Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors::A Bill Gates-backed clean energy player is hoping to build dozens of nuclear reactors in the UK and will compete with global rivals.

  • Laser_Frog@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    The technology of modern reactors ,like the one in the article, is a greater advancement from early reactors that the 1900th century electric car to a modern one.

    The materials, manufacturing techniques, fuels, controls, and components are only achievable due to modern advancements.

    The latest reactors will be cheaper, more efficient, and safer. They are a necessary stopgap to overcome the transient nature of renewable energy in the UK and an important piece in ensuring energy availability and detachment from from fossil fuels.

    • IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Oh come on. Cheaper? Nuclear reactors frequently go way over budget and take longer than promised to build.

      We don’t need nuclear as a stopgap, in fact, it’s not helpful to have base load at all with renewables - nuclear has to run at as close to 100% uptime as possible to make any financial sense. What do you do on windy, sunny days when renewables are generating more power than is required? You can’t switch off a nuclear plant very quickly.

      Nuclear makes no sense any more. We need to save the cash and invest in more renewables and storage, and an upgraded power grid.

      • Laser_Frog@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        We 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.