Comment on Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors
Laser_Frog@sh.itjust.works 1 year agoWe know historic nuclear is expensive. Cost is the entire point of SMRs. Let’s not use reductionist logic to make a complex problem seem simple. It is complicated and whether SMRs succeed is still to be determined but there is good logic in the aims they have set out and I hope they succeed.
As for renewable, it would be wonderful if we could store energy to overcome the ebs and flows of power they currently produce, but I am not aware of any technology currently allowing this to sufficient costs and practicalities. This is where nuclear may be required
It doesn’t matter if you produce 400% the required energy in a year with renewables if we have to go without even a fraction of the time.
IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 1 year ago
If cost is the entire point of SMRs, prepare to be very disappointed.
Of course we can store energy, we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. Pumped hydro, flywheels, various battery chemistries, compressed air, molten salt, green hydrogen, and so on are all viable and should be used where appropriate. For instance pumped hydro is excellent if you have the terrain.
Laser_Frog@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
If it is that easy, show me one example where any of those technologies have been deployed at a scale required for even a day usage of an entire nation?
Truth is, its hard to do. We will get there, but not sufficiently fast for where we need, hence the continuing need for nuclear.
IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Iceland, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Norway.
We’re ahead of where you think we are, no need for nuclear.
resilience.org/…/a-100-renewable-grid-isnt-just-f….
Laser_Frog@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Not a single one is an example of what I asked.
Maybe the solution for the UK is to create mountainous rivers or move the country to techtonically active parts of the planet.
Loulou@lemmy.mindoki.com 1 year ago
Yeah we’ll just install … checks notes … Flywheels for our entire energy consumption.
That seems not only smart but cheap and safe too!! Lol