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A huge benefit of nuclear is the ability to generate a lot of base power to smooth out various external shocks. In addition to the fact that Germany is running
by ptero 4y ago
A huge benefit of nuclear is the ability to generate a lot of base power to smooth out various external shocks.
In addition to the fact that Germany is running on coal, as others noted, German industry has been badly decimated by the energy price hikes since the war in Ukraine started.
And Germany without industry may not be particularly viable economically, which is not only a local problem, but hits the whole EU.
- braza 4y agoSome companies are struggling to compete with higher energy costs [1]. Not a good sign. [1] - https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2023/02/24/10858299/basf-to-close-several-major-assets-at-ludwigshafen-on-high-production-costs/ https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2023/02/24/10858...
- pfdietz 4y agoBase power like nuclear must generate nearly constantly (or else the economics becomes much worse), so it can't smooth out shocks. There's no excess capacity that can be added when needed.
- ptero 4y agoBy "external shocks" I did not mean daily or weekly fluctuations, but price jumps lasting many months to several years. Like oil price spikes 2006-2008, or less extreme but longer 2010-2014. Or shorter, but more extreme natgas spikes of 2022. Without local hydrocarbons or nuclear oil or gas price spikes drive industry out of the country. This is what happened in Germany, which apparently is doubling down on this strategy. With base nuclear power the state has a lot of flexibility to support industry in case geopolitics or neighbors' bad macro policies jack oil and gas prices up.
- pfdietz 3y agoNuclear is useless for dealing with shocks that are shorter than the time needed to build a nucleat plant.