Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Infrastructure: Has Net Zero gone nuclear?

  • US utilities are breaking ground on Small Modular Reactors in the hunt for carbon-free energy.
  • The tech sector’s thirst for energy, driven by AI, is an accelerant for 24/7 clean power – renewable and nuclear.
  • SMRs are carbon-free, dispatchable and enjoy bipartisan support, but development success, standardisation and scale will be required for cost effectiveness.

Download the full paper

  •   14 November 2024
  • 3
  •      
  •   
3 Comments
Steve
November 15, 2024

SMRs don't just replace gas, they replace gas, solar and wind. If you have a SMR generator that provides 24/7 power why would you need solar and wind, why would you turn off a SMR generator to use solar or wind ?

Rick
November 18, 2024

SMRs excel in providing reliable, carbon-free baseload power, especially in regions where renewables struggle due to limited sunlight, wind and space (not Australia). They are particularly useful for replacing fossil fuels if a local industry requires consistent high energy levels (such as AI data bases) while solar and wind can be deployed in various scales making them ideal for remote or highly distributed energy needs e.g. Australia. Solar and wind could combine with SMRs providing electricity during peak demand periods (businesses mainly operate in the day, wind and storage is more consistent) reducing the need for a high reliance on SMR output. If you are over reliant on SRM’s you are also highly reliant on a consistently sourcing enriched uranium. In particular regions (e.g. Australia) solar and wind are a significantly cheaper source of electricity on a per-kilowatt-hour basis, even when considering storage systems to mitigate intermittency.

Dudley
November 18, 2024

"highly reliant on a consistently sourcing enriched uranium":

Natural uranium and deuterium oxide neutron moderator used in:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CANDU_reactor

Modified CANDU Reactor SMR:
https://www.sciencepg.com/article/10.11648/j.ns.20240903.11

Can do Thorium too:
https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/33/011/33011302.pdf

 

Leave a Comment:

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

The ultimate superannuation EOFY checklist 2026

Here is a checklist of 28 important issues you should address before June 30 to ensure your SMSF or other super fund is in order and that you are making the most of the strategies available.

Noel Whittaker’s take on the budget

Marketed as a fix for inequality and housing affordability, the latest budget instead delivers a tangle of tax changes that leave everyday Australians worse off.

Australia has no death duties. Technically.

Australia may not levy formal death duties, but a growing web of tax measures is quietly shaping what wealth passes between generations. Now, the 2026 budget adds another layer.

Lithium's rally is real this time – but no-one trusts it

The lithium rally mirrors the early-2010s tech stock surge, with demand set to double by 2030. Supply has been slow to respond, creating a market deficit for future tech like humanoid robotics and solid-state batteries.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 662 with weekend update

The debate over the budget is increasingly shaped by frustration and perceptions of unfairness, rather than clear-eyed assessment of policy outcomes.

Two months into retirement

A retirement researcher's take on retirement and her focus on each of her six resource buckets to stay engaged during the transition and beyond.

Latest Updates

Are the government’s CGT changes better for young investors?

New CGT rules promise fairness, but could young investors lose out? A practical scenario reveals how changes impact deposit goals, investment choices, and long-term wealth building for the next generation.

Retirement

How to minimise tax with a will

Inheritance tax implications in Australia may surprise some, as poor estate planning without proper wills or trusts can lead to costly tax bills and delays for beneficiaries.

Investment strategies

AI can’t pick winning funds, but it can help you avoid losers

Machine learning has been touted a game changer investment management. But a new study overturns claims that AI can generate positive alpha in mutual funds. Here are some practical takeaways for investors.

Investment strategies

Inflation BIG picture: Boomers got lucky, next Gen not so much

A 150-year view shows inflation's upward bias, driven by shifting monetary regimes and war stocks. This marks an end to the low-inflation boom that enriched boomers and ushers in a higher-inflation era for younger investors.

Planning

Tax deductibility of financial advice improves affordability

A shrinking adviser workforce and rising costs are squeezing access to financial advice, just as demand surges. Expanded tax deductibility offers a modest but meaningful boost to affordability.

Retirement

Retirement in reality – 3 months in

A reflection on travel mishaps, smart decision-making, time pressures and rebuilding health habits. Three months in, here's how to navigate the surprising realities of life after work.

Taxation

Calculating the business cost of Australia’s new 'productivity tax'

Amid a national productivity crisis, new economic analysis finds the tax changes in the 2026 Federal Budget create Australia’s first-ever by design 'Productivity Tax', where young people will pay the biggest price.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2026 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.