Australian Politics Forum - Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor

Baronvonrort

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Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Sep 6^th, 2026 at 12:01am

Quote:

Australian engineer Bobby Gallagher built a truck-sized 1 MW nuclear microreactor the Unity Nuclear Battery that can run for years without refuelling.

It is illegal to build or operate here because of Australia’s ban on nuclear power.

The US is now commercialising it. We banned the technology and exported the talent.

Lift the ban. Let small modular reactors compete. Cheap, reliable, zero-emissions power should not be off-limits because of ideology.

Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese: this is a policy failure, not a secret.

Australians pay the price because of your corruption!

https://x.com/KatyKray73/status/2096101940371571052

Quote:

The Courier-Mail
@couriermail

A Queensland engineer’s truck-sized nuclear microreactor has won Donald Trump’s praise and billions in orders overseas — but here in Australia, it’s banned.

https://x.com/couriermail/status/2095300747210662127

Labor and the Greens claim we don't have the talent to make nuclear power.

We have the talent they live overseas because we have banned nuclear power.

This micro reactor could have given us cheaper power and export $$$$$.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 123110 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor Reply #1 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 6:48am I can't watch it as I'm not a member of X.
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Jasin Gold Member Offline Posts: 58596 Gender:	Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor Reply #2 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 8:17am Yes. I saw a clip on him. Genius. Just another innovator forced to go overseas or sell out to overseas.
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Gordon Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 22009 Gordon Gender:	Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor Reply #3 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 8:22am Australia's Federal energy minister has never had a real job where you have to think about how the cost of energy effects your business. Does anyone else thinks he look borderline mong?
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tallowood

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #4 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 9:19am

Quote:

Deployable Energy CEO Bobby Gallagher believes his company's nuclear battery microreactor would be "transformational" for the Australian economy and energy industry if it could be deployed in the country. The Australian tech energy entrepreneur, who is based in the US, says the nuclear industry in Australia is being held back by "misconceptions".

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Dnarever

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #5 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 11:06am

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Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor

I can imagine a Australian style Homer Simpson driving around your suburb with one of these things on the back of his truck. She'll be right mate would be the slogan. The project to be re branded as the glow in the dark project when it goes wrong.

Doesn't sound like such a great idea.

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Dnarever Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 62417 Here Gender:	Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor Reply #6 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 11:11am Bobby. wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 6:48am: I can't watch it as I'm not a member of X. I can't watch it either Bobby, can't make myself.
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Jasin

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #7 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 11:41am

Dnarever wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 11:06am:

Quote:

Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor

I can imagine a Australian style Homer Simpson driving around your suburb with one of these things on the back of his truck. She'll be right mate would be the slogan. The project to be re branded as the glow in the dark project when it goes wrong.

Doesn't sound like such a great idea.

Asimov wrote about such things powered by Atomics in wristwatches to vehicles, long ago.
Him and Clarke have pretty much predicted a lot before their time.

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AIMLESS EXTENTION OF KNOWLEDGE HOWEVER, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU REALLY MEAN BY THE TERM 'CURIOSITY', IS MERELY INEFFICIENCY. I AM DESIGNED TO AVOID INEFFICIENCY.

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freediver

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #8 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 1:48pm

Baronvonrort wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 12:01am:

Quote:

Australian engineer Bobby Gallagher built a truck-sized 1 MW nuclear microreactor the Unity Nuclear Battery that can run for years without refuelling.

It is illegal to build or operate here because of Australia’s ban on nuclear power.

The US is now commercialising it. We banned the technology and exported the talent.

Lift the ban. Let small modular reactors compete. Cheap, reliable, zero-emissions power should not be off-limits because of ideology.

Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese: this is a policy failure, not a secret.

Australians pay the price because of your corruption!

https://x.com/KatyKray73/status/2096101940371571052

Quote:

The Courier-Mail
@couriermail

A Queensland engineer’s truck-sized nuclear microreactor has won Donald Trump’s praise and billions in orders overseas — but here in Australia, it’s banned.

https://x.com/couriermail/status/2095300747210662127

Labor and the Greens claim we don't have the talent to make nuclear power.

We have the talent they live overseas because we have banned nuclear power.

This micro reactor could have given us cheaper power and export $$$$$.

So they can get it down to the same size as a standard diesel generator of the same power?

Why the fascination with reducing the size of nuclear reactors? Do you want one in your backyard?

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Bobby.

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #9 - Sep 6^th, 2026 at 2:36pm

tallowood wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 9:19am:

Quote:

Deployable Energy CEO Bobby Gallagher believes his company's nuclear battery microreactor would be "transformational" for the Australian economy and energy industry if it could be deployed in the country. The Australian tech energy entrepreneur, who is based in the US, says the nuclear industry in Australia is being held back by "misconceptions".

That guy is talking cock and bull.

The radioactive material inside is not benign -
if it blows up to will contaminate a whole suburb for 1000's of years.

If the truck that delivers it crashes on the way to the site
you have a major nuclear incident.

If terrorists steal it they can make a dirty bomb.

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #10 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 12:00am

freediver wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 1:48pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Sep 6^th, 2026 at 12:01am:

Quote:

Australian engineer Bobby Gallagher built a truck-sized 1 MW nuclear microreactor the Unity Nuclear Battery that can run for years without refuelling.

