If you want to improve the output of solar energy systems, why not also run them at night? That's the question researchers in Qatar and Jordan addressed as they successfully devised a system that promises to more than double energy output of current solar power stations.
It uses a ton of material to power 73 homes annually (652 feet high and 45 feet in diameter), works best in a desert but requires a lot of water. Yeah, nuclear energy is really threatened by that. Modern microreactors in development make, for example, 1.5 MWe at let’s say 90% capacity factor. Assuming about 1000 kWh/mo for a house, that microreactor, which can fit on the back of a semi truck and be transported down the highway that way, can power 985 homes anually and doesn’t require cooling water (will require water for electrical steam generation).
Yeah, I will stick with nuclear, thanks.
Nuclear energy isn’t threatened by this. It’s threatened by the fact that it’s impossible to build one at a profit.
That’s why factory fabricated microreactors are such a cool concept!
The cost of electricity from those is even more expensive than from conventional nuclear.
And by the time that concept becomes reality we’ll either be running 100% renewable energy or dead from climate change
Nope. Deployment of factory fabricated microreactors is planned for the 2030s.
Ah, plans! Well then, that’s a guarantee! No way they’ll hit unexpected roadblocks and go massively overbudget like every other nuclear project
You should educate yourself about GenIV reactors (designs, supply chains, costs…) before you embarrass yourself.
I don’t need to add to the embarrassment that is the nuclear industry
There are technology (reactor) demonstrations planned within the next 2-3 years, so not quite but very close. A lot of active R&D work going on right now for specific designs at a lot of companies.
So you admit they do not exist?
The technologies on which these reactor designs are based have been demonstrated previously. The specific designs are in progress and well on their way. AGR, EBR-II, and MSRE are examples.
So that’s a no, then?
WTF is it with nuclear bros and their war on reality?
From how they argue, I get the impression that most of them are victims of astroturfing campaigns by the nuclear lobby tbh. The nuclear industry hates the idea to become redundant because of renewables, so they spread lies about being the solution to climate change. Like they ever gave any shits about the ecosystem, lol.
Maybe, but I’ve had plenty of conversations where I’ve bought evidence, facts, used reliable sources, etc. and I see the same people still lying their asses off.
Maybe those are the ones running the astroturfing campaigns?
You realize that the thing you’re describing doesn’t actually exist and likely never will, right?
Pro-nuclear folks are so weird.