Live display of CO2 emitted to produce electricity in European countries

While there may be some value in maintaining some of the old nuclear builds. For each problem "new" nuclear solves, more issues are created:

1) SMRs (small module reactors) do not exist.

http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Why-Small-Modular-Reactors-Are-Not-The-Next-Big-Thing.html

A potential commercial operation date of 2025 is mentioned.

The World Nuclear Association citing an OECD study, "The Projected Costs of Generating Electricity", estimates that SMRs and other so called fourth generation reactor designs will cost 100 percent more than current third generation reactors in operation.

2) Operation costs are why large reactors are favored over small reactors. But there are only a few factories with the capability to forge large reactor vessels putting a constraint on the supply chain. Uranium reserves are expected to last until the end of the century. But would also be a bottleneck if we tried to ramp up nuclear power from 3% of today's current world energy production to 80% - 100% percent clean energy that Bernie and Stein are calling for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessing#Economics

Plus reprocessing to reduce waste and increase the lifespan of uranium supplies raises the cost of nuclear by another $.02 per $/kWh.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_reprocessing#History

And contrary to popular nuclear myth, the ban on reprocessing which the Pentagon recommended for proliferation concerns was lifted by Reagan in 1981 and no reprocessing facilities have been built in the USA even with the offer of "lucrative" subsidies.

3) Thorium and the IFR are NOT solutions to the risk of proliferation.

http://www.pressenza.com/2013/08/thorium-reactors-and-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-the-promise-and-peril-of-thorium/

While LFTR thorium and integral fast reactors can reduce waste and thus proliferation concerns with waste storage. All fast reactors produce U-233 which can be feed back into the reaction, and is also ideal for bomb making. As such, thorium itself would not prevent nuclear proliferation. That would only be possible with a frequent and rigorous inspection regime.

/r/dataisbeautiful Thread Parent Link - electricitymap.tmrow.co