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NRC issues first U.S. construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor

151 points · 191 comments · papa-whisky

  1. PowerElectronix · · focus · HN ↗
    What a waste of money, manpower and space.
    1. nsxwolf · · focus · HN ↗
      Why do you say so?
      1. allears · · focus · HN ↗
        Here's a quote from everybody's favorite AI:

        The most useful comparison: cost per MWh

        Rather than comparing construction bills directly, levelized cost of energy (LCOE) incorporates construction, financing, operating expenses, fuel, and the amount of electricity produced.

        Lazard's 2026 estimates are approximately:

            Utility solar: $40–$88/MWh
        
            Utility solar + storage: $61–$105/MWh
        
            Nuclear: $141–$276/MWh
        
        These are unsubsidized estimates and represent a range of project assumptions rather than guaranteed costs. Lazard specifically notes that its nuclear estimate is based on the publicly available costs of Vogtle 3 and 4, while its solar-plus-storage figure incorporates both generation and storage.
        1. killerstorm · · focus · HN ↗
          There's not much sun in the northern areas in winter. Storage might cover 12 hours worth of usage, not 6 months of usage, including all the heating.
          1. PowerElectronix · · focus · HN ↗
            The northern areas are closer to the equator than half of europe, where sun power seems to do just fine all year round.
            1. killerstorm · · focus · HN ↗
              ?

              Are you confusing "uses solar power" with "could rely solely on solar power"?

              And norther areas of what, exactly? I mean that there are areas where nuclear power would be useful (as it can displace coal/natgas).

      2. PowerElectronix · · focus · HN ↗
        Nuclear is a dead end. The technology is dangerous, a terrorist/war target, extremely expensive, makes you dependant of uranium producers and enriching facilities (or, facility as we are not buying from China or Russia), requires a source of water to cool the exit steam back to water to be pumped into the reactor so you are also dependent on the weather, and leaves you with nuclear waste in custody for centuries.

        For the same money you can install solar and storage for more than twice the power, way lower maintenance, no nuclear waste left after the business and can produce power from dawn till dusk without needing the favor of uranium exporters or a river nearby.

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