3 ms·

> Critics of solar (ie pro-nuclear people) Please don't assume that everyone who is pro-nuclear is anti-solar. Let's have nuclear, solar, wind, hydro, geotherm

> Critics of solar (ie pro-nuclear people) Please don't assume that everyone who is pro-nuclear is anti-solar. Let's have nuclear, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tide-based, and anything else that works as a viable power source with no pollution. Let's have all of those technologies compete fairly over what is the most efficient and most capable of handling the load.

rayiner 2y ago
To add some numbers to that: peak winter heating load in my house is about double the peak summer cooling load. And I'm in Maryland--not a cold climate at all.
trescenzi 2y ago
Totally agree. The solution is “yes and”. It’ always a bit sad to see people with good intensions arguing over whose intentions are more pure. I appreciate the frustration of pro nuclear people, because for so long they were see as even worse than fossil fuels, but we’ve gotta move past that and work together to get the most effective set of things built asap.
jmyeet 2y ago
> Please don't assume that everyone who is pro-nuclear is anti-solar It's more that there is a rabid pro-nuclear segment who will try and silence anything less than unfettered praise for nuclear. Anecdotally, I can simply mention the bojective fact that the clean up for Fukushima will likely approach or even exceed $1 trillion [1] and I know what reaction I'll get. The same goes for pointing out the very real problem of neutron energy loss from fusion (let alone the resulting destruction of the containment vessel) to the point where I'm not convinced fusion will ever be commercially viable and you get the same reaction. So I can't speak to you personally but as a whole the nuclear fanboys, even on HN, absolutely do not tolerate even mild factual criticism or objective facts that paint nuclear in anything less than a glowing light (pun intended). [1]:https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Fukushima-Anniversary/Fukushima-cleanup-costs-swell-with-no-end-in-sight https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Fukushima-Anniversary/Fuku...
- EasyMark 2y ago
  I’ve generally just asked someone to show me an analysis where wind/solar can handle something like a cold snap or time when wind basically doesn’t happen for days on end? Just go without power?There are currently so grid scale batteries that can go days without “good” conditions where your solar/wind are only performing at 20% rather than 60-70% ? If wind/solar is 80% of your mix you’re gonna have a bad time. Do you keep the old fossil fuel plants around “just in case”?who is going to pay for that?
energy123 2y ago
You have to customise the mix depending on the local factors. North Africa should not go nuclear. No existing industry, very sunny, low seasonality, etc. Germany probably should have nuclear as part of the mix. Not as sunny, existing skilled industry.
EasyMark 2y ago
I’ve been pro nuclear since the 90s but no one listens to me :)
glimshe 2y ago
Pro-nuclear people tend to be pro-solar. But pro-solar people are rarely pro-nuclear...

rayiner 2y ago

To add some numbers to that: peak winter heating load in my house is about double the peak summer cooling load. And I'm in Maryland--not a cold climate at all.

trescenzi 2y ago

Totally agree. The solution is “yes and”. It’ always a bit sad to see people with good intensions arguing over whose intentions are more pure. I appreciate the frustration of pro nuclear people, because for so long they were see as even worse than fossil fuels, but we’ve gotta move past that and work together to get the most effective set of things built asap.

jmyeet 2y ago

> Please don't assume that everyone who is pro-nuclear is anti-solar It's more that there is a rabid pro-nuclear segment who will try and silence anything less than unfettered praise for nuclear. Anecdotally, I can simply mention the bojective fact that the clean up for Fukushima will likely approach or even exceed $1 trillion [1] and I know what reaction I'll get. The same goes for pointing out the very real problem of neutron energy loss from fusion (let alone the resulting destruction of the containment vessel) to the point where I'm not convinced fusion will ever be commercially viable and you get the same reaction. So I can't speak to you personally but as a whole the nuclear fanboys, even on HN, absolutely do not tolerate even mild factual criticism or objective facts that paint nuclear in anything less than a glowing light (pun intended). [1]:https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Fukushima-Anniversary/Fukushima-cleanup-costs-swell-with-no-end-in-sight https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Fukushima-Anniversary/Fuku...

EasyMark 2y ago
I’ve generally just asked someone to show me an analysis where wind/solar can handle something like a cold snap or time when wind basically doesn’t happen for days on end? Just go without power?There are currently so grid scale batteries that can go days without “good” conditions where your solar/wind are only performing at 20% rather than 60-70% ? If wind/solar is 80% of your mix you’re gonna have a bad time. Do you keep the old fossil fuel plants around “just in case”?who is going to pay for that?

energy123 2y ago

You have to customise the mix depending on the local factors. North Africa should not go nuclear. No existing industry, very sunny, low seasonality, etc. Germany probably should have nuclear as part of the mix. Not as sunny, existing skilled industry.

EasyMark 2y ago

I’ve been pro nuclear since the 90s but no one listens to me :)

glimshe 2y ago

Pro-nuclear people tend to be pro-solar. But pro-solar people are rarely pro-nuclear...