4 ms·
whereas nuclear will not Why not? Why wasn't there a nuclear module (SMR) 20 years ago that can be installed in banks of multiple modules, just like a solar a
by nitrogen 5y ago
whereas nuclear will not
Why not? Why wasn't there a nuclear module (SMR) 20 years ago that can be installed in banks of multiple modules, just like a solar array made of multiple solar cells? Why should every single nuclear plant be semi-bespoke for that particular area?
reducing our energy needs
In some sense, human development can be measured in energy available per capita. We definitely want to make each activity we do as efficient as is reasonable (e.g. a washing machine that uses 0.5gal less water per cycle, but costs $3000 more is unreasonable), but the goal really ought to be to maximize energy used per capita, while minimizing energy used per activity.
- p_l 5y agoBecause for last ~25 years there was no funding to finish the SMRs that we did have good base design for, nor to expand necessary metal production for their coolant loops (or finalize the variants that didn't need those). It all boils down to will.
- Gwypaas 5y agoWhy not? Why wasn't there a nuclear module (SMR) 20 years ago that can be installed in banks of multiple modules, just like a solar array made of multiple solar cells? Why should every single nuclear plant be semi-bespoke for that particular area? Because the idea was instead a larger standardized reactor to rule them all. Spread the fixed costs per reactor core as thin as possible. This has evidently failed and thus the nuclear industries new thing is "SMR" because lets do opposite and hope we get another 20 years of funding.
- ncmncm 5y agoWe don't have modular nuke because it offers too little scope for official, wholly-legal corruption. Thus far photovoltaic solar and wind turbines have been proof against official corruption. It is just too quick and easy to field a competing system not subject to corruption tax.