to the study by the Chancellor.
