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They are investing in nuclear power.

segfaultbuserr 7y ago
No? The investment on nuclear power has been slowed down. But ironically, the competition from cheaper solar and wind power is one of the factors, so it might not necessarily be bad though. * China is losing its taste for nuclear power https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612564/chinas-losing-its-taste-for-nuclear-power-thats-bad-news/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612564/chinas-losing-its-... HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18675453 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18675453
- jabl 7y ago
  Or the followup a few months later by the same author: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612872/chinas-nuclear-hiatus-may-be-coming-to-an-end/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612872/chinas-nuclear-hia... And while we're on the topic of posting technologyreview links, https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613498/global-renewable-growth-has-stalled-and-thats-terrible-news/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613498/global-renewable-g...
  - segfaultbuserr 7y ago
    Thanks for posting the follow-ups I've missed. It's bad news indeed, the situation is getting far less optimistic.
seanmcdirmid 7y ago
Nuclear has the same problem as coal...worse even: it has huge startup costs, so you don't just shut it down when renewables are online instead. Flexible energy sources to balance out inflexible ones primarily mean natural gas and hydro with a reservoir.
- misterprime 7y ago
  >Nuclear has the same problem as coal I'm not aware of this. Can you elaborate?
  - francisofascii 7y ago
    My simplistic explanation, coal and nuclear power plants can take several hours to "bootup" (startup). Gas plants can startup in minutes. So when the sun goes in the clouds, or when power demand spikes, a gas plant can quickly come online unlike coal and nuclear.
    - woodandsteel 7y ago
      Yes, and li-ion batteries can respond even more rapidly, which is why utilities are increasingly making them part of the mix.
      - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
        Li-ion batteries requires a lot more investment than a more simple pumped storage reservoir. They are only going to be used when the latter isn’t viable.
        woodandsteel 7y ago
        >They are only going to be used when the latter isn’t viable Which unfortunately is a large portion of the needed areas.

No? The investment on nuclear power has been slowed down. But ironically, the competition from cheaper solar and wind power is one of the factors, so it might not necessarily be bad though. * China is losing its taste for nuclear power https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612564/chinas-losing-its-taste-for-nuclear-power-thats-bad-news/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612564/chinas-losing-its-... HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18675453 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18675453

jabl 7y ago
Or the followup a few months later by the same author: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612872/chinas-nuclear-hiatus-may-be-coming-to-an-end/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612872/chinas-nuclear-hia... And while we're on the topic of posting technologyreview links, https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613498/global-renewable-growth-has-stalled-and-thats-terrible-news/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613498/global-renewable-g...
- segfaultbuserr 7y ago
  Thanks for posting the follow-ups I've missed. It's bad news indeed, the situation is getting far less optimistic.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago

Nuclear has the same problem as coal...worse even: it has huge startup costs, so you don't just shut it down when renewables are online instead. Flexible energy sources to balance out inflexible ones primarily mean natural gas and hydro with a reservoir.

misterprime 7y ago
>Nuclear has the same problem as coal I'm not aware of this. Can you elaborate?
- francisofascii 7y ago
  My simplistic explanation, coal and nuclear power plants can take several hours to "bootup" (startup). Gas plants can startup in minutes. So when the sun goes in the clouds, or when power demand spikes, a gas plant can quickly come online unlike coal and nuclear.
  - woodandsteel 7y ago
    Yes, and li-ion batteries can respond even more rapidly, which is why utilities are increasingly making them part of the mix.
    - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
      Li-ion batteries requires a lot more investment than a more simple pumped storage reservoir. They are only going to be used when the latter isn’t viable.
      - woodandsteel 7y ago
        >They are only going to be used when the latter isn’t viable Which unfortunately is a large portion of the needed areas.