What Would Nuclear Energy Mean for Your Solar Panels?
If you have solar panels—or are thinking of getting them—you probably expect to save money on energy bills, reduce your cost of living, and maybe even charge an electric vehicle (EV). But have you considered how nuclear energy could impact these benefits?
Australia’s shift towards nuclear power could reduce or even eliminate some of the advantages of rooftop solar.
What’s the Problem?
Graeme Martin, President of Village Power, explained in The Age (Dec 16, 2024):
"Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy will require limiting people’s access to energy from their own solar panels and constrain further installations, so power will cost more."
But how could this happen?
The Federal Coalition’s nuclear policy is not designed to complement renewables—it’s designed to replace them. Since the energy grid has limited capacity, nuclear energy would take priority, forcing rooftop solar to be switched off for much of the day. Experts estimate that this could lead to a 67% reduction in rooftop solar exports, meaning millions of Australians who invested in solar could be left paying more for power they could otherwise generate themselves.
Why Would Solar Be Shut Off?
Nuclear power plants run 24/7 and cannot easily be switched on and off to match energy demand. Since the grid has a limited capacity, nuclear plants would always take priority, leaving little room for rooftop solar. This means that:
Your solar panels could be switched off during peak sunlight hours.
You would be forced to buy power from the grid, even when your panels should and could be producing energy.
The incentive for installing new rooftop solar would drop, making it harder for millions of Australians to reduce their power bills.
The Benefits of Local Energy Production
Right now, Australia is moving towards more localised, energy reliance —where communities increasingly generate and store their own power through home batteries and community batteries for local consumption. This model reduces reliance on fossil fuels and makes the grid more resilient.
However, nuclear energy requires a centralised system, much like fossil fuels. Keeping outdated coal plants running is already expensive, and nuclear power plants would demand even more taxpayer money.
The Cost of Nuclear vs. Renewables
Nuclear energy is expensive. Experts argue that the Coalition’s plan is already under-budgeted by half—meaning Australian taxpayers would have to cover the extra costs. Integrating nuclear power into the grid would also require stricter regulations and infrastructure upgrades, adding to expenses.
On the other hand, renewable energy is becoming cheaper to build and maintain, which lowers electricity bills for everyone.
The Climate Impact
Australia has committed to meeting targets in the Paris Climate Agreement. These global targets are essential for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Failure to meet these targets will lead to more frequent natural disasters, rising sea levels, and disruptions to global food and water supplies.
The coalition may not pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement but will be completely unable to meet the targets. According to the Climate Council of Australia, the Coalition’s nuclear plan would produce 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution by 2050—over a billion tonnes more than Australia’s current clean energy plan.
If nuclear energy takes priority:
Coal and gas plants will remain operational for longer, increasing emissions.
EV adoption could decline, leading to more pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles.
Australia’s Paris Climate Agreement goals could become impossible to meet.
A Risk for Millions of Solar Owners
For the 4 million Australians who have already invested in rooftop solar—and the 4 million more considering it—a shift to nuclear could take away the savings and environmental benefits of solar power. Instead of paying less for energy, homeowners might find themselves paying more for power they could have generated themselves.
Switching to nuclear power isn’t just a policy change—it’s a major financial and environmental setback for millions of Australians.