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> The reason it doesn't get an even harder time than it already does is because nuclear powers like the US and UK like to keep reactors and know how close at ha

> The reason it doesn't get an even harder time than it already does is because nuclear powers like the US and UK like to keep reactors and know how close at hand for military purposes. Civilian power reactors themselves are of limited value for military purposes, particularly light water moderated ones. It's certainly true that maintaining a nuclear industry and the technical and operational knowledge is cross subsidised from civilian power generation. > non dispatchable nuclear power What definition are you using for dispatchable here? Because in my understanding nuclear power is generally considered dispatchable power generation.

pydry 6y ago
>Civilian power reactors themselves are of limited value for military purposes, particularly light water moderated ones. The kind used in nuclear submarines? >It's certainly true that maintaining a nuclear industry and the technical and operational knowledge is cross subsidised It's the main reason nuclear reactors exist at all, and why theyre predominantly built by countries with nuclear arsenals or aspirations. They've never been particularly cheap, and while they haven't gone up in cost, they're relatively more expensive than theyve ever been. This is why public support is even more critical for their survival, which is why there's about 1 pro nuclear propaganda article per week popping to the top of hacker news each week. The military industrial complex is spooked. >What definition are you using for dispatchable here? It takes hours to scale up production of a nuclear plant and seconds for a gas fired plant: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispatchable_generation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispatchable_generation
- VBprogrammer 6y ago
  So, you wrongly used dispatchable? From your link "Although theoretically dispatchable, coal and nuclear thermal plants are designed to run as base load power plants". Dispatchable means the power is available when it is needed. Not when it is available i.e. when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Modern nuclear reactors incorporate grey rods which allow them to be used in a limited load following capacity.
  - pydry 6y ago
    Wikipedia used the word "theoretically" because it is not practical to use them as a source of dispatchable power. Unlike gas. Does a business that delivers a meal to you only with 24 hours notice count as a restaurant? Theoretically yes.
    - VBprogrammer 6y ago
      If you want to misuse those terms and justify it with terrible analogies then that is your prerogative. In reality, power coming from nuclear power plants is very predictable, this makes it easy to incorporate into the grid energy mix. Nuclear power has many problems but this isn't one.
- Robotbeat 6y ago
  ...minutes except for very small gas plants. Potentially around half an hour or so for combined cycle plants.

pydry 6y ago

>Civilian power reactors themselves are of limited value for military purposes, particularly light water moderated ones. The kind used in nuclear submarines? >It's certainly true that maintaining a nuclear industry and the technical and operational knowledge is cross subsidised It's the main reason nuclear reactors exist at all, and why theyre predominantly built by countries with nuclear arsenals or aspirations. They've never been particularly cheap, and while they haven't gone up in cost, they're relatively more expensive than theyve ever been. This is why public support is even more critical for their survival, which is why there's about 1 pro nuclear propaganda article per week popping to the top of hacker news each week. The military industrial complex is spooked. >What definition are you using for dispatchable here? It takes hours to scale up production of a nuclear plant and seconds for a gas fired plant: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispatchable_generation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispatchable_generation

VBprogrammer 6y ago
So, you wrongly used dispatchable? From your link "Although theoretically dispatchable, coal and nuclear thermal plants are designed to run as base load power plants". Dispatchable means the power is available when it is needed. Not when it is available i.e. when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Modern nuclear reactors incorporate grey rods which allow them to be used in a limited load following capacity.
- pydry 6y ago
  Wikipedia used the word "theoretically" because it is not practical to use them as a source of dispatchable power. Unlike gas. Does a business that delivers a meal to you only with 24 hours notice count as a restaurant? Theoretically yes.
  - VBprogrammer 6y ago
    If you want to misuse those terms and justify it with terrible analogies then that is your prerogative. In reality, power coming from nuclear power plants is very predictable, this makes it easy to incorporate into the grid energy mix. Nuclear power has many problems but this isn't one.
Robotbeat 6y ago
...minutes except for very small gas plants. Potentially around half an hour or so for combined cycle plants.