German solar and wind are triple the cost of French nuclear, last half as long

Re:German solar and wind are triple the cost of French nucle... by eqvinox on Saturday November 09, 2019 @06:10PM (#21495149)

Yeah, but - context. We're talking about leaving a disused reactor around in some type of safe manner. Ideally it won't be leaking... but some radioactive material is still in it. Aren't the beta & gamma radiators more dangerous, even as far as irradiating other parts of the structure itself is considered?

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Re:German solar and wind are triple the cost of French nucle... by MrEldritch on Sunday November 10, 2019 @09:28AM (#21498052)

Neither beta nor gamma radiation will "activate" other parts of the structure to make them radioactive themselves; only neutron radiation (which can convert stable isotopes into unstable isotopes with more neutrons in them) can do that.

Nor will they weaken the structure.

So as long as people don't enter the reactor without proper precautions, there's really no reason to worry about radiation inside it. And this problem can be solved pretty well with a fence and warning signs.

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Re:German solar and wind are triple the cost of French nucle... by littlestymaar on Tuesday November 12, 2019 @08:02AM (#21513705)

> So as long as people don't enter the reactor without proper precautions, there's really no reason to worry about radiation inside it. And this problem can be solved pretty well with a fence and warning signs.

The buildings being designed as a bunker also helps. Just add a single guardian and his dog just to be sure nobody is actively trying to break through the concrete walls and you're good to go.

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