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Cost estimates for novel nuclear designs have a track record of being all but worthless. I wish I could dismiss your pessimism but the flip side of the economic

Cost estimates for novel nuclear designs have a track record of being all but worthless. I wish I could dismiss your pessimism but the flip side of the economics, that’s a large part of what makes this so difficult, is that if they do succeed and make SMRs a real thing the cost could go down dramatically.

coder543 4y ago
This was also an interesting and relevant analysis if you want to read more on the subject: https://cleantechnica.com/2023/01/18/the-nuclear-fallacy-why-small-modular-reactors-cant-compete-with-renewable-energy/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/01/18/the-nuclear-fallacy-why... Like I said, I do hope that SMRs succeed, and I want them to succeed cost effectively, not just by subsidization.
garbagecoder 4y ago
There's a lot of pressure on the industry to emphasize that the designs are "new" and not like ones that failed. Innovation is good, I think, but the reason nuclear is even in the conversation now is because it already has been done, mostly safely, and could be scaled with existing tech. This makes it a decent player for a transition energy source. High cost shoot-the-moon future designs hopefully will never be necessary. I say this as an absolutely fervently pro-nuclear person. Comparing France and Germany is really all the information you need for this kind of case. But I don't understand this push for small reactors outside of niche military applications etc.
- pfdietz 4y ago
  Small reactors are being pushed because new big reactors in the US are stone cold dead. This is why I call them HMRs, "Hail Mary Reactors". They're nuclear's last desperate chance in the US.
  - moloch-hai 4y ago
    Without their big constituency in the USDoE mandarinate, SMRs would be equally dead. DoE grants overwhelmingly favor thermal energy sources and storage, probably just because thermal conversion is what they are trained in.
  - garbagecoder 4y ago
    I think you’re maybe wishcasting. The state and federal governments are spending billions to keep Diablo Canyon open after a rush of blood to the head thinking they could close it.
    - pfdietz 4y ago
      I meant of new nuclear construction. Keeping existing plants open is something different.

coder543 4y ago

This was also an interesting and relevant analysis if you want to read more on the subject: https://cleantechnica.com/2023/01/18/the-nuclear-fallacy-why-small-modular-reactors-cant-compete-with-renewable-energy/ https://cleantechnica.com/2023/01/18/the-nuclear-fallacy-why... Like I said, I do hope that SMRs succeed, and I want them to succeed cost effectively, not just by subsidization.

garbagecoder 4y ago

There's a lot of pressure on the industry to emphasize that the designs are "new" and not like ones that failed. Innovation is good, I think, but the reason nuclear is even in the conversation now is because it already has been done, mostly safely, and could be scaled with existing tech. This makes it a decent player for a transition energy source. High cost shoot-the-moon future designs hopefully will never be necessary. I say this as an absolutely fervently pro-nuclear person. Comparing France and Germany is really all the information you need for this kind of case. But I don't understand this push for small reactors outside of niche military applications etc.

pfdietz 4y ago
Small reactors are being pushed because new big reactors in the US are stone cold dead. This is why I call them HMRs, "Hail Mary Reactors". They're nuclear's last desperate chance in the US.
- moloch-hai 4y ago
  Without their big constituency in the USDoE mandarinate, SMRs would be equally dead. DoE grants overwhelmingly favor thermal energy sources and storage, probably just because thermal conversion is what they are trained in.
- garbagecoder 4y ago
  I think you’re maybe wishcasting. The state and federal governments are spending billions to keep Diablo Canyon open after a rush of blood to the head thinking they could close it.
  - pfdietz 4y ago
    I meant of new nuclear construction. Keeping existing plants open is something different.