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And how exactly would adding more of the most expensive way to generate power help reduce costs? See: https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2024/may/

And how exactly would adding more of the most expensive way to generate power help reduce costs? See: https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2024/may/24/nuclear-power-australia-liberal-coalition-peter-dutton-cost https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2024/may/24/...

swayvil 2y ago
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logicchains 2y ago
Empirically it doesn't seem that way given countries with nuclear power have cheaper electricity than those without. It's especially illustrative to compare power costs in France and Germany before and after Germany closed all its nuclear plants.
RobotToaster 2y ago
It's only expensive because we build so few, so have to start the design from scratch each time. If you look at China they design one nuke station and just copy and paste it to reduce costs, since parts can be mass produced.
skippyboxedhero 2y ago
It isn't more expensive than what the UK has. The reason we are in this position is because we looked at building nuclear in the mid-2010s, the cost would have been about half current prices, we didn't build because they were too expensive. Nothing has been more costly than not investing in capacity.
chickenbig 2y ago
> And how exactly would adding more of the most expensive way to generate power help reduce costs? Yes, the Australian GenCost report is about generation costs (no mention of transmission or storage in that graphic, for instance). The https://www.electricitybills.uk https://www.electricitybills.uk breakdown shows that the cost to the consumer consists of far more than just the cost of generating electricity. Intermittents generally connect to the distribution network (given their smaller output). Intermittents necessitate transmission upgrades because wind farms are in a different location to people and require overbuilding of capacity. Intermittents require more balancing because a passing cloud or lull in the wind affects their output. Intermittents require capacity payments for the backup (methane) generators that have to keep on standby. Plus let us not forget that the intermittent generators get revenue from RO, CfD, and FIT.

swayvil 2y ago

[flagged]

logicchains 2y ago

Empirically it doesn't seem that way given countries with nuclear power have cheaper electricity than those without. It's especially illustrative to compare power costs in France and Germany before and after Germany closed all its nuclear plants.

RobotToaster 2y ago

It's only expensive because we build so few, so have to start the design from scratch each time. If you look at China they design one nuke station and just copy and paste it to reduce costs, since parts can be mass produced.

skippyboxedhero 2y ago

It isn't more expensive than what the UK has. The reason we are in this position is because we looked at building nuclear in the mid-2010s, the cost would have been about half current prices, we didn't build because they were too expensive. Nothing has been more costly than not investing in capacity.

chickenbig 2y ago

> And how exactly would adding more of the most expensive way to generate power help reduce costs? Yes, the Australian GenCost report is about generation costs (no mention of transmission or storage in that graphic, for instance). The https://www.electricitybills.uk https://www.electricitybills.uk breakdown shows that the cost to the consumer consists of far more than just the cost of generating electricity. Intermittents generally connect to the distribution network (given their smaller output). Intermittents necessitate transmission upgrades because wind farms are in a different location to people and require overbuilding of capacity. Intermittents require more balancing because a passing cloud or lull in the wind affects their output. Intermittents require capacity payments for the backup (methane) generators that have to keep on standby. Plus let us not forget that the intermittent generators get revenue from RO, CfD, and FIT.