Four Societies lecture 2015
“Latest developments in small modular reactors”
Dr Adrian (Adi) Paterson
Chief Executive Officer,
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Held in conjunction with the Nuclear Engineering Panel of the Sydney Branch of Engineers Australia, the Australian Nuclear Association and the Australian Institute of Energy
Date: Monday 16 February 2015
The largest source of energy today is fossil fuel which we know has significant CO2issues. The second largest source is nuclear, using uranium. Dr Paterson began his talk by showing that the country generating the most energy per capita is France with its successful harnessing of nuclear technology, but interestingly Brazil is also successful with its use of ethanol from sugar cane. Australia was shown to be in the worst sector with almost the highest cost per capita of electric power generation, more than twice as expensive as France and similar to the high cost in Denmark which relies heavily on wind energy.
Dr Paterson is a world authority on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). In his talk he stated that this new type of nuclear reactor is given too little prominence against the backdrop of the very large power reactors, such as China’s new 1750 MWe power plant in Taishan, which have captured our attention until now.
Dr Paterson touched on Australia’s recent shifts politically in which the nuclear component of an optimal energy mix is growing in acceptance, as seen from the recent announcement of a Royal Commission in South Australia, in view also of its rich resources of uranium. The lecture showed how SMRs are ready to fill the vacuum in countries like Australia.
Once again, the Four Societies Lecture was an outstanding success with a full house attending. The Society thanks the Australian Institute of Energy for organizing this year’s event and Clayton Utz for supporting it.
31 December 2025
Various face-to-face and online venues 
