well written and well-intentioned as always, but I'm not convinced. The actual volume of nuclear waste is not really as big as one imagines, I think. Here in Germany, it sums up to around one warehouse full.
Compare this to the amounts of toxic chemical waste we cannot really dispose of, and it looks quite miniscule.
Oh and speaking of which, do we have a solution for disposing of toxic chemical waste? No, I didn't think so. But still, we tolerate its production, because the benefits of chemical production are pretty obvious.
I think it's obvious too why we need nuclear. The only clear path to de-carbonization is through electrification. And the only baseload-reliable, almost-zero CO2 source of electricity in most countries is through nuclear.
Germany spent trillions on renewables, and turned off nuclear, and the result? Second-highest CO2 per kWh electricity in Europe, second highest prices for electricity.
When you don't have ample and reliable solar or wind, or even better, a high volume of water power, you get: something like 80% coal or gas, with some "nice to have" renewables on top.
Agreed, with hindsight it's obvious what we're left to deal with. My understanding of justifying nuclear energy is it's reliable and can cover the gaps where renewables can't, although I thought in the UK we used gas for that, hence the electricity price being based on gas prices?
But also in hindsight, we'd have a decent rail infrastructure without Doctor Beeching, and an independent space and rocket launch system if Black Knight / Blue Streak weren't cancelled.
We could have invested all our North Sea gas and oil reserves instead of selling off these and raiding the piggy banks with privatisation during the 80's, and we wonder today why the country doesn't have a pot to piss in...!
I'm not saying anything you haven't heard before, but I would love for you to reconsider any opposition to Gen-IV reactors. They can burn this waste as their fuel, and they produce no meaningful waste of their own. https://youtu.be/cCOx-aEcwKA
The need to get to Net Zero really should override all other considerations, and since new nukes is one of the ONLY places where the right aligns with the science, it's the easiest path forward.
I'm about the same age as you and have felt the same way since the days of sewing a "Atomkraft? Nein danke" patch on my bomber jacket. I don't think anyone actually uses the full economic cost of nuclear energy production when they compare it with renewables.
(Now, just imagine a suitably condescending, nasal tone, Bob... it's 'bear' with me, not bare...unless you're suggesting we go with the hippy thing.)
well written and well-intentioned as always, but I'm not convinced. The actual volume of nuclear waste is not really as big as one imagines, I think. Here in Germany, it sums up to around one warehouse full.
Compare this to the amounts of toxic chemical waste we cannot really dispose of, and it looks quite miniscule.
Oh and speaking of which, do we have a solution for disposing of toxic chemical waste? No, I didn't think so. But still, we tolerate its production, because the benefits of chemical production are pretty obvious.
I think it's obvious too why we need nuclear. The only clear path to de-carbonization is through electrification. And the only baseload-reliable, almost-zero CO2 source of electricity in most countries is through nuclear.
Germany spent trillions on renewables, and turned off nuclear, and the result? Second-highest CO2 per kWh electricity in Europe, second highest prices for electricity.
When you don't have ample and reliable solar or wind, or even better, a high volume of water power, you get: something like 80% coal or gas, with some "nice to have" renewables on top.
Agreed, with hindsight it's obvious what we're left to deal with. My understanding of justifying nuclear energy is it's reliable and can cover the gaps where renewables can't, although I thought in the UK we used gas for that, hence the electricity price being based on gas prices?
But also in hindsight, we'd have a decent rail infrastructure without Doctor Beeching, and an independent space and rocket launch system if Black Knight / Blue Streak weren't cancelled.
We could have invested all our North Sea gas and oil reserves instead of selling off these and raiding the piggy banks with privatisation during the 80's, and we wonder today why the country doesn't have a pot to piss in...!
I'm not saying anything you haven't heard before, but I would love for you to reconsider any opposition to Gen-IV reactors. They can burn this waste as their fuel, and they produce no meaningful waste of their own. https://youtu.be/cCOx-aEcwKA
The need to get to Net Zero really should override all other considerations, and since new nukes is one of the ONLY places where the right aligns with the science, it's the easiest path forward.
I'm about the same age as you and have felt the same way since the days of sewing a "Atomkraft? Nein danke" patch on my bomber jacket. I don't think anyone actually uses the full economic cost of nuclear energy production when they compare it with renewables.
(Now, just imagine a suitably condescending, nasal tone, Bob... it's 'bear' with me, not bare...unless you're suggesting we go with the hippy thing.)
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