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“Better than coal” is a weak argument. Coal hasn’t been in the “game” for decades. The problem for nuclear isn’t anything irrational - it’s economics and opera

by derriz 5mo ago

“Better than coal” is a weak argument. Coal hasn’t been in the “game” for decades. The problem for nuclear isn’t anything irrational - it’s economics and operational and deployment flexibility - newer tech like solar PV, gas turbines, batteries and wind have created a new Pareto frontier for electricity generation and nuclear just isn’t anywhere near this frontier for any objective.

thrownthatway 5mo ago
> Coal hasn’t been in the “game” for decades. What are talking about? * China's installed coal-based power generation capacity was 1080 GW in 2021, about half the total installed capacity of power stations in China.* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_power_in_China https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_power_in_China India is the fifth-largest geological coal reserves globally and as the second-largest consumer, coal continues to be an indispensable energy source, contributing to 55% of the national energy mix. Over the past decade, thermal power, predominantly fueled by coal, has consistently accounted for more than 74% of our total power generation. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/feb/doc2025210497701.pdf https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documen...
- derriz 5mo ago
  The last new coal power plant to come on-line in the US was in 2013 at Sandy Creek - 13 years ago. The last new coal power station built in Australia - Bluewaters Power station was built in 2009 - 17 years ago. In Europe coal's share has dropped from over 40% of generation at its peak in 2007 - about 20 years ago - and has declined to about 9%. Coal's days are over - natural gas is cheaper and more flexible, while solar PV and wind are cheaper. There is of course a large installed base - a coal plant will last 50 years. The fact that developing countries have large installed coal capacity is neither here nor there.

by derriz 5mo ago

thrownthatway 5mo ago

> Coal hasn’t been in the “game” for decades. What are talking about? * China's installed coal-based power generation capacity was 1080 GW in 2021, about half the total installed capacity of power stations in China.* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_power_in_China https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_power_in_China India is the fifth-largest geological coal reserves globally and as the second-largest consumer, coal continues to be an indispensable energy source, contributing to 55% of the national energy mix. Over the past decade, thermal power, predominantly fueled by coal, has consistently accounted for more than 74% of our total power generation. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/feb/doc2025210497701.pdf https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documen...

derriz 5mo ago
The last new coal power plant to come on-line in the US was in 2013 at Sandy Creek - 13 years ago. The last new coal power station built in Australia - Bluewaters Power station was built in 2009 - 17 years ago. In Europe coal's share has dropped from over 40% of generation at its peak in 2007 - about 20 years ago - and has declined to about 9%. Coal's days are over - natural gas is cheaper and more flexible, while solar PV and wind are cheaper. There is of course a large installed base - a coal plant will last 50 years. The fact that developing countries have large installed coal capacity is neither here nor there.