3 ms·

From the linked article, we get how much power it generates 1,114 MW (or 1.114 Gigawatts), how long it took to build that reactor (started in 2009, so 14 years)

From the linked article, we get how much power it generates 1,114 MW (or 1.114 Gigawatts), how long it took to build that reactor (started in 2009, so 14 years), and how much it cost (planned $14 billion, final $30 billion): > The new 1,114 megawatt (MW) Unit 3 reactor > Construction at the two new reactor sites began in 2009. Originally expected to cost $14 billion and begin commercial operation in 2016 (Vogtle 3) and 2017 (Vogtle 4), the project ran into significant construction delays and cost overruns. The total cost of the project is now estimated at more than $30 billion. Meanwhile: "Utility-scale solar capacity in the U.S. electric power sector increased from 61 gigawatts (GW) in 2021 to 71 GW in 2022, according to data from our Electricity Power Monthly. Wind capacity grew from 133 GW in 2021 to 141 GW in 2022."[1] So solar increased 10 Gigawatts last year and wind grew 8 Gigawatts. About 18x that one nuclear reactor we've managed to complete since 2016. In a single year. Also wind and solar is cheaper than the cost of nuclear energy now: "Nuclear energy is generally more expensive than wind and solar energy. The IEA report estimates the cost of electricity from new nuclear plants to be between $60 and $70 per MWh (megawatt-hour), while the cost of electricity from onshore wind and solar PV is estimated to be between $30 and $60 per MWh."[2] So wind and solar is faster and cheaper. The only main benefit is a nuclear plant can still keep generating power in inclement weather (which is still important, but doesn't make it cheaper or faster than wind and solar). [1]: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55960 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55960 [2]: https://medium.com/@liam.m.obrien/nuclear-vs-wind-and-solar-energy-a-comprehensive-comparison-of-costs-and-benefits-15ef13b04657 https://medium.com/@liam.m.obrien/nuclear-vs-wind-and-solar-...

avidphantasm 3y ago
> So solar increased 10 Gigawatts last year and wind grew 8 Gigawatts. About 18x that one nuclear reactor we've managed to complete since 2016. In a single year. Nuclear capacity factors are over 90% [1]. Wind is around 30%, solar around 25%, so it’s really ~5 GW (solar and wind capacity added), vs. ~1 GW nuclear fission added (and we’re not trying that hard to build more nuclear plants). [1] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/data-and-statistics.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/data-and-statist...
kevincox 3y ago
It is quite hard to compare $60-70 for year-round super stable power to $30-60 for bursty power. That being said, unless there is a huge regulatory shift it seems like nuclear won't get much cheaper and solar and wind will continue to do so, so comparing those numbers will get easier to compare as the costs spread further.
- XorNot 3y ago
  Which is all irrelevant, because neither is dispatchable: you get what you get when they're able to produce it.

avidphantasm 3y ago

> So solar increased 10 Gigawatts last year and wind grew 8 Gigawatts. About 18x that one nuclear reactor we've managed to complete since 2016. In a single year. Nuclear capacity factors are over 90% [1]. Wind is around 30%, solar around 25%, so it’s really ~5 GW (solar and wind capacity added), vs. ~1 GW nuclear fission added (and we’re not trying that hard to build more nuclear plants). [1] https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/data-and-statistics.php https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/data-and-statist...

kevincox 3y ago

It is quite hard to compare $60-70 for year-round super stable power to $30-60 for bursty power. That being said, unless there is a huge regulatory shift it seems like nuclear won't get much cheaper and solar and wind will continue to do so, so comparing those numbers will get easier to compare as the costs spread further.

XorNot 3y ago
Which is all irrelevant, because neither is dispatchable: you get what you get when they're able to produce it.