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Risk isn't only measured in physical danger, but also financial risk. Which is exactly why for-profit energy companies aren't investing in nuclear. It's economi

Risk isn't only measured in physical danger, but also financial risk. Which is exactly why for-profit energy companies aren't investing in nuclear. It's economically the worst possible approach when your concern is profit.

kulahan 4y ago
Well no, it's because the upstart cost is insane. I could build a bunch of wind turbines for a few million, or drop BILLIONS into an already-existing reactor design, or even more money into getting a new design approved. If SMRs were more of a thing, a town could build their own power plant for a few million bucks, removing the natural monopoly that exists.
- mdp2021 4y ago
  What about microreactors? > The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requests a pilot program to construct a microreactor for energy resilience by 2027. Also, the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office is seeking proposals for a mobile microreactor demonstration > A recent report ... estimates the cost to generate electricity from the first microreactor will be between $0.14/kWh and $0.41/kWh. [...] Future costs are estimated to decrease to between $0.09/kWh and $0.33/kWh. Costs are expected to decrease after demonstration, licensing and initial deployment and will depend on the location and type of owner, whether private or public https://inl.gov/trending-topic/microreactors/frequently-asked-questions-microreactors/ https://inl.gov/trending-topic/microreactors/frequently-aske...
- 7952 4y ago
  You are talking about an amount of money that exceeds the easily available resources of the developer. That is true of nuclear but it is also completely normal in renewables. Projects if all types need financing. That could be a $200k anaerobic digester on a farm or a $7b offshore wind farm. But at every level the investor or bank will need to do due diligence and understand the risk. Different types of project require different levels of expertise to do that. A battery storage site is relatively simple and within the scope of smaller investors. An offshore wind farm might need large banks and energy companies. A nuclear power plant is in a completely different league in terms of expertise required. A bank will find it difficult to even understand the risk.

kulahan 4y ago

Well no, it's because the upstart cost is insane. I could build a bunch of wind turbines for a few million, or drop BILLIONS into an already-existing reactor design, or even more money into getting a new design approved. If SMRs were more of a thing, a town could build their own power plant for a few million bucks, removing the natural monopoly that exists.

mdp2021 4y ago
What about microreactors? > The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requests a pilot program to construct a microreactor for energy resilience by 2027. Also, the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office is seeking proposals for a mobile microreactor demonstration > A recent report ... estimates the cost to generate electricity from the first microreactor will be between $0.14/kWh and $0.41/kWh. [...] Future costs are estimated to decrease to between $0.09/kWh and $0.33/kWh. Costs are expected to decrease after demonstration, licensing and initial deployment and will depend on the location and type of owner, whether private or public https://inl.gov/trending-topic/microreactors/frequently-asked-questions-microreactors/ https://inl.gov/trending-topic/microreactors/frequently-aske...
7952 4y ago
You are talking about an amount of money that exceeds the easily available resources of the developer. That is true of nuclear but it is also completely normal in renewables. Projects if all types need financing. That could be a $200k anaerobic digester on a farm or a $7b offshore wind farm. But at every level the investor or bank will need to do due diligence and understand the risk. Different types of project require different levels of expertise to do that. A battery storage site is relatively simple and within the scope of smaller investors. An offshore wind farm might need large banks and energy companies. A nuclear power plant is in a completely different league in terms of expertise required. A bank will find it difficult to even understand the risk.