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The claim is that a significant portion of the expense is due to poorly crafted and outdated regulations. With regulatory reform, nuke power would be more econ

The claim is that a significant portion of the expense is due to poorly crafted and outdated regulations. With regulatory reform, nuke power would be more economically reasonable.

znkr 2y ago
What could possibly go wrong…
- kgabis 2y ago
  Apparently not much.
fundatus 2y ago
One of the biggest issues with nuclear that doesn't go away with less regulation is that running it at 100% load costs you essentially the same as running it at 10% load (since fuel cost is negligible but labor and other costs stay the same). At the same time the price of electricity on the wholesale market changes every 5, 15 or 30 minutes (depending on where you're trading) though. So you're forced to produce and sell for any price. This is extremely problematic in a time where you're competing with more and more energy sources that have a cost of production that is literally 0 and which can be turned on and off at will.
- Herz 2y ago
  Many issues surrounding nuclear power are tied to regulatory hurdles and insufficient construction, resulting in numerous inefficiencies. Streamlining regulatory processes and encouraging investment is crucial for establishing a competitive, clean energy source. Complaining about these aspects without taking action only hinders decarbonization efforts. Research, development, and investment should be directed toward any technology, including experimental ones, that facilitates decarbonization. Inaction leads nowhere. https://www.construction-physics.com/p/why-are-nuclear-power-construction https://www.construction-physics.com/p/why-are-nuclear-power... Regarding the staffing needs for operating a nuclear power plant, it requires a minimum of 0.7 people per MW for large-scale, multi-reactor facilities. While this is indeed more than solar, it is not a significant issue. For instance, France boasts some of the lowest electricity bills in Europe, and nuclear technology remains competitive today (no storage, more reliable, and competitive LCOE prices). Moreover, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being developed to significantly reduce staffing requirements, needing minimal to no maintenance. https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1193_prn.pdf https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1193_prn.p...

The claim is that a significant portion of the expense is due to poorly crafted and outdated regulations. With regulatory reform, nuke power would be more economically reasonable.

znkr 2y ago

What could possibly go wrong…

kgabis 2y ago
Apparently not much.

fundatus 2y ago

One of the biggest issues with nuclear that doesn't go away with less regulation is that running it at 100% load costs you essentially the same as running it at 10% load (since fuel cost is negligible but labor and other costs stay the same). At the same time the price of electricity on the wholesale market changes every 5, 15 or 30 minutes (depending on where you're trading) though. So you're forced to produce and sell for any price. This is extremely problematic in a time where you're competing with more and more energy sources that have a cost of production that is literally 0 and which can be turned on and off at will.

Herz 2y ago
Many issues surrounding nuclear power are tied to regulatory hurdles and insufficient construction, resulting in numerous inefficiencies. Streamlining regulatory processes and encouraging investment is crucial for establishing a competitive, clean energy source. Complaining about these aspects without taking action only hinders decarbonization efforts. Research, development, and investment should be directed toward any technology, including experimental ones, that facilitates decarbonization. Inaction leads nowhere. https://www.construction-physics.com/p/why-are-nuclear-power-construction https://www.construction-physics.com/p/why-are-nuclear-power... Regarding the staffing needs for operating a nuclear power plant, it requires a minimum of 0.7 people per MW for large-scale, multi-reactor facilities. While this is indeed more than solar, it is not a significant issue. For instance, France boasts some of the lowest electricity bills in Europe, and nuclear technology remains competitive today (no storage, more reliable, and competitive LCOE prices). Moreover, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being developed to significantly reduce staffing requirements, needing minimal to no maintenance. https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1193_prn.pdf https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1193_prn.p...