1/
Settling down to watch @MLiebreich & @kirstygogan discuss the role that nuclear power can play in a #lowcarbon future in the @MLCleaningUp series... accompanied by a glass of @ShinerBeer Bock, brewed in Shiner, Texas, USA since 1909. Cheers.⚛️🍻
Thread of highlights below👇
Settling down to watch @MLiebreich & @kirstygogan discuss the role that nuclear power can play in a #lowcarbon future in the @MLCleaningUp series... accompanied by a glass of @ShinerBeer Bock, brewed in Shiner, Texas, USA since 1909. Cheers.⚛️🍻
Thread of highlights below👇
2/n
KG: We have emitted 1/2 the CO2 in the atmosphere in the last 30 years, despite growing public concern & remarkable growth of VRE.
ML: Need to be surgical about differentiating between existing nuclear, new build of current tech, or next-generation nuclear.
KG: We have emitted 1/2 the CO2 in the atmosphere in the last 30 years, despite growing public concern & remarkable growth of VRE.
ML: Need to be surgical about differentiating between existing nuclear, new build of current tech, or next-generation nuclear.
3/n
ML: Keep the existing, re: "build new using the existing technology, it's kind of been tested to economic destruction", but that we should contemplate leapfrogging generation of nuclear tech.
Both: Electrify to rid tremendous thermal waste of fossil fuels re: primary energy.
ML: Keep the existing, re: "build new using the existing technology, it's kind of been tested to economic destruction", but that we should contemplate leapfrogging generation of nuclear tech.
Both: Electrify to rid tremendous thermal waste of fossil fuels re: primary energy.
4/n
KG: Promise for nuclear for industrial heat, H2, syn gas.
KG: Recent LLWR projects have been first of a kind & experienced expected problems in design completion, labor, project management.
ML: re: recent Western LLWR construction projects, "It's not like 1 or 2 went bad."
KG: Promise for nuclear for industrial heat, H2, syn gas.
KG: Recent LLWR projects have been first of a kind & experienced expected problems in design completion, labor, project management.
ML: re: recent Western LLWR construction projects, "It's not like 1 or 2 went bad."
5/n
KG: Tim (Stone?) "There's only 2 things that matter, the cost of capital & the capital cost."
KG: see ETI "The Nuclear Cost Drivers Study," et. al. on what drives the cost of nuclear...
ML: cost of Hinkley Point C ~22B Pounds for plant, but 97B b/c of cost of capital.
KG: Tim (Stone?) "There's only 2 things that matter, the cost of capital & the capital cost."
KG: see ETI "The Nuclear Cost Drivers Study," et. al. on what drives the cost of nuclear...
ML: cost of Hinkley Point C ~22B Pounds for plant, but 97B b/c of cost of capital.
6/n
KG: When comparing wind/solar capital costs to nuclear, remember that a nuclear reactor will provide 93% capacity factor, zero carbon electricity for perhaps 100 years.
ML: How do you hit $3,000/kw for nuclear, called for in ARPA-E study, w/ current LLWR projects ~$10k/kw?
KG: When comparing wind/solar capital costs to nuclear, remember that a nuclear reactor will provide 93% capacity factor, zero carbon electricity for perhaps 100 years.
ML: How do you hit $3,000/kw for nuclear, called for in ARPA-E study, w/ current LLWR projects ~$10k/kw?
8/n
ML: If there's a future for nuclear it's in desalnization, H2 production, etc., not electricity generation.
KG: Grid models show large natural gas generation w/ VRE as largely the future out through 2050...nuclear value proposition for nuclear w/ thermal energy storage.
ML: If there's a future for nuclear it's in desalnization, H2 production, etc., not electricity generation.
KG: Grid models show large natural gas generation w/ VRE as largely the future out through 2050...nuclear value proposition for nuclear w/ thermal energy storage.
9/n
ML: Shout out to @JesseJenkins at 24:10📣
KG: Fascinating conversation on geothermal & nuclear for re-powering coal on a global basis ~25:30. *Global* coal plant fleet is getting younger per IEA.
ML: Skeptical due to capital replacement cycles.
ML: Shout out to @JesseJenkins at 24:10📣
KG: Fascinating conversation on geothermal & nuclear for re-powering coal on a global basis ~25:30. *Global* coal plant fleet is getting younger per IEA.
ML: Skeptical due to capital replacement cycles.
10/
KG: Capacity factor of H2 process plant drives the cost of H2; a low CF sabotages even low electricity costs & low electrolyzer capital.
ML: 30:00 Dunks on nuclear bros *and* VRE+H2 bros.
ML: Competition for H2 process heat/elec is where cheap wind+solar gets to 70% CF.
KG: Capacity factor of H2 process plant drives the cost of H2; a low CF sabotages even low electricity costs & low electrolyzer capital.
ML: 30:00 Dunks on nuclear bros *and* VRE+H2 bros.
ML: Competition for H2 process heat/elec is where cheap wind+solar gets to 70% CF.
11/
ML: 34:40 "I think the secrete weapon that nuclear has got, whether its electrolysis or other parts of industry and chemicals is heat, high quality, high grade heat, which wind and solar don't do."
ML: Go to industires & sectors that need 24/7 power+high grade heat.
ML: 34:40 "I think the secrete weapon that nuclear has got, whether its electrolysis or other parts of industry and chemicals is heat, high quality, high grade heat, which wind and solar don't do."
ML: Go to industires & sectors that need 24/7 power+high grade heat.
12/
KG: Fuels production opportunities of high temp heat + thermo-chemical electrolysis has great potential for <$1/kg H2. For global commodities, facility can be located anywhere.
KG: Fuels production opportunities of high temp heat + thermo-chemical electrolysis has great potential for <$1/kg H2. For global commodities, facility can be located anywhere.
13/
ML & KG: 37:00 Rapid fire common objections to nuclear power segment; excellent discussion. Imagined @jrmygrdn crashing through screen during the discussion of industry obsession w/ talking about safety.
ML: 54:48 "A one-word question: Thorium?"
KG: "No thanks."💀🤣🤣👏👏
ML & KG: 37:00 Rapid fire common objections to nuclear power segment; excellent discussion. Imagined @jrmygrdn crashing through screen during the discussion of industry obsession w/ talking about safety.
ML: 54:48 "A one-word question: Thorium?"
KG: "No thanks."💀🤣🤣👏👏
14/14
ML & KG: 55:25 discussion of science communication, especially re: nuclear vs VRE.
[JPR: remember to follow both @MLiebreich & @kirstygogan for ongoing, insightful, and informed clean energy commentary. Thanks to @MLCleaningUp for hosting & publishing this discussion.
ML & KG: 55:25 discussion of science communication, especially re: nuclear vs VRE.
[JPR: remember to follow both @MLiebreich & @kirstygogan for ongoing, insightful, and informed clean energy commentary. Thanks to @MLCleaningUp for hosting & publishing this discussion.
