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Nuclear is costly _now_*. It wasn't getting built, for years. There is so much energy to be had from that, and cost learning curves can come down. France's ("sm
by mcint 3y ago
Nuclear is costly _now_*. It wasn't getting built, for years. There is so much energy to be had from that, and cost learning curves can come down. France's ("small") modular reactors, SMR, they even aim to sell internationally, in their 2030 plan, are a model. To China no less.
China also builds nuclear reactors, and we can't fall behind them. I cannot abide an SMR gap.
- grecy 3y ago> China also builds nuclear reactors, and we can't fall behind them I, uh, have some uncomfortable news for you. China are currently building 22 nuclear reactors [1] China installed 230GW of solar and wind in 2023 [2] China has over 40,000kms of High Speed Rail, and continues to expand [3] By any measure, you're falling way behind them. [1] https://www.economist.com/china/2023/11/30/china-is-building-nuclear-reactors-faster-than-any-other-country https://www.economist.com/china/2023/11/30/china-is-building... [2] https://www.asiafinancial.com/china-seen-installing-230-gw-of-solar-wind-power-in-2023-pv https://www.asiafinancial.com/china-seen-installing-230-gw-o... [3] https://www.statista.com/topics/7534/high-speed-rail-in-china/#topicOverview https://www.statista.com/topics/7534/high-speed-rail-in-chin...
- neither_color 3y agoLast I checked they're also outcompeting everyone in new coal plants https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160441919/china-is-building-six-times-more-new-coal-plants-than-other-countries-report-fin https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160441919/china-is-building-...
- grecy 3y agoIf I'm up against you in a beer drinking contest and I drink more beer AND more whisky than you... I still win the beer drinking contest.
- fastball 3y agoComplete non-sequitur. OP said "China is building nuclear", not "China is building more nuclear than wind/solar".
- ViewTrick1002 3y agoTheir capacity factors are getting ever lower and at the same time they added more renewables than the growth for the electricity grid. In other words, their CO2 emissions are set for structural decline simply by the amount of renewables being built. China is way ahead of the west. https://theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/13/chinas-carbon-emissions-set-for-structural-decline-from-next-year https://theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/13/chinas-carbon-e...
- doikor 3y agoSome parts of the west already did that years ago in electricity production. For example carbon free electricity production shares in France (88%), Sweden (98%), Finland (90%), etc. Though there is still a lot of work to do to go fully CO2 neutral due to cars, trucks, ships, planes, fertiliser production, etc.
- neither_color 3y agoMy concern is that, since it's harmful to the planet and they're on track to be the largest economy, their absolute coal output is more relevant to the rest of the world than what percentage of its respective GDP it is. I don't necessarily blame them since their main priority is their own growth, but we're relying on their good will in 2030 without any way to enforce reduction if they change their mind.
- mpweiher 3y ago> 230GW of solar and wind in 2023 Nameplate capacity. For actual average output, divide by 6. And it doesn't even deliver that 1/6th consistently, so you unless you want blackouts you also need an alternative that delivers power reliably.
- grecy 3y agoWhat I mean is China are installing vastly more solar than any other country. i.e the person I'm replying to is falling behind, which they didn't want to.