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David Roberts from Volts talked about why he thinks SRMs are overhyped last week. Here's the transcript[^0], but his main points are _(I fed the whole transcrip
by BasilPH 3y ago
David Roberts from Volts talked about why he thinks SRMs are overhyped last week. Here's the transcript[^0], but his main points are _(I fed the whole transcript to GPT-4-turbo model for this)_:
- SMRs are not yet delivering on their promised benefits and cost savings due to challenges in scaling and production.
- The SMR concept is yet to prove itself with efficient and cost-effective factory-made parts and repeatable construction practices.
- Concern exists that the enthusiasm around SMRs could lead to more unfocused subsidies for the nuclear industry without addressing the industry's deeper issues of inefficiency and historical missteps.
- SMRs are seen as one option among many for balancing renewable energy, and they should not be considered the only solution.
- Their capabilities are mostly theoretical at this stage, and there's uncertainty if they can bridge the gap between their promise and reality in terms of cost and deployment hurdles.
- SMRs might receive undue favor over other equally promising technologies for providing firm power.
In conclusion, David believes SMRs are getting more attention and investment than warranted by their current capabilities and progress, potentially detracting from other solutions that may offer better returns or efficiency for transitioning to a renewable energy grid.
[^0]: https://transcripts.volts.wtf/the-volts-catalyst-pod-crossov https://transcripts.volts.wtf/the-volts-catalyst-pod-crossov... (starts at around 26:13)
- krupan 3y agoIt feels like most of those bullet points, if not all, could be applied to any fledgling new energy source, or actually any new technology in general. I hope there's more to this analysis than just these bullet points
- SiempreViernes 3y agoThat link is just a 404 to me
- kalleboo 3y agoIt seems like it's been truncated from https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-voltscatalyst-pod-crossover-you https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-voltscatalyst-pod-crossover-you
- iso8859-1 3y agoSimilar points were raised on the Decouple podcast by James Krellenstein . https://www.decouplemedia.org/podcast/episode/3195740d/small-misunderstood-reactors https://www.decouplemedia.org/podcast/episode/3195740d/small...
- credit_guy 3y ago> David believes SMRs are getting more attention and investment than warranted by their current capabilities and progress Yes, but most of that investment is private. In this country, people are free to choose how to invest their money. A lot of people see nuclear as a promising clean energy source, and they put their money where their mouth is. Nuclear gets some government subsidies, but much less than solar and wind have received over the last few decades, and continue to receive. All the other criticisms are so unfair that it's loughable: of course SMR's did not prove themselves: none was built yet. How can that be a valid criticism? Of course their capabilities are mostly theoretical at this stage, for the reason that they are entirely theoretical. Reminder: none was built yet. Of course they have yet to deliver on their promise benefits. Why? None was built yet. By this logic we should never contemplate building anything new, because something that was not built has yet to deliver on their promised benefits, has mostly theoretical capabilities and did not prove itself yet. Duh.