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How long does it take to build a small-to-moderate sized nuclear power station? (Assuming reasonably well-operating supply chains) Asking because I have no ide

How long does it take to build a small-to-moderate sized nuclear power station? (Assuming reasonably well-operating supply chains) Asking because I have no idea and would love to know from someone who has some insight/experience on that front.

fred_is_fred 5y ago
I'd venture that the time to build is inconsequential compared to the environmental and design reviews - which is why bothering to build a small one doesn't make a lot of sense in the US anyway.
Factorium 5y ago
About 2 years at the factory, 2 years onsite: https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactors.aspx#section-leading-the-consortium/deliverable https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactor... We need to be ramping up these immediately... and targeting production of at least dozens per year. Its the perfect industry for a country like the UK to pump money into right now.
hollander 5y ago
The UK is about to build 16 of these. They hope to have them operational by 2035.
- Diederich 5y ago
  Truly? That's great news, I had no idea.
  - kinjba11 5y ago
    Indeed https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28889108 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28889108
- selimthegrim 5y ago
  Are the Chinese building them for the UK?
Spooky23 5y ago
When I was working in the utility space, the duration from identifying a need to commissioning a natural gas power plant was 11 years. The state government subsidized efficiency and other measures to reduce peak demand just to slow growth and control price escalation. Nuclear is a shitshow to build and realistically requires federal action. Similar to how the FCC declared 5G a national security priority and took away local government oversight of infrastructure siting, the Feds could do something similar. Unfortunately, since the US has a political party that believes that political consent comes from control of geography, the coal mines and gas wells are better represented in Congress than people. The US will not be leading this transition, and we’ll be second fiddle to those who do, likely in Asia and Africa — as there is no alternative for them other than persistent poverty.

fred_is_fred 5y ago

I'd venture that the time to build is inconsequential compared to the environmental and design reviews - which is why bothering to build a small one doesn't make a lot of sense in the US anyway.

Factorium 5y ago

About 2 years at the factory, 2 years onsite: https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactors.aspx#section-leading-the-consortium/deliverable https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactor... We need to be ramping up these immediately... and targeting production of at least dozens per year. Its the perfect industry for a country like the UK to pump money into right now.

hollander 5y ago

The UK is about to build 16 of these. They hope to have them operational by 2035.

Diederich 5y ago
Truly? That's great news, I had no idea.
- kinjba11 5y ago
  Indeed https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28889108 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28889108
selimthegrim 5y ago
Are the Chinese building them for the UK?

Spooky23 5y ago

When I was working in the utility space, the duration from identifying a need to commissioning a natural gas power plant was 11 years. The state government subsidized efficiency and other measures to reduce peak demand just to slow growth and control price escalation. Nuclear is a shitshow to build and realistically requires federal action. Similar to how the FCC declared 5G a national security priority and took away local government oversight of infrastructure siting, the Feds could do something similar. Unfortunately, since the US has a political party that believes that political consent comes from control of geography, the coal mines and gas wells are better represented in Congress than people. The US will not be leading this transition, and we’ll be second fiddle to those who do, likely in Asia and Africa — as there is no alternative for them other than persistent poverty.