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Last numbers I looked at had nuclear much more profitable than solar, especially during winter, hence why China is currently installing 20 new reactors, with a
by raspberry1337 4y ago
Last numbers I looked at had nuclear much more profitable than solar, especially during winter, hence why China is currently installing 20 new reactors, with a goal for much more in the future.
- Retric 4y agoChina has been adding VASTLY more solar than nuclear. 20 new reactors is only something like 5GW/year because of how long it takes to build nuclear.
- robertlagrant 4y agoSure, but why do you think they'd adding both? Solar for intermittent, and nuclear for base.
- Retric 4y agoFinite manufacturing capacity is a factor. 5GW / year @ 90% capacity factor ~= 3 million 200W panels @ 30% capacity factor + 40-60GWh of batteries. It’s not completely equivalent, but they both need roughly the same amount of peaking power plants to make up the difference. Plus Solar’s costs are front loaded, with China’s rapidly growing economy they can ignore decommissioning or even long term operating costs as largely irrelevant.