SMRs are hitting strong headwinds

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begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
99,658
South Puget Sound, WA
As promising as Small Modular Reactors sound there are some big issues to solve. One is waste. They may create a lot more radioactive waste than conventional reactors and the US still does not have a good, long-term storage plan for this waste.
The other elephant in the room is cost, which is growing quickly. The promise of low cost due to factory production is having trouble penciling out.
 

woodgeek

Minister of Fire
Jan 27, 2008
5,080
SE PA
;hm <--- this is my surprised face.
 

EbS-P

Minister of Fire
Jan 19, 2019
4,472
SE North Carolina
Cost over runs and waste storage for nuclear reactors…where have we heard this before??
 
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Reactions: sloeffle

dznam

Burning Hunk
Jul 31, 2008
136
Coastal ME
As promising as Small Modular Reactors sound there are some big issues to solve. One is waste. They may create a lot more radioactive waste than conventional reactors and the US still does not have a good, long-term storage plan for this waste.
The other elephant in the room is cost, which is growing quickly. The promise of low cost due to factory production is having trouble penciling out.
And exactly what is the issue with Yucca Mountain?
 

stoveliker

Minister of Fire
Nov 17, 2019
7,255
Long Island NY
And exactly what is the issue with Yucca Mountain?
lol, it's in my backyard (say very few people, but enough to get it killed, in particular when you have the majority leader in the senate).

I thought that technically it was the best solution we would have (at least now and in the next few decades).
 

dznam

Burning Hunk
Jul 31, 2008
136
Coastal ME
Lovely...
 

begreen

Mooderator
Staff member
Nov 18, 2005
99,658
South Puget Sound, WA
Cool short video of a SMR power module being forged.