4 ms·

The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent 3 GW 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 34 weeks a year. or 3 GW 16 hours a day, 7 days a

The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent 3 GW 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 34 weeks a year. or 3 GW 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

defrost 2y ago
Interesting, thank you for that. Do you have a source for that and any context (eg: "not power" time being used for "experiments" related to UK military nuclear uses, etc)?
- blitzar 2y ago
  No context sorry - there are enough experimental reactors in the UK for experimentation without interruption the commercial fleet. What would be interesting is expected vs unexpected downtime, some sort of reliability factor. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c9a5d37ed915d07b20fa2ba/Nuclear_electricity_in_the_UK.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c9a5d37ed915...
  - defrost 2y ago
    No drama, good link, thank you. It appears approx ballpark with Europe reactors and as if they're designed with a 70% of max load operating target to allow for downtime inspections and statutory fettling, etc.
    - chickenbig 2y ago
      To be fair the European average (depending on which average that is) is skewed by France where the reactors load-follow.
chickenbig 2y ago
IAEA's PRIS database is good for reactor information. For instance https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=263 https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.... shows Sizewell B has a load factor of 83.1% which is better than the AGR fleet.
- blitzar 2y ago
  That is an excellent link thanks. Really sad reminder of how many sites were opened and how many reactors built in the 60's & 70's and how little has been done since (except for power down reactors).
  - chickenbig 2y ago
    It is possible for reactors to come back from shut-down. See Palisades and TMI 1. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/palisades-on-schedule-for-repowering-nrc-considers-restart-regulations https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/palisades-on-sch... https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/constellation-to-restart-three-mile-island-unit-powering-microsoft https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/constellation-to... And China seems to be taking all forms of energy security seriously (intermittents as well as nuclear, combined with EVs).

The UK’s average nuclear load factor for 1970 to 2017 was 67.4 per cent 3 GW 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 34 weeks a year. or 3 GW 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

defrost 2y ago

Interesting, thank you for that. Do you have a source for that and any context (eg: "not power" time being used for "experiments" related to UK military nuclear uses, etc)?

blitzar 2y ago
No context sorry - there are enough experimental reactors in the UK for experimentation without interruption the commercial fleet. What would be interesting is expected vs unexpected downtime, some sort of reliability factor. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c9a5d37ed915d07b20fa2ba/Nuclear_electricity_in_the_UK.pdf https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c9a5d37ed915...
- defrost 2y ago
  No drama, good link, thank you. It appears approx ballpark with Europe reactors and as if they're designed with a 70% of max load operating target to allow for downtime inspections and statutory fettling, etc.
  - chickenbig 2y ago
    To be fair the European average (depending on which average that is) is skewed by France where the reactors load-follow.

chickenbig 2y ago

IAEA's PRIS database is good for reactor information. For instance https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.aspx?current=263 https://pris.iaea.org/PRIS/CountryStatistics/ReactorDetails.... shows Sizewell B has a load factor of 83.1% which is better than the AGR fleet.

blitzar 2y ago
That is an excellent link thanks. Really sad reminder of how many sites were opened and how many reactors built in the 60's & 70's and how little has been done since (except for power down reactors).
- chickenbig 2y ago
  It is possible for reactors to come back from shut-down. See Palisades and TMI 1. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/palisades-on-schedule-for-repowering-nrc-considers-restart-regulations https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/palisades-on-sch... https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/constellation-to-restart-three-mile-island-unit-powering-microsoft https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/constellation-to... And China seems to be taking all forms of energy security seriously (intermittents as well as nuclear, combined with EVs).