The argument for transitioning to renewables seems stronger than ever – and yet, attacks mount on the carbon price scheme that underpins the EU’s success at cutting pollution
I’m not arguing the value of nuclear power it is really that the pointy heads can’t see that it is competitive with renewables. Personally I think that as renewables get to saturation then we will work out where we need continuous power generation. The trouble with nuclear is that 10-30 year lead time is difficult to commit to such an uncertain future.
I mean, it does not need to be 10-30 years. UAE deployment was from nothing (literally nothing), to first reactor connected in 12 years. The first first years were just for regulation and selecting a partner. Construction took 8 years. The median time for reactor deploy in Japan, Korea and China is 52 months, 65 months, and 68 months respectively, with China getting faster and faster. US and UK are the odd one out, with some deploy taking 513 month and 282 month respectively.
If the EU reform nuclear regulation on the continent and promote nuclear deployment in Italy, Poland, and Germany that would help a lot. The US needs to undergone a similar transformation.
My argument is still that the investment in nuclear is fairly long and all through that renewable generation is eating up the margin that a reactor needs to make money. Investors see that as uncertainty and won’t invest. That appears to be the main reason why there not a lot of interest.
I’m not arguing the value of nuclear power it is really that the pointy heads can’t see that it is competitive with renewables. Personally I think that as renewables get to saturation then we will work out where we need continuous power generation. The trouble with nuclear is that 10-30 year lead time is difficult to commit to such an uncertain future.
I mean, it does not need to be 10-30 years. UAE deployment was from nothing (literally nothing), to first reactor connected in 12 years. The first first years were just for regulation and selecting a partner. Construction took 8 years. The median time for reactor deploy in Japan, Korea and China is 52 months, 65 months, and 68 months respectively, with China getting faster and faster. US and UK are the odd one out, with some deploy taking 513 month and 282 month respectively.
If the EU reform nuclear regulation on the continent and promote nuclear deployment in Italy, Poland, and Germany that would help a lot. The US needs to undergone a similar transformation.
My argument is still that the investment in nuclear is fairly long and all through that renewable generation is eating up the margin that a reactor needs to make money. Investors see that as uncertainty and won’t invest. That appears to be the main reason why there not a lot of interest.