4 ms·

It is wise to not combine sarcasm and ignorance in the same sentence. That allows to avoid looking like a fool. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/e

by adev_ 3y ago

It is wise to not combine sarcasm and ignorance in the same sentence. That allows to avoid looking like a fool. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/economics-of-nuclear-power.aspx https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspec...

hef19898 3y ago
Better not use biased opinion pieces, when there numbers from government sources (US, but eho cares): LCOE (total, incl. CAPEX, in USD per MWh): coal 82.6, combined cycle 39.9, advanced nuclear 81.7, geothermal 37.6, biomass 90.1, onshore wind 40, offshore wind (that one was a surprise, since offshore wind should be quite cheap, mainly driven by capital cost of 104 USD per MWh) 105, solar 33.8, solar hybrid 49 and hydro 64. Variable cost (same as above): coal 23.7, combined cycle 27.7, adv. nuclear 10.3, geothermal 1.2, biomass 30, onshore wind 0, offshore wind 0, solar 0, solar hybrid 0, hydro 4.1 All number from here: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/electricity_generation.pdf https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/electricity_generation...., page 9.
- natmaka 3y ago
  The main challenge is peak uranium, as "The amount of uranium present in all currently known conventional reserves alone ((...)) is enough to last over 200 years at current consumption rates." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_nuclear_power_plants#Fuel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_nuclear_power_pla... therefore a real nuclear 'renaissance' implies a dangerous bet (on new uranium reserves, industrializing breeder reactors, or GenIV...) Nuclear power: about 10% of global electricity generation ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Production https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Production ) which is about 22% of final energy ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_supply_and_consumption#Final_consumption https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_supply_and_consum... ). Therefore the nuclear fleet (~440 reactors) now provides a meek ~2.2 of final energy. To reach about 11% implies building 2200 reactors (good luck with this), and would only let known uranium reserves provide each reactor for ~40 years, with few hopes towards the discovery of new reserves ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38288706 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38288706 ). In such a context uranium will become more and more rare, and therefore more and more expensive... and strategic (keyword: 'embargo').

by adev_ 3y ago

hef19898 3y ago

Better not use biased opinion pieces, when there numbers from government sources (US, but eho cares): LCOE (total, incl. CAPEX, in USD per MWh): coal 82.6, combined cycle 39.9, advanced nuclear 81.7, geothermal 37.6, biomass 90.1, onshore wind 40, offshore wind (that one was a surprise, since offshore wind should be quite cheap, mainly driven by capital cost of 104 USD per MWh) 105, solar 33.8, solar hybrid 49 and hydro 64. Variable cost (same as above): coal 23.7, combined cycle 27.7, adv. nuclear 10.3, geothermal 1.2, biomass 30, onshore wind 0, offshore wind 0, solar 0, solar hybrid 0, hydro 4.1 All number from here: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/electricity_generation.pdf https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/pdf/electricity_generation...., page 9.

natmaka 3y ago
The main challenge is peak uranium, as "The amount of uranium present in all currently known conventional reserves alone ((...)) is enough to last over 200 years at current consumption rates." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_nuclear_power_plants#Fuel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics_of_nuclear_power_pla... therefore a real nuclear 'renaissance' implies a dangerous bet (on new uranium reserves, industrializing breeder reactors, or GenIV...) Nuclear power: about 10% of global electricity generation ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Production https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power#Production ) which is about 22% of final energy ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_supply_and_consumption#Final_consumption https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_energy_supply_and_consum... ). Therefore the nuclear fleet (~440 reactors) now provides a meek ~2.2 of final energy. To reach about 11% implies building 2200 reactors (good luck with this), and would only let known uranium reserves provide each reactor for ~40 years, with few hopes towards the discovery of new reserves ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38288706 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38288706 ). In such a context uranium will become more and more rare, and therefore more and more expensive... and strategic (keyword: 'embargo').