Volts Nuclear? Perhaps!
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Feb 21, 2024 Discussion with Jigar Shah on reviving nuclear power, new technologies like small modular reactors, role in decarbonized economy. Challenges in industry, integrating with renewables, American technology focus, marketplace dynamics, future prospects, workforce retention.
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What Clean Firm Really Means
- Clean firm means carbon-free generation that can be available when wind and solar aren't producing.
- Meeting future demand requires a mix of nuclear, hydro, geothermal, long-duration storage, and CCS-equipped gas.
The Snowflake Problem
- US nuclear failed partly because every reactor was a different “snowflake” design, preventing learning and cost reduction.
- Standardized fleets like Canada or Korea achieved cost and schedule advantages that the US lacked.
Vogtle's Workforce Shock
- Vogel's construction required 13,000 trained construction workers and still faced massive overruns.
- The project exposed that the U.S. had lost core industrial capacity and skilled labor for big builds.