Coalition’s Nuclear Ambitions Fall Short, CSIRO Report Points to High Costs and Delays

The 2024-25 draft report said nuclear plants could cost twice as much as solar or wind, despite lasting 60 years versus 30 for renewables.

The cooling towers of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Mochovce, Slovakia, on Nov. 6, 2023. Janos Kummer/Getty Images

The latest GenCost report from Australia’s peak scientific research agency, CSIRO, casts doubt on the Coalition’s nuclear energy plans. It reveals that nuclear power would be significantly more expensive than renewables, even with longer reactor lifespans.

The 2024-25 draft report finds nuclear plants could cost twice as much as solar or wind energy, despite their potential to operate for 60 years, compared to 30 years for renewables.