Building new nuclear reactors

[R181]

There is an upswing in the proposed building of nuclear reactors in Canada. That includes both modular and large scale types in several Provinces.

Sask. government wants to build a large nuclear reactor | Watch

Are we going "back to the future" so to speak by doing this.

Bob

 

[stoneandstrop]

I am really against nuclear energy and it baffles me that it is claimed as "clean" energy.
I have toured the nuclear plant outside of Port Elgin a few years ago and have seen the waste from its inception buried on the property and still burning off heat in containers meant to hold and secure it for the next 500 years and beyond.
Its byproduct will never be safe and it contaminates our planet for any meaningful future on it, it will leak, it's just a matter of time.
The inability to look into the future and make mindful decisions on what we do as a society today is maddening, ya, lets put the waste underneath the largest fresh water source on the planet - that's a good idea!
I will not support the electric vehicle push our Gov. has started without a power source to deal with it.

 

[DesertIguana]

I live close to largest Nuke Energy Plant in USA, Palo Verde in Arizona IDA. I am more afraid of people TEXTING & DRIVING

.

 

[R181]

I am really against nuclear energy and it baffles me that it is claimed as "clean" energy.
I have toured the nuclear plant outside of Port Elgin a few years ago and have seen the waste from its inception buried on the property and still burning off heat in containers meant to hold and secure it for the next 500 years and beyond.
Its byproduct will never be safe and it contaminates our planet for any meaningful future on it, it will leak, it's just a matter of time.
The inability to look into the future and make mindful decisions on what we do as a society today is maddening, ya, lets put the waste underneath the largest fresh water source on the planet - that's a good idea!
I will not support the electric vehicle push our Gov. has started without a power source to deal with it.

Some valid comments there. Don't worry, those spent fuel rods currently stored in southern Ontario are likely to be transported to North Western Ontario in the near future for burial in the Canadian shield. They will pass by Thunder Bay on their way for disposal. Standby for spills of these spent fuel rods in accidents as they travel by transport truck and rail to get here.

While electric vehicles are one of the factors driving the need for more electrical capacity, the rush to open AI hubs creates an even larger demand. It is staggering how much more electrical energy these will be require even compared to the demands from electric vehicles.

Bob

 

[Vacumatic]

There is an upswing in the proposed building of nuclear reactors in Canada. That includes both modular and large scale types in several Provinces.

Sask. government wants to build a large nuclear reactor | Watch

Are we going "back to the future" so to speak by doing this.

Bob

We are also investing in a new nuclear power station building program.

As I recall, wasn't Canada also looking at mini reactors?


The issue as I understand it is the urgent need for short term quick return power, especially with the hungry AI demands but this short termism is dwarfed by the long tail liabilities of the nuclear waste material and the infrastructure needed long after the power plant has ceased production, you are looking at over 1000 years with massive resources being called upon to run the defunct plant and having its own police force. Nuclear plants also have unlimited liability for the damage that might be caused, by a leak for example. This liability can only be met by central government giving an Indemnity to the Tier One contractor, so ultimately the Canadian tax payer will be on the hook.

You would have thought that with all the natural resources at Canada's disposal that some form of investment in biofuel research would be cleaner and greener.

 

[Vacumatic]

Sorry Bob, our posts crossed and we made similar points.

 

[R181]

We are also investing in a new nuclear power station building program.

As I recall, wasn't Canada also looking at mini reactors?


The issue as I understand it is the urgent need for short term quick return power, especially with the hungry AI demands but this short termism is dwarfed by the long tail liabilities of the nuclear waste material and the infrastructure needed long after the power plant has ceased production, you are looking at over 1000 years with massive resources being called upon to run the defunct plant and having its own police force. Nuclear plants also have unlimited liability for the damage that might be caused, by a leak for example. This liability can only be met by central government giving an Indemnity to the Tier One contractor, so ultimately the Canadian tax payer will be on the hook.

You would have thought that with all the natural resources at Canada's disposal that some form of investment in biofuel research would be cleaner and greener.

When I referred to modular reactors, I was meaning mini reactors. Yes, Canada has ongoing developments in wind, solar and biofuel but none of them combined can produce enough power enough power to supply the demand AI will generated. There is no easy way out of this mess.

Bob

 

[R181]

Sorry Bob, our posts crossed and we made similar points.

No need to be sorry. Thanks for confirming that I am not the only one worried about the situation.

Bob

 

[Zorro]

While electric vehicles are one of the factors driving the need for more electrical capacity, the rush to open AI hubs creates an even larger demand. It is staggering how much more electrical energy these will be require even compared to the demands from electric vehicles.

Bob

As a related, but side issue; The current and exponential growth in demand for AI in all capacities has led to a worldwide shortage of RAM Memory and certain CPU's - the price of Memory chips has quadrupled in as many months. Server Farms are popping up everywhere, just to service our growing laziness and replace learning with factoids-on-demand.

AI is the new Gold Rush and the related demand for electricity is just going skywards at a staggering rate.

It's slightly disturbing to see so many "Gen Z's" who are so very smug about having an electric car, and are planning for having heat pumps in their homes, because they are reserving their place in Heaven by saving the planet from those nasty fossil fuels ....

 

[p.b]

It's slightly disturbing to see so many "Gen Z's" who are so very smug about having an electric car, and are planning for having heat pumps in their homes, because they are reserving their place in Heaven by saving the planet from those nasty fossil fuels ....

The increase in power demand is due to AI / data centres. Electric vehicles and heat pumps are likely to help the situation as they will smooth the power demand.

 

[Gairdner]

Never built one myself but it does sound tricky. Need power in my newly acquired garage (Mum’s!) so will look into it. Could always dump the used rods in Terry’s skip when he ain’t looking.

 

[Hopalong]

I live 22 miles from the only nuclear reactor in California, Diablo Canyon.
It was supposed to shut down in 2024/2025 but got an extension to 2030.
California doesn’t have enough power. Wind and solar don’t cu it.

 

[slapo]

@R181, @Vacumatic There's probably going to be a gold rush for this waste at some point, because it's still usable as fuel, just requires processing.
There were some companies that were hoping to be able to use this waste from big nuclear power plants in small modular reactors, but I think most went the way of using e.g. thorium or other sources.

You might find this interesting:

This isn't to say it isn't a problem at the moment. I'm just saying that there are options we still have and can take.