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I doubt these will actually be built. With a projected price point of $78/MWh [0] these are already way more expensive than existing offshore wind, even if they

I doubt these will actually be built. With a projected price point of $78/MWh [0] these are already way more expensive than existing offshore wind, even if they'd actually get built without budget overruns. [0] = https://newatlas.com/energy/rolls-royce-plans-mini-nuclear-reactors-in-britain/ https://newatlas.com/energy/rolls-royce-plans-mini-nuclear-r...

rfrey 6y ago
The 2018 worldwide levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore wind was $134/MWh (https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2019/Oct/IRENA_Future_of_wind_2019.pdf https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication...).
- Schiendelman 6y ago
  That number isn’t useful for comparing options for new construction.
  - rfrey 6y ago
    LCOE is the best number for comparing new construction options. What alternative do you propose?
    - Schiendelman 6y ago
      You used a 2018 number when the 2020 number is vastly lower. You have to use up to date information - and you have to pay attention to trends, since nuclear takes a decade or more to install.
- bildung 6y ago
  You're correct, I misread Norways wind LCoE of 44€/MWh as offshore, though it was onshore. The publication you linked projects a 44% cost reduction until 2025, though. Given UK's listed offshore LCoE of $125 in 2018, that would be $70/MWh for the UK. The trend looks linear, but if we conservatively assume it only falls at half the rate after 2025, it will be at $51/MWh once the first Rolls-Royce plants come online in ten years.
- toomuchtodo 6y ago
  > The 2018 worldwide levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore wind was $134/MWh It's closer to $86/MWh in 2020. [1] [1] https://www.lazard.com/media/451419/lazards-levelized-cost-of-energy-version-140.pdf https://www.lazard.com/media/451419/lazards-levelized-cost-o... (PDF, slide 3, center of page)
redisman 6y ago
There's probably some argument for diversifying your energy output.

rfrey 6y ago

The 2018 worldwide levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore wind was $134/MWh (https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2019/Oct/IRENA_Future_of_wind_2019.pdf https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication...).

Schiendelman 6y ago
That number isn’t useful for comparing options for new construction.
- rfrey 6y ago
  LCOE is the best number for comparing new construction options. What alternative do you propose?
  - Schiendelman 6y ago
    You used a 2018 number when the 2020 number is vastly lower. You have to use up to date information - and you have to pay attention to trends, since nuclear takes a decade or more to install.
bildung 6y ago
You're correct, I misread Norways wind LCoE of 44€/MWh as offshore, though it was onshore. The publication you linked projects a 44% cost reduction until 2025, though. Given UK's listed offshore LCoE of $125 in 2018, that would be $70/MWh for the UK. The trend looks linear, but if we conservatively assume it only falls at half the rate after 2025, it will be at $51/MWh once the first Rolls-Royce plants come online in ten years.
toomuchtodo 6y ago
> The 2018 worldwide levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for offshore wind was $134/MWh It's closer to $86/MWh in 2020. [1] [1] https://www.lazard.com/media/451419/lazards-levelized-cost-of-energy-version-140.pdf https://www.lazard.com/media/451419/lazards-levelized-cost-o... (PDF, slide 3, center of page)

redisman 6y ago

There's probably some argument for diversifying your energy output.