Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by Ottolay on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:06AM (#29200727)

If only the world would have followed Sweden and France [1] and largely de-carbonized their electrical grid by the 90s using primarily nuclear, we would be in a much better situation when it comes to global warming.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_France#/...

It's 30 years later and countries which push renewables heavily like Germany still have over 40% of their electricity produced from carbon producing sources. [2]

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany#/media/File:...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by fsh on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:16AM (#29200875)

According to TFA, conventional nuclear power plants would exhaust the available uranium resources in 5.7 years if used to provide 100% of the world primary energy. The world could not possibly have followed Sweden and France even if it wanted to.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by ben_w on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:23AM (#29200971)

Breeder reactors are a thing. I think the reason we lost interest was down to not needing them rather than anything else, but am prepared to be wrong if that turns out to be an urban legend.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by Ottolay on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:27AM (#29201031)

Citation?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by p_l on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:36AM (#29201174)

First graphic.

That said, that assumes we only use USA-style LWR/PWRs that depend on natural U-235 to operate, I think, given that the numbers I've seen for reactors operating on unenriched uranium point to more like 50 years as super low-end estimate.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by Ottolay on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:39AM (#29201232)

My bad, I forgot what "TFA" was.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by mro_name on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:21AM (#29200944)

France has an ugly war in Mali because of their dependance on yellowcake AFAIK.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nuclear energy is long-term sustainable by Ottolay on Friday November 12, 2021 @11:38AM (#29201216)

Found some articles claiming this but also others disputing it. France does not appear to get much Uranium from Mali.[1] Although I would not put it past them having an interest in future Uranium prospects.

[1] "France uses some 12,400 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate (10,500 tonnes of U) per year for its electricity generation. Much of this comes from Areva in Canada (4500 tU/yr) and Niger (3200 tU/yr) together with other imports, principally from Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia, mostly under long-term contracts