Verdict
Yes, but there are significant trade-offs and limitations that would need to be considered.
Analysis
Water is a make-or-break factor in the debate over nuclear power in Australia. As the driest inhabited continent on Earth, with a long history of extreme droughts and climate variability, water availability is a critical constraint — especially for any large-scale inland energy infrastructure.
Nuclear is one of the thirstiest power sources, comparable or more to coal, per MWh. The Nuclear Energy Institute estimates that one nuclear reactor requires between 1,514L and 2,725L litres of water per MWh1. This equates to hundreds of gigalitres per year, and all this water requires filtering somehow.
Nuclear power plants require water for three core functions:
- Steam Generation – Water is used in a closed loop to transfer heat from the reactor core to turbines, producing electricity. This water must be highly purified and largely stays within the system.
- Neutron Moderation – In some reactor designs, water slows down neutrons to sustain the nuclear reaction. This also uses clean, controlled water.
- Cooling and Condensation – After steam has done its job turning turbines, it must be condensed back into water. This is where massive amounts of water is required to absorb and dissipate heat2.
It’s this third stage — cooling — that makes nuclear one of the most water-intensive power sources on the planet, comparable to or exceeding coal on a per-megawatt-hour (MWh) basis.
While it depends on what type of reactor is used, on average, nuclear reactors use about 15% more water than an equivalent coal-fired power plant3. The following chart compares average water use across energy sources:
Figure 1: Water consumption by energy source4
Figure 2: Map of nuclear power plant sites proposed by the Coalition6
This is why globally; most nuclear power plants are located on coastlines or next to large rivers or lakes to ensure consistent cooling and the safe discharge of heat5. In the UK for example, proximity to reliable water sources is an important consideration in the approval process.
A recent study by Australian National University Professor Andrew Campbell assessed the water needs and viability of each of the seven proposed nuclear sites in the federal Coalition’s energy policy and found that only one – Port Augusta – was viable, with existing and future forecast water availability7. Other proposed sites are all inland and would require a combination of the following actions to ensure there was enough water for the nuclear reactor and the needs of communities and agriculture in the area:
- Massive irrigation buybacks
- Increased desalination
- Curtailed generation during water shortages8.
To give some context to the amount of water needed, Professor Campbell suggested that around 307gigalitres annually would be required to run the proposed seven nuclear reactors. This is equivalent to:
- Enough to supply drinking, washing, and cooking water for 4.2 million Australians, assuming average use of 200 L/day per person9.
- Enough to irrigate around 61,000 hectares of crops, depending on crop type and region (based on typical irrigation rates of 4–5 ML/ha/year)10.
Environmental considerations
When considering the water usage of nuclear reactors, it is also important to factor in the environmental impacts of the discharge of heated water back into rivers or oceans. This can cause thermal pollution, which impacts aquatic ecosystems, reduces oxygen levels, and alters species behaviour. In hot and dry environments — especially during summer or drought — this compounds risks to already stressed waterways11.
State governments are already managing water use amid environmental pressures and increasingly dry conditions. In the Latrobe Valley – home to a proposed nuclear site – the Victorian government has restricted water use for mine rehabilitation at Yallourn and Loy Yang to the wettest months, preserving vital flows during drier autumn and summer periods12. Introducing the significant water demands of a nuclear power plant could further strain an already delicate system.
Add climate change to the mix, with its projections of reduced rainfall and streamflow’s in many of the proposed nuclear regions, and the long-term sustainability of nuclear becomes even more questionable.
Conclusion
Water availability for nuclear powered energy is a hard constraint — particularly for inland sites. Without expensive workarounds like desalination or buying water from farmers and towns, there isn’t enough water to run a large-scale nuclear industry without significant trade-offs.
Australia’s water scarcity is one of the real and substantial barriers to nuclear power. Any serious proposal must confront this reality head-on.
References
1 – Nuclear Energy Institute (no date) The Nuclear Energy Institute. Available at: https://www.nei.org
2 – World Nuclear Association (2020) Cooling Power Plants. Available at: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/cooling-power-plants
3 – Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (2024) Submission to the Inquiry into Nuclear Power Generation in Australia. Available at: sbm-2024-11-07-nuclear-inquiry-v2.pdf
4 – Australian Conservation Foundation (2024) Nuclear Water and Waste Analysis. Available at: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/auscon/pages/55795/attachments/original/1742264061/ACF_Nuclear_WaterAndWasteAnalysis.pdf
5 – Membracon (2022) Nuclear Power and Water Consumption. Available at: https://smartwatermagazine.com/news/membracon/nuclear-power-and-water-consumption
6 – Remeikis, A. (2024) Coalition’s nuclear plan revealed with proposed power station sites across Australia, The Guardian, 19 June. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/19/coalition-nuclear-plan-peter-dutton-power-station-sites-australia
7 – Andrew Campbell (2025). Australian nuclear energy proposals, water availability and acquisition options. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MVr2pMcUABWgbmHE2sGCiUabG6RFxhB/view
8 – Andrew Campbell (2025). Australian nuclear energy proposals, water availability and acquisition options. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MVr2pMcUABWgbmHE2sGCiUabG6RFxhB/view
9 – Sydney Water (no date) Water Use and Conservation. Available at: https://www.sydneywater.com.au/education/drinking-water/water-use-conservation.html
10 – Agline (2020) How Much Irrigation Does Your Crop Need?. Available at: https://www.agline.com.au/news/how-much-irrigation-does-your-crop-need
11 – González, P., & García, L. (2024) ‘Exposure of future nuclear energy infrastructure to climate change: A global assessment’, Energy Strategy Reviews, 50, 101234. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X24000725
12 – Premier of Victoria (2023) Securing the Future: Latrobe Valley Mine Rehabilitation. Available at: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/securing-future-latrobe-valley-mine-rehabilitationAustralia 2024. Available at: https://australiainstitute.org.au/report/fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-australia-2024/
13 – The Conversation (2024) For decades governments have subsidised fossil fuels – but why? Available at: https://theconversation.com/for-decades-governments-have-subsidised-fossil-fuels-but-why-213467
