Vocal Voices

There are going to be appeals and all sorts of shenanigans. But I hope they stay the course. I think the biggest risk to all our Nuclear plant plans is the pending full nationalisation of EDF to manage their debt.

We shall see.

I would like to see more effort put into Rolls-Royce SMRs, a LOT more effort.

They are big enough to power whole cities so a dozen dispersed around the country would power most of it and let the Hinkley and Sizewell types do the rest.

Latest news is here.

There is certainly money going in. But it is a good decade behind the huge reactors.

Workingman wrote:I would like to see more effort put into Rolls-Royce SMRs, a LOT more effort.

Absolutely this.

Complete idiocy to award Sizewell C to EDF, in my opinion. I mean, have they not looked at the latest delays (1 further year) and cost over-run (an extra £3bn) at Hinckley Point C?

And considering that the French Government is said to be going to nationalise EDF, why on earth would we want the French Government effectively running our nuclear industry?

But it is a good decade behind the huge reactors.

Maybe so, but would you lay money on an EDF Sizewell C being in commission before a RR mini-reactor, Suff?

TheOstrich wrote:Maybe so, but would you lay money on an EDF Sizewell C being in commission before a RR mini-reactor, Suff?

I would put it ahead of 3.2GW of RR mini reacotrs.

Comparing Sizewell to Hinckley Point is not beneficial. Post Fukushima they had to modify the designs for a whole new plethora of security and controls. But that design is done. Then they suffered 2 years of Covid shortages of staff. That is also done.

It took 5 years to get the plans approved for Hinckley Point. Sizewell should be able to go through in a year. Also, by the time they start to break ground for Sizewell, Hinckley Point will be completing and the construction team will be available for Sizewell.

The issues and delays for the two are not comparable.

Exactly what I thought Ossie!

Suff wrote:

TheOstrich wrote:Maybe so, but would you lay money on an EDF Sizewell C being in commission before a RR mini-reactor, Suff?

I would put it ahead of 3.2GW of RR mini reacotrs.

Maybe in total, but incrementally SMRs could be online unit by unit at 470 MW a go, even as Sizewell is being built.

We don't have to go large in one dose when we can do both small and large at the same time.

No we don't and there is investment in progress. £200m so far.

It is just that much further behind the others.

Suff wrote:No we don't and there is investment in progress. £200m so far.

It is just that much further behind the others.

Only the sites are further behind, the technology already exists and is in use. With a few mods it is already powering ships, aircraft carriers and submarines. We just need the will to go forward.

All the above have one thing in common. Plentiful supply of cooling water from the environment they sit in. One which is not monitored to death on a daily basis.

I guess there is some work to be done in order to make the conversion.