3 ms·
I would love to see nuclear be far more of the base-load production in the US, but rather than large gigawatt-scale reactors I think it would benefit everyone m
by mikece 4y ago
I would love to see nuclear be far more of the base-load production in the US, but rather than large gigawatt-scale reactors I think it would benefit everyone more if we moved to using SMRs (small modular reactors). Not only could manufacturing economies of scale be realized but SMRs can passively cool themselves in the event they need to scram or shut down. The scenario that concerns me the most is a terrorist attack on our grid and externally on a nuclear power station: if a plant can be scrammed AND the backup diesels sabotaged then pretty much all nuclear plants in the US would be looking at a Fukushima-like event once the batteries to the primary cooling loop ran out.
Nuclear is definitely a good idea for the future, but only if SMRs are the basis of moving forward.
- politician 4y agoA Rolls Royce (SMR) for every community! [1] https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactors.aspx https://www.rolls-royce.com/innovation/small-modular-reactor...
- VBprogrammer 4y agoI think your perception of the risk from terrorist attack on a Nuclear power plant and the actual risk involved are out of whack. Especially given that human error is a much more likely source a radioactive leak.
- rectang 4y agoThe fundamental problem is the concentration of radioactive materials at a single facility. (Hydroelectric power has a similar problem with the water behind dams.) Whether it's human error, terrorist attack, or natural disaster, nuclear facilities are vulnerable in a way that solar and wind facilities are not.