this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023
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Solar now being the cheapest energy source made its rounds on Lemmy some weeks ago, if I remember correctly. I just found this graphic and felt it was worth sharing independently.

Source: https://ourworldindata.org/cheap-renewables-growth

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I think that's too simplistic of a view. Part of the high cost of nuclear is because of the somewhat niche use. As with everything, economies of scale makes things cheaper. Supporting one nuclear plant with specialized labor, parts, fuel, etc is much more expensive then supporting 100 plants, per Watt.

I can't say more plants would drastically reduce costs. But it would definitely help.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The source article actually talks about this and measured data suggests nuclear cost actually went up, despite more capacity being built.

This is the first time, I've read this anywhere. More sources/studies would be really important. And there is lots of interpretations to be had on the why, but assuming the article isn't completely off the mark, that's cold, hard data suggesting that your (perfectly reasonable) assumption is actually wrong, after all.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting, I'll have to look at the source article.

But as far as I'm aware the total amount of nuclear power has been decreasing in recent years. This might change with China's future plants.

I've also read about small modular reactor designs gaining traction, which would help alleviate the heavy costs of one off plants we currently design and build.

Not saying the source is wrong, just saying that's what I used to form my opinion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

china's been building dozens of reactors, all of a common design which is the correct way https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hualong_One

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

bullshit regulatory costs can increase infinitely without nay change to the underlying engineering or economics. that's 100% the cause of the price increses

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Possible. But well, whether these regulations actually are bullshit or not, kind of doesn't matter. A dumb solar panel won't ever need to be regulated as much. If that's what makes it cheaper, it still is cheaper.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Of course It is, the incompetent and ignorant people that try to hinder it's use is the problem

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

The nuclear industry is 100% responsible for the operational record of the nuclear industry.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Cool, so you're either going to have to completely get rid of all the nimbys and people that don't understand nuclear, then build a massive population of qualified workers to build them and staff them and then fund them in the hundreds of billions for at least 2 decades to build up the knowledge base required to be able to build them quickly and efficiently.

Or accept the reality that nuclear is dead in the water.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So the people who built that reactor were incompetent and ignorant?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Reading comprehension isn't really your strong suit, eh? "The incompetent and ignorant people that try to hinder it’s use is the problem"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

If you are hired to do a task and then overrun the budget by 14B$ I wouldn't exactly call it furthering the cause. More like incompetence and/or trying to detail the project.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

the most dangerous part of nuclear power is not using enough

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They’ve had 75 years to get the cost down. It’s still going up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Congratulate yourself then. The propaganda you and your ilk continue to spew is the reason for this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Oh it’s just the meanies keeping the poor nuclear industry down! 😆

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

big oil pushes this stuff, by the way. because they know the reality that when nuclear plants get shut down, natural gas replaces it

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

because of oil funded fear pushing pseudoscience based restrictions