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30 June 2025
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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.
"highly reliant on a consistently sourcing enriched uranium":Natural uranium and deuterium oxide neutron moderator used in:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CANDU_reactorModified CANDU Reactor SMR:https://www.sciencepg.com/article/10.11648/j.ns.20240903.11Can do Thorium too:https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/33/011/33011302.pdf
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 ?
Sydney is set to become the world’s most expensive city for housing over the next 12 months, a new report shows. Our other major cities aren’t far behind unless there are major changes to improve housing affordability.
The Government's proposed tax has copped a lot of flack though I think it's a reasonable approach to improve the long-term sustainability of superannuation and the retirement income system. Here’s why.
You've no doubt heard about Division 296. These case studies show what people at various levels above the $3 million threshold might need to pay the ATO, with examples ranging from under $500 to more than $35,000.
The $3m super tax could be put down to the Government needing money and the wealthy being easy targets. It’s deeper than that though and this looks at the factors behind the policy and why more taxes on the wealthy are coming.
The super tax has caused an almighty scuffle, but for SMSFs impacted by the proposed tax, a big question remains: what should they do now? Here are ideas for those wanting to withdraw money from their SMSF.
Australia's superannuation inequities date back to poor decisions made by Parliament two decades ago. If super for the wealthy needs resetting, so too does the defined benefits schemes for our public servants.
For much of Australia’s history, each new generation has been better off than the last: better jobs and incomes as well as improved living standards. A new report assesses whether this time may be different.
In selling the super tax, Labor has repeated Treasury claims of there being $50 billion in super tax concessions annually, mostly flowing to high-income earners. This figure is vastly overstated.
The latest lists of Australia’s wealthiest individuals show that while overall wealth has continued to rise, gains by individuals haven't been uniform. Many might have been better off adopting a simpler investment strategy.
As inflation eases, the Albanese government is switching its focus to lifting Australia’s sluggish productivity. Can corporate tax cuts reboot growth - or are we chasing a theory that doesn’t quite work here?
April’s sharp rebound may feel familiar, but are V-shaped recoveries really more common in the post-COVID world? A look at market history suggests otherwise and hints that a common bias might be skewing perceptions.
Old distinctions between developed and emerging market bonds no longer hold true. At a time where true diversification matters more than ever, this has big ramifications for the way that portfolios should be constructed.
As the July school holiday break nears, here are some investment classics to put onto your reading list. The books offer lessons in investment strategy, financial disasters, and mergers and acquisitions.