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colonel_beeeees t1_j5cqap0 wrote

Reply to comment by ilostmymind_ in Eye-popping new cost estimates released for NuScale small modular reactor by paulfdietz

Redox flow batteries are scalable and there's already companies getting started on their first contracts right now.

The graph of innovation is so steeply curved upward, I think people forget that we're pretty good at improving things when allowed to do so

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prometheus2508 t1_j5csiop wrote

Like miniaturizing nuclear reactors? Or is that the wrong kind of innovation?

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paulfdietz OP t1_j5ctaw6 wrote

It's innovation that has a poor history of innovating. That probably has something to do with the size of the units (even these ones) and the penalty for getting the design wrong. Design iteration seem to take forever and not really work well.

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prometheus2508 t1_j5ctvbp wrote

Or is it because fossil lobbies suppress all competing technologies?

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paulfdietz OP t1_j5hau6p wrote

Nuclear stans will explain it's always someone else's fault. Reliable as clockwork, they are.

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prometheus2508 t1_j5hbjua wrote

The math only allows for one solution to carbon-free energy for humanity. Being ignorant doesn't change the math.

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ilostmymind_ t1_j5ctan7 wrote

And we'll need those too. Though we'll also need to bring on new mining capacity though which can take decades.

>we're pretty good at improving things when allowed to do so

We are. So why is fission not allowed to along side. People raise cost issues and overruns but that's a symptom of when you don't let an industry develop and a self-sustaining skilled workforce grow.

My point isn't too be pro-nuclear to the exclusion of all else. It's that it needs to be part of the make up because we are going to need resources spread around a lot of different industries.

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