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Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors (www.cityam.com)
submitted 3 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors::A Bill Gates-backed clean energy player is hoping to build dozens of nuclear reactors in the UK and will compete with global rivals.

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[–] 5 points 3 years ago* (8 children)

I trust RR to build an SMR more than some tech bros.

They literally grow aerospace parts from crystals

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/in-depth/jewel-in-the-crown-rolls-royce-s-single-crystal-turbine-blade-casting-foundry/

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (7 children)

    I'm not suggesting that a SMR can't be built, I'm saying that they're a massive waste of money, unless you hold RR stock.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (4 children)

    SMRs are great for decentralization of the power grid.

    Which makes the viability of renewables like wind and solar much more viable, as you can have the reactor for each mini grid throttle down based on current renewable yield, and throttle back up when the sun goes down or the wind stops.

    It also means that issues like Texas had in the winter of 2021 would be a lot smaller in magnitude, as having one SMR and renewables go offline would only cause a local power outage, instead of entire cities suddenly being without heat or power.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    I can't find any sources that support SMRs being used as peaker plants, conventional nuclear certainly can't behave this way. Do you have any links?

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    You can do this but it makes them even more expensive, because you’ve built an expensive plant for operational capacity that you don’t use.

    We should be load following with storage, not nukes.

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