Peter Dutton accuses CSIRO of ‘bagging’ nuclear plan after costly findings

Peter Dutton is again defending his plan to take Australia nuclear after the national science agency estimated it could cost at least twice as much as Labor’s renewables plan.

In its latest modelling, the CSIRO put the cost of a regular large-scale nuclear plant operating 90 per cent of the time at $155 a megawatt hour.

But that could blow out to $252 a megawatt hour if only used 53 per cent of the time, according to the findings.

Asked about the modelling on Monday, the Opposition Leader lashed out at the independent government agency and accused Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen of meddling with it.

“They haven’t even seen our plan yet, and yet they’re out bagging it,” he told reporters.

“It just looks to me like there’s a heavy hand of Chris Bowen in all this, and I don’t think people want to see that.

“What they know about Chris Bowen at the moment is he’s wrecking the energy system, and that’s wrecking the economy.

“That’s why families are facing food inflation and higher prices when they go to the supermarket.”

The CSIRO’s modelling in its latest GenCost report, which it produces in partnership with the national energy operator, estimated that wind farms would produce electricity at $56 to $96 a megawatt hour, while solar farms offered an even better result at $35 and $62 a megawatt hour.

Mr Dutton has not yet provided costings for his nuclear plan despite announcing it nearly six months ago.

He has promised to release the figures this week, but in the absence of a figure, third party estimations have attempted to attach a price tag.

The Smart Energy Council has estimated it would cost between $116n-$600bn and only provide 3.7 per cent of Australia’s energy mix in 2050, based on experiences overseas and data from the CSIRO and the energy operator.

It worked out at about the same cost as delivering a near 100 per cent renewables mix by 2050.

Mr Bowen said in a video on social media the latest modelling “shows that the cheapest form of new energy is renewables and the most expensive form is nuclear”.

“This report is crystal clear and it shows yet again renewables, even including the cost of batteries and transmission, is the best, cheapest and fastest solution for Australia’s energy challenge,” he said.