5 ms·

Uranium ore distribution is also quite uneven. Fossil fuel distribution is also quite uneven.

by adrianN 4y ago

goneri 4y ago
Thorium is an abundant alternative to uranium, and the technology to use it has existed since the 1960s.
- adrianN 4y ago
  Thorium reactors never worked very well unfortunately.
  - JoeAltmaier 4y ago
    What? They worked reliably and efficiently, and cost very little.
    - adrianN 4y ago
      Maybe I'm misinformed. Which Thorium reactors worked reliably and cheaply?
      - nazgulnarsil 4y ago
        You're not misinformed. Commercial thorium doesn't exist and prototypes have issues with proliferation risks and the lifecycle of the materials used to build the primary containment. It is promising and there are several groups working on these problems but it's a hard sell given that recent gen uranium reactors aren't gated by fuel costs and have established supply chains.
      - ncmncm 4y ago
        Indian Point tried thorium. They abandoned it, for reasons.
- forgetfulness 4y ago
  I'm a layman so I'm trusting the smarty sounding guy on Reddit and his elaborate arguments, but it seems like Thorium reactors, while delivering on the promise of not being able to physically explode, involve materials so nightmarish to work with that it's been impossible to create one that's safe to operate by nuclear worksers https://np.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/9unimr/dutch_satirical_news_show_on_why_we_need_to_break/e95mvb7/?context=3 https://np.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/9unimr/dutch_satiric...
thereddaikon 4y ago
Good thing you can pick it up and move it to other places.
- adrianN 4y ago
  Good thing electricity is cheap to transmit.
  - MerelyMortal 4y ago
    How does one transmit electricity across an ocean?
    - adrianN 4y ago
      Undersea cables. There are plenty between Norway and Germany for example.
      - areyousure 4y ago
        In case anyone is curious, I found this interesting background reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cable That said, there is only one submarine power cable connecting Norway and Germany, and it's been operational for one year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NordLink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NordLink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HVDC_Europe.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HVDC_Europe.svg
        ncmncm 4y ago
        Lots and lots are under construction. UK just committed to a 10 GW cable from Africa, that will be expanded later.
        jacquesm 4y ago
        This is the future and it will eventually create a global connected grid. DC allows the coupling of 60 Hz and 50 Hz grids without a problem too.

Uranium ore distribution is also quite uneven. Fossil fuel distribution is also quite uneven.

goneri 4y ago

Thorium is an abundant alternative to uranium, and the technology to use it has existed since the 1960s.

adrianN 4y ago
Thorium reactors never worked very well unfortunately.
- JoeAltmaier 4y ago
  What? They worked reliably and efficiently, and cost very little.
  - adrianN 4y ago
    Maybe I'm misinformed. Which Thorium reactors worked reliably and cheaply?
    - nazgulnarsil 4y ago
      You're not misinformed. Commercial thorium doesn't exist and prototypes have issues with proliferation risks and the lifecycle of the materials used to build the primary containment. It is promising and there are several groups working on these problems but it's a hard sell given that recent gen uranium reactors aren't gated by fuel costs and have established supply chains.
    - ncmncm 4y ago
      Indian Point tried thorium. They abandoned it, for reasons.
forgetfulness 4y ago
I'm a layman so I'm trusting the smarty sounding guy on Reddit and his elaborate arguments, but it seems like Thorium reactors, while delivering on the promise of not being able to physically explode, involve materials so nightmarish to work with that it's been impossible to create one that's safe to operate by nuclear worksers https://np.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/9unimr/dutch_satirical_news_show_on_why_we_need_to_break/e95mvb7/?context=3 https://np.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/9unimr/dutch_satiric...

thereddaikon 4y ago

Good thing you can pick it up and move it to other places.

adrianN 4y ago
Good thing electricity is cheap to transmit.
- MerelyMortal 4y ago
  How does one transmit electricity across an ocean?
  - adrianN 4y ago
    Undersea cables. There are plenty between Norway and Germany for example.
    - areyousure 4y ago
      In case anyone is curious, I found this interesting background reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_power_cable That said, there is only one submarine power cable connecting Norway and Germany, and it's been operational for one year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NordLink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NordLink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HVDC_Europe.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HVDC_Europe.svg
      - ncmncm 4y ago
        Lots and lots are under construction. UK just committed to a 10 GW cable from Africa, that will be expanded later.
      - jacquesm 4y ago
        This is the future and it will eventually create a global connected grid. DC allows the coupling of 60 Hz and 50 Hz grids without a problem too.