SAY NO TO A NUCLEAR AUSTRALIA

Alternative Energy Sources... Clean Coal

6:26 AM, Wed 21 Feb 2007 .. Posted in Clean Coal .. 4 comments .. Link

Ok then, let's have a look at this process called 'Clean Coal'. It sounds good, doesn't it? And if the technology was developed to capture the pollutants and dispose of them safely and effectively, it would indeed be good. So let's have a bit of a look. I've found some interesting information about the process. Yes, I googled... (it's not a bad thing, you know. If you know how to use the tool you can find anything out. And don't worry, I tend to pay more attention to respectable' sites and overlook those sites that don't quite look right, so please don't just automatically discount the information that comes from a google search. I'd go to the library and sift through a heap of musty old books, but I don't have the time for that rot... it's the 21st century, and now it's right here in front of me).

And to get back on track... Clean coal technology is still in its' infancy. It's a process that makes it possible to remove most of the sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate (PM) emissions from the coal burning process, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be more difficult to address. Technology does exist to capture and store CO2 but they have not been made available on a large-scale commercial basis due to high economic costs. This BBC article is easy to understand and informative without sprouting a heap of gobbledy-gook. Wikipedia has a bit more generalised information on the process, but it is a bit more involved. Have a look at the Australian Coal Association site... the info is not as technically hard to understand as some, and a bit more informative than others. And, if you really want to get into the technical, this briefing paper from the UIC (Uranium Information Centre) has a lot of that. Talk about gobbledy-gook... I didn't understand the logistics of most of what has been covered here... I'm not that clever (to be honest, I was kind of hoping that someone might be able to cut it up and translate it into easily digestible pieces for me). So, you might be wondering... why would I visit the UIC? Well, I have mentioned before that I want to see things from all perspectives. I haven't checked out the whole site yet, but expect to hear more from them. I want to check the site out properly (anyone else who's interested is welcome to go for it), because judging by the quick scan I've done this morning, there might be a few other 'objects des intereste' that I'd like to explore further.

Now, before we go any further... if the vote came down to a choice between coal and nuclear, I would vote for coal. And not just because of my dislike for nuclear. There are a few reasons why, given no other choice, I would choose a coal based power supply.

First and foremost, I would have to consider the employment factor. There are a lot of people currently in the mining industry whose jobs will be affected, at least in some way, by any change in power supply that we adopt. Sure, the advent of any new technology takes jobs from anything that it supercedes. And generally there are other (sometimes completely new) jobs created by the new technologies, sometimes in quite obscure ways. And don't worry, the introduction of nuclear power would cost jobs too. Sure, we still mine uranium, but it's a vastly more dangerous occupation. Those who choose to retain their jobs as miners will be dealing with a deadly compound on a daily basis. How many of us would relish that job? There are also less uranium mine sites than coal, so miners will have less choice as to where they work and live. I also find myself wondering if uranium mining could supply the amount of jobs that coal does. If anyone knows where we can find actual figures of projected employment figures to compare with current employment figures, that would be much appreciated.
Then, there is the fact that there is current research being carried out to combat coal related problems, including the 'clean coal' process. There are less problems (both in number and severity) than nuclear. And with the research that has already been done over the last couple of years, I have a greater faith that these solutions can be solved in the near future. Some of the research entails a process called UCC (Ultra Clean Coal). And don't forget the FutureGen project... a concept 'near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant'. I must stress though, that this power plant is only a concept design at this point in time. But it's a step in the right direction, I guess. Again... research, research and more research.
There's also the current power stations to consider. Current coal burning stations should be able to be refitted to accommodate the 'clean coal' process. Nuclear power would require the building of completely new power stations. What would happen to the old coal stations then? Would they be demolished?... sold?... or just forgotten? Either way... another massive waste. Once again, there is a whole lot of money there that could be used much better by funnelling it into research. Yes, more research. At the moment, that's the only way things are going to go forward. We're not going to just magically wake up one morning and have the answer. We have to go looking for it.

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Untitled Comment

8:25 PM, Wed 23 May 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous
your an idiot. you just bag out the nuclear system and dont give a reason

Try this...

11:32 AM, Wed 30 May 2007 .. Posted by tinacee
http://www.blognow.com.au/SAYNO2NUCLEAR/48500/Remember_Chernobyl_April_26_1986.html

Reason enough for me. I think I've made it clear what I think, and I am entitled to my opinion... and to the right to worry about our planet. So far, others have failed to convince me that it's a safe and/or necessary source of power. As for my being an idiot... well that's not for me to deny, I suppose... so perhaps you could shed some light on the situation for me. Tell me... why is nuclear so wonderful??

hey, let me talk

2:35 PM, Thu 31 Jul 2008 .. Posted by Jasmyn
well actually, nuclear energy IS a good source of energy.
1stly with the chernobyl thing. chernobyl was a very long time ago. now-a-days, nuclear power stations, or reactors, r built a lot safer and many r built so that if anything starts to malfunction, like it did at chernobyl, then it will automatically shutdown.
2ndly, nuclear energy and the fission process is not only used for electricity, but its also a crucial, and i mean CRUCIAL, part of diagnosis, and to a lesser extent treatment, of cancer in australia. without it many people would not be alive today.
see? nuclear is not that bad dude.
[c:

oh, and i forgot to say...

2:38 PM, Thu 31 Jul 2008 .. Posted by Jasmyn, again
oh and i forgot to say something else.
ur last point was something about 'clean coal' technology. wth is 'clean coal' technology? PLEASE explain.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY! COAL IS JUST DIRTY MAN!
[c:

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SAY NO TO A NUCLEAR AUSTRALIA

Alternative Energy Sources... Clean Coal

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Try this...

hey, let me talk

oh, and i forgot to say...

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