Starmer's nuclear plan

[MNW67]

The PM has announced plans to allow lots of small nuclear reactors around the country to power energy intensive applications such as data centres.

That sounds like a good simple idea. Many seem to be casting doubt, though, on whether it can be done. I thought the technology would be pretty straight forward, bearing in mind we built nuclear power stations in this country seventy years ago.

 

[IT Minion]

The PM has announced plans to allow lots of small nuclear reactors around the country to power energy intensive applications such as data centres.

That sounds like a good simple idea. Many seem to be casting doubt, though, on whether it can be done. I thought the technology would be pretty straight forward, bearing in mind we built nuclear power stations in this country seventy years ago.

It's going to be decades before they would have a chance of only being as expensive as HPC. They might, might, be quicker and more reliable to build, but they are going to be expensive.

 

[motorbiking]

Ticks the carbon neutral box on the sustainability check list. I don’t understand the benefits of a small reactor vs a bigger one. Surely these things are about economics of scale?

 

[MNW67]

Ticks the carbon neutral box on the sustainability check list. I don’t understand the benefits of a small reactor vs a bigger one. Surely these things are about economics of scale?

You might not need a twenty year consultation for each one.

 

[Brigadier]

I don’t understand the benefits of a small reactor vs a bigger one. Surely these things are about economics of scale?

Yep: the economics of building one, getting it working, then pumping out a production line of identical units.

Rather than the current model of spending decades and multiple billions building each one as a one-off.

 

[Notch7]

The PM has announced plans to allow lots of small nuclear reactors around the country to power energy intensive applications such as data centres.

That sounds like a good simple idea. Many seem to be casting doubt, though, on whether it can be done. I thought the technology would be pretty straight forward, bearing in mind we built nuclear power stations in this country seventy years ago.

isnt this Rolls Royce?

Small modular reactors

Rolls-Royce SMR LTD was established to develop an affordable power plant that generates electricity using a small modular reactor.

www.rolls-royce.com

Taking the Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) to the next step – Creating a better place

News and updates from the Environment Agency

environmentagency.blog.gov.uk

 

[Nozzle]

Ticks the carbon neutral box on the sustainability check list. I don’t understand the benefits of a small reactor vs a bigger one. Surely these things are about economics of scale?

And the impact on grid stability of losing a small generator vs a massive one. There are economies of scale, but with those come disadvantages too

 

[Brigadier]

And the impact on grid stability of losing a small generator vs a massive one. There are economies of scale, but with those come disadvantages too

My understanding was that these SMRs do NOT plug into the Grid: they were being mooted - in this instance - as solely to supply the data centres (which ARE currently plugged into the Grid, and putting a significant demand on it).

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Milliband won't be happy ...

 

[MNW67]

Milliband won't be happy ...

Good!

 

[IT Minion]

In theory by building in bulk, building hundreds of units a decade rather than dozens, economies of scale will kick in. Both for manufacturing but also for installation and approval.

Unfortunately for the foreseeable future they're going to be even more expensive than HPC. Even when they're mature it's unlikely they'll drop below current nuclear prices although they should be much more predictable and faster than conventional plants.

Im not convinced but it's not impossible that they'll be a meaningful part of our grid in the future.

 

[motorbiking]

I'm sure France and China will figure it out when they win the bid. Rather than talk the talk, he could have approved Sizewell C

 

[MNW67]

In theory by building in bulk, building hundreds of units a decade rather than dozens, economies of scale will kick in. Both for manufacturing but also for installation and approval.

Unfortunately for the foreseeable future they're going to be even more expensive than HPC. Even when they're mature it's unlikely they'll drop below current nuclear prices although they should be much more predictable and faster than conventional plants.

Im not convinced but it's not impossible that they'll be a meaningful part of our grid in the future.

What is the basis for saying it will take hundreds for economies of scale?

 

[MNW67]

Are these reactors actually that small? They seem to be talking about 500MW. And what does the modular bit mean in regard to these designs?

 

[motorbiking]

https://www.rolls-royce-smr.com/