4 ms·
> The capex per watt of gas backup is vastly lower than a nuclear plant. Like, by a factor of 10 to 20. https://www.iea.org/reports/projected-costs-of-generati
by chickenbig 2y ago
> The capex per watt of gas backup is vastly lower than a nuclear plant. Like, by a factor of 10 to 20.
https://www.iea.org/reports/projected-costs-of-generating-electricity-2020 https://www.iea.org/reports/projected-costs-of-generating-el... tables Table 3.2a and 3.4a show that Korean CCGT cost 838 USD/kWe and Korean PWRs were 2157 USD/kWhe (all 2018 prices).
Anyhow, gas backup fuel costs (and carbon taxes) are where the real big costs are.
- pfdietz 2y agoThe Korean nuclear numbers are unbelievable. They certainly didn't come anywhere close to that in UAE (more like $6/W, and possibly more if the concurrent military deal was being used as a slush fund to hide overruns.)
- chickenbig 2y ago> the concurrent military deal was being used as a slush fund Citation? > The Korean nuclear numbers are unbelievable See https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-awarded-for-construction-of-Shin-Hanul-3 https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-awarded-for... and https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-for-Shin-Hanul-3-and-4-major-components-s https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-for-Shin-Ha... for construction deals relating to their latest reactors in South Korea.
- pfdietz 2y ago> Citation? There's no hard evidence, but the presence of the side deal does raise suspicions. S. Korea's nuclear industry has been notably corrupt, with many years of prison sentences being handed out.
- chickenbig 2y agoI believe there was a defense pact to sweeten the deal, but that seems like relationship building on top of a very competitive bid for nuclear power stations. https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/risky-business-south-koreas-secret-military-deal-with-uae/ https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/risky-business-south-koreas-...