Thread

1. jacquesm · 1790188361 · focus · HN ↗

   I've seen quite a few SMR proposals over the last couple of years and not a single one that dared to address the whole cycle from deployment to eventual decommission as a function of the total revenues - costs to operate. Most of these projects seem to be made to bilk investors or governments rather than to actually produce power. The day Italy produces the first KWh that is net profitable to the operators without counting subsidies I will be highly amazed, and that's assuming they get to operational in the first place.

   1. asmodeuslucifer · 1790189256 · focus · HN ↗

      I agree, I tell everyone who will listen that no country, not Russia, China, Japan, France, USA etc has ever made nuclear power profitable. And you can't blame it on the environmentalists in China and Russia.

      That being said, many countries consider it a national security issue not to be held hostage to foreign oil.

      1. Hammershaft · 1790193532 · focus · HN ↗

         That... doesn't seem true?

         <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;m.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=cbeJIwF1pVY" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;m.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=cbeJIwF1pVY

         Here&#x27;s an Illinois professor going through the economics compared to a gas plant.

         Nuclear power can become dramatically cheaper than other energy sources in the long run.

         1. looofooo0 · 1790194016 · focus · HN ↗

            Yes, thank you. Eroi ist the only thing which matters from a hard physics stand point.

            1. rgmerk · 1790197381 · focus · HN ↗

               That’s just not true.

               An energy source with an EROI of 20 but which requires thousands of highly skilled people to tend it is going to lose to an energy source with an EROI of 15 that sits in a field and just works for 30 years.

               1. micromacrofoot · 1790199917 · focus · HN ↗

                  30 years is generally the guarantee for some minimum output so it&#x27;s the floor too... could still be outputting 60-70% of original spec for 50 years

                  1. looofooo0 · 1790237839 · focus · HN ↗

                     Sure but all the residual stuff needs als be considered.

                     1. micromacrofoot · 1790254338 · focus · HN ↗

                        as with every system, yes

                        1. looofooo0 · 1790261439 · focus · HN ↗

                           Yes but with RE it is the major cost, because they are not firm energy.

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