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It seems like the largest feature of modern nuclear power is that it got a lot more expensive as we realized how much safety we truly needed to build into it. W
by afterburner 6y ago
It seems like the largest feature of modern nuclear power is that it got a lot more expensive as we realized how much safety we truly needed to build into it. Whereas, without much prompting, solar got a LOT cheaper.
When nuclear develops that significantly, we will all pay attention. Until then, build cheaper sources.
Also consider when building nuclear, you are locking into technology from 10 years ago (when the plant is finally done), for the next 50 years (when the plant is finally decommissioned). Solar and other sources have much faster iteration cycles and much lower commitment.
- hntrader 6y agoIsn't the point of nuclear to provide power when it's not sunny as a cheaper alternative to storage in batteries? If so then what's the purpose of comparing the cost of solar and nuclear as if they're directly competing for the same use case?
- afterburner 6y ago> Isn't the point of nuclear to provide power when it's not sunny as a cheaper alternative to storage in batteries? If so then what's the purpose of comparing the cost of solar and nuclear as if they're directly competing for the same use case? What the hell are you talking about.
- hntrader 6y agoSolar doesn't provide off peak power without storage. So comparing nuclear directly to solar in the way you've done makes no sense.
- afterburner 6y agoI believe solar and wind can provide for ALL power. Same as nuclear. That is the basis for my comparison.
- hntrader 6y agoStill doesn't make sense. Even if what you say is true, then the valid comparison is to compare nuclear to wind rather than nuclear to solar.
- afterburner 6y agoAgain, what the hell are you talking about. These are bad faith arguments. Moving goalposts, redefining everything. What a joke.
- hntrader 6y agoI'll put aside your rudeness (I assume you think this is a status contest, or maybe you've just misunderstood my intentions) and try to explain again. Solar being cheaper than nuclear makes it a foregone conclusion for daytime electricity supply. However the direct comparison you were making in the first paragraph of your original post between nuclear price and solar price is nonsensical because they're not in direct competition with each other. Nuclear satisfies a slightly different use case to solar. Nuclear instead is in direct competition with sources that are capable of providing base load power such as gas and solar+storage. The only meaningful price comparison is between nuclear and these other sources, since we need to decide if the stack is going to be solar+storage, solar+nuclear, etc. Comparing solar prices directly to nuclear prices without considering the whole stack is just a meaningless comparison.
- afterburner 6y agoLet me get this straight. You think every time I mention solar, I mean solar without storage? Lol have fun arguing with yourself.
- Daho0n 6y agoGo back to reddit.
- cygx 6y agoNuclear reactors don't make sense as peaker plants, hence are not a battery replacement as such. You're correct that one should factor in the cost of storage if one wants to considers renewables as an alternative to nuclear for providing base load power.
- hntrader 6y agoThanks. Any ideas how storage impacts the total cost of using only solar+wind?
- rhodozelia 6y agoGranted, I’ve never worked on a natural gas fired turbine, but I imagine every generator given the option would prefer to run consistentently at maximum output as that is how they would get the maximum ROI. Hydro plants can adjust output but it changes river levels and flows with environmental consequences. I imagine nuclear plants could use control rods to generate less power if they had to? Or if you have the nuclear power because you need it anyway in case it isn’t sunny/windy but it is a sunny and windy day how do you decide if solar/wind or nuclear should be curtailed? Both have near zero marginal cost.
- merb 6y ago> 50 years most often it is way longer