3 ms·

Probably something to do with the nearly 2000 sq mi of "exclusion zones" from Chernobyl and Fukushima. (Which, admittedly, is great for the local wildlife.) "A

Probably something to do with the nearly 2000 sq mi of "exclusion zones" from Chernobyl and Fukushima. (Which, admittedly, is great for the local wildlife.) "Ah yes, remind me how many windmills we would need to produce as much energey as a NPP? About 1500.

shakow 5y ago
> About 1500. Nope. Average charge load for a windmill is ~35%, vs. over 90% for NPPs. Thus, you would need roughly thrice as many, and that in places with alternating winds – otherwise you would just get blackouts.
- mcguire 5y ago
  Already factored in. I can't find my original reference, but here's once that doesn't factor in the difference: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-power-does-nuclear-reactor-produce https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-powe...
  - shakow 5y ago
    > Already factored in. I highly doubt that. The Tricastin NPP for instance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricastin_Nuclear_Power_Plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricastin_Nuclear_Power_Plant) is a rather average one, producing up to 3660MW. An average windmill output stand around 2.5MW, hence equivalent 1464 windmills simultaneously running before accounting for the load factor. > but here's once This one is about a nuclear reactor, not an NPP. Typical NPPs features 2 to 6 reactors.
    - mcguire 5y ago
      Hmm. Ok, let's see here... * https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-plants.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-pl... (2019) 56 NPPs, 809,410,000 MWh (actually generated) * https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-turbines-are-contained-us-wind-turbine-database?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-turbines-are-contained-us... ~60,000 wind turbines (I've seen numbers between 57,000 and 67,000.) * https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/electricity-generation-from-wind.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/electricity-generat... (2020) 338,000,000 MWh (actually generated) 1NPP -> 14,453,750 MWh/yr 1WT -> 5633 MWh/yr 1NPP == 2600 WT You are absolutely correct.

shakow 5y ago

> About 1500. Nope. Average charge load for a windmill is ~35%, vs. over 90% for NPPs. Thus, you would need roughly thrice as many, and that in places with alternating winds – otherwise you would just get blackouts.

mcguire 5y ago
Already factored in. I can't find my original reference, but here's once that doesn't factor in the difference: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-power-does-nuclear-reactor-produce https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/infographic-how-much-powe...
- shakow 5y ago
  > Already factored in. I highly doubt that. The Tricastin NPP for instance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricastin_Nuclear_Power_Plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricastin_Nuclear_Power_Plant) is a rather average one, producing up to 3660MW. An average windmill output stand around 2.5MW, hence equivalent 1464 windmills simultaneously running before accounting for the load factor. > but here's once This one is about a nuclear reactor, not an NPP. Typical NPPs features 2 to 6 reactors.
  - mcguire 5y ago
    Hmm. Ok, let's see here... * https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-plants.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-pl... (2019) 56 NPPs, 809,410,000 MWh (actually generated) * https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-turbines-are-contained-us-wind-turbine-database?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-many-turbines-are-contained-us... ~60,000 wind turbines (I've seen numbers between 57,000 and 67,000.) * https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/electricity-generation-from-wind.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/wind/electricity-generat... (2020) 338,000,000 MWh (actually generated) 1NPP -> 14,453,750 MWh/yr 1WT -> 5633 MWh/yr 1NPP == 2600 WT You are absolutely correct.