As reported by the New York Times, the cost of solar panels has now decreased to a point where solar energy is cheaper than nuclear. Meanwhile, the costs of nuclear power has only been rising over the past eight years.
Therefore, there’s no good reason for the Government and TNB to continue to insist that nuclear is the only way for us to meet our energy needs, and without public consultation at that! To go nuclear contradicts PM Najib’s call to develop our green technology industry in the last national budget and undermines Malaysia’s growing green tech businesses.
Plans to build nuclear plant in Malaysia should be scrapped immediately.
July 26, 2010
Nuclear Energy Loses Cost Advantage
By DIANA S. POWERSPARIS — Solar photovoltaic systems have long been painted as a clean way to generate electricity, but expensive compared with other alternatives to oil, like nuclear power. No longer. In a “historic crossover,” the costs of solar photovoltaic systems have declined to the point where they are lower than the rising projected costs of new nuclear plants, according to a paper published this month.
“Solar photovoltaics have joined the ranks of lower-cost alternatives to new nuclear plants,” John O. Blackburn, a professor of economics at Duke University, in North Carolina, and Sam Cunningham, a graduate student, wrote in the paper, “Solar and Nuclear Costs — The Historic Crossover.”
This crossover occurred at 16 cents per kilowatt hour, they said.
While solar power costs have been declining, the costs of nuclear power have been rising inexorably over the past eight years, said Mark Cooper, senior fellow for economic analysis at Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and Environment…
even wind power (offshore) and biomass are all various forms of renewable energy that is viable in our country. i just do not understand why the government keep forcing nuclear down our throat!
if im a minister i will allow ppl to generate their own renewable form of energy (solar, wind)and TNB will buy surplus energy from household! in that way, TNB dont have to raise tariffs so frequently cause less demand!
Though solar photovoltaics system proven less costly compared to nuclear power,but do not forget the e-waste pollution generated from the solar power system is also very costly to human life in long run.
dear gobuk nabawan,
solar panels have a lifespan of at least 15-20 years and we are currently recycling older solar panels (those dating from the 80’s) for newer ones.
in the future, recycling these solar panels will be an industry by itself. so i dont know which e-waste are you referring to.
It is not about cost alone. Can solar generate enough capacity to run a nation? As a politician you should be looking at the overall picture not just on the cost issue alone.
To me, unless the world has a better REAL alternative, nuclear will remain one of the leading source of power generation in the future.
and remember our garbage is piling up every day and these can be converted into electrical energy…
yaziz yunus,
NO single renewable source of energy can be depended to power the whole nation and it has to be a multipronged approach to deal with this future energy crunch.
nuclear will take at least 10-15 years before being built and trust me, the uranium market will be cornered by then and we will be living under someones thumb by then also.
Teresa Kok:
Ever saw a movie’s scene where the actor acted furiously to extinguish an annoying mosquito? This appears to be scene in the DAP’s episode of the sacking of Tee based on alleged corruption practices or the perception that he is involved in corruption practices.
There shall be no compromise on corruption; and, there shall equally be no support – no matter how small- for those who are alleged to possess or perceive to possess a corrupted mind set. As a Chinese proverb illuminates “it’s wiser to eliminate albeit wrongly a few alleged corrupted men/women than to allow them to roam free” or the saying that “one drop of poison is enough to kill us all”.
It is kind of disappointing that there is quarrel amongst DAP’s top advisors over the issues on corruption practices. In UMNO, MCA and MIC, when an influential politic faction’s head is accused of corruption practices, his supporters are quick to response and proclaim the innocent of his mentor. This is how the corruption initiated! The politician under the cover of his supporters will start to ignore the general public’s opinion and begin his elusive corruption practices.
Yes, there must be justice and fairness for all, but at what price? I am opined that all alleged corruption practice must be investigated thoroughly and transparently; and, those who are involved shall be suspended immediately without any hesitation and reservation. There shall be no discussion or express of support over the issues of his/her suspension. They shall only be reinstated only after they are proved to be truly innocent. Truly means that it is investigated based on business forensic experts who are familiar with corruption practices in Malaysia.
I sincerely hope that opposition party is mature enough to tackle the issue on internal corruption. If you want to protect the corrupted politician, then think about the damage that he has done to the public. Remember, RM 1.00 can buy 4 eggs, but a corrupted politician will only buy you one eggs for RM1.00.
Teresa:
The issue on solar versus Nuclear is not about energy saving, it is about stopping the creation of a monster that are difficult to handle.
A leak in the Nuclear plant will definitely kill all of us since Malaysia is geographically narrow and highly urbanized.
The creation of a Mega Project is one way politician trying to siphon money out of the country under the pretext of buying a nuclear power plant. if under the watchfull eye of the military our fighter engine can be stolen, i wonder if the same can happen to our nuclear device!
So stopping the construction of Nuclear plant will prevent another scandal.
sad truth is if ALL uranium is mined in the world, it can only provide another 10-15 years of worldwide energy AT CURRENT USAGE.
nuclear is no way a long term solution for our country!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEF0TQxw7go&feature=channel
Don’t forget, the penalty for corruption in China is death by a single bullet! This guy is lucky to be just thrown out of the party!!!!