4 ms·
Afaik nuclear can't replace gas because nuclear ramp up/down times are way too long.
by freeflight 7y ago
Afaik nuclear can't replace gas because nuclear ramp up/down times are way too long.
- belorn 7y agoModern nuclear plants can do this with control rods, but the fixed and sunk costs makes it prohibiting expensive. It is simply more economically to keep them running, even when wind/solar is producing. Changes in fuel costs could incentivize a more economical use, through that would only work if nuclear were made economical competitive compared to natural gas in the first place. If we look at a map like https://www.electricitymap.org https://www.electricitymap.org and imagine the carbon intensity to be a real economical costs then it would be a relative simple matter to determine how high those costs would need to be to make nuclear competitive against burning fossil fuels.
- petre 7y agoIt can suppelement gas or whatever in the power mix. Just keep'em running and adjust the output in the designed operating range, pump water uphill or spin up flywheels otherwise.
- GhettoMaestro 7y agoIf one were to introduce a layered approach (eg adding in a battery storage layer), I wonder if this argument is reduced? EG: When times of peak consumption out-paces the plant, it draws from battery system. When consumption is less than production, the batteries are recharged.
- petre 7y agoPumped hydro, pumped heat, flywheels, batteries are all working solutions. Batteries are still expensive and need to be replaced every 10-15y. In order to use more nuclear and renewables in the mix, storage becomes a necessity. https://electricenergyonline.com/energy/magazine/1142/article/Battery-Storage-and-Pumped-Storage-Power-The-Perfect-Synergy.htm https://electricenergyonline.com/energy/magazine/1142/articl...
- aaron_m04 7y agoDon't forget compressed air!
- realusername 7y agoThat used to be the case a while ago, nowadays only 30min is needed to adjust the production.