It is illegal to build or operate here because of Australia’s ban on nuclear power.

The US is now commercialising it. We banned the technology and exported the talent.

Lift the ban. Let small modular reactors compete. Cheap, reliable, zero-emissions power should not be off-limits because of ideology.

Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese: this is a policy failure, not a secret.

Australians pay the price because of your corruption!

https://x.com/KatyKray73/status/2096101940371571052

Quote:

The Courier-Mail
@couriermail

A Queensland engineer’s truck-sized nuclear microreactor has won Donald Trump’s praise and billions in orders overseas — but here in Australia, it’s banned.

https://x.com/couriermail/status/2095300747210662127

Labor and the Greens claim we don't have the talent to make nuclear power.

We have the talent they live overseas because we have banned nuclear power.

This micro reactor could have given us cheaper power and export $$$$$.

So they can get it down to the same size as a standard diesel generator of the same power?

Why the fascination with reducing the size of nuclear reactors? Do you want one in your backyard?

1MW diesel generator would be size of 20ft shipping container it's not something that fits on a ute more like a semi trailer.

https://www.larsonelectronics.com/product/148722/1-megawatt-container-trailer-mo...

That diesel burns 200 L/hr at 75% with diesel at $2.50 L it's $500 hr to run for fuel.
At 100% load burns 272 L/hr about $680 per hour to run.

Commercial shipping is something this small reactor could power to get rid of filthy diesel and propane tanks for cooking.
5 years without refuelling looks good.
2 or more for bigger boats.

How much diesel would you burn running that generator for 5 years?

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freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53508 At my desk.	Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor Reply #11 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 7:29am How much would it cost to safely run a nuclear powered boat? You aren't exactly the first to think of it. The Navy runs plenty of them.
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Baronvonrort

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #12 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 10:38pm

freediver wrote on Sep 8^th, 2026 at 7:29am:

How much would it cost to safely run a nuclear powered boat?

You aren't exactly the first to think of it. The Navy runs plenty of them.

Can't think of any civilian boats running on nuclear so yes military have been doing it for a long time.

Russian Sub Kursk blew itself up yet no danger from nuclear reactor onboard.

When it comes in Lloyds, Veritas and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and ISO standards will have their say in safety aspects with design.

Since this 1MW reactor fits on a ute we can say it probably weighs less than 1 ton which is common payload.

This also makes it viable for business electric planes carrying up to 10 passengers maybe they can carry more because fuel load doesn't exist to impact maximum take off weight.With full fuel sometimes they have to limit passenger weight.
This isn't viable with batteries due to weight and limited range.
Be able to travel around the world non stop no refuelling for 5 years.

I can see multiple uses for that 1MW reactor.

Blackout Bowen proposed offshore wind for NSW.
Quote:

The UK's flagship floating wind project off the coast of Cornwall has collapsed, with developer Hexicon selling the site this week for just £1.

The failure highlights the risks and frailties of experimental renewables technology. It also exposes the limits of efforts to make renewable energy economically bulletproof.

The TwinHub project made history in 2022 by winning the UK's first 'Contract for Difference' for a floating wind scheme, securing a 15-year guaranteed price deal from the government at £87.30 per MWh.

The 32MW scheme in the Celtic Sea was designed around Hexicon's multi-turbine, semi-submersible foundation concept. The Celtic Sea lies off the southern coast of Ireland, touching parts of Wales, Cornwall, Devon, and Brittany.

The project relied on a strategic partnership formed in March 2021 between American engineering firm Bechtel and Swedish floating wind developer Hexicon.

However, soaring inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and severe cost overruns scuppered the project, leading to the cancellation of its state-backed power contract.

Hexicon then divested its entire 100% stake in the project company—including all assets and liabilities—for just £1.

https://x.com/PeterDClack/status/2085289910421037220

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #13 - Sep 8^th, 2026 at 10:50pm

Why is this more than 8 times over original budget?

Incredible set of numbers here. $675 million to $5.5 BILLION
And now add another $1.58 billion in transmission works has been identified

Australians were promised that this transition would deliver cheaper power. The infrastructure bill alone is becoming extraordinary.

I believe there is also a fair bit of spend in road infrastructure as well
Roads curves, corners are not designed to take the 60m plus wind turbine blades.

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« Last Edit: Sep 8^th, 2026 at 11:02pm by Baronvonrort »

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Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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tallowood

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Re: Aussie makes truck size 1MW nuclear reactor
Reply #14 - Sep 9^th, 2026 at 9:29am

The EGP-6 (Power heterogeneous loop reactor with 6 coolant circulation loops') is a Russian small nuclear reactor design. It is the world's smallest running commercial nuclear reactor, however smaller reactors are currently in development. The EGP-6 reactors are the only reactors to be built on permafrost.

There were only four EGP-6 reactors built which formed the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, commissioned in 1974–1977, with a reactor becoming operational each year. The reactors were responsible for supplying Bilibino with utilities such as electricity, heated water, and steam. The population of Bilibino currently sits at around 5,000. Each EGP-6 reactor at Bilibino produces 62 MW thermal power, generating 12 MW electrical power.
As of 2020, the power plant is ready for decommissioning and awaits to be replaced by the "Akademik Lomonosov" floating nuclear power plant, which started regular operation in May 2020.

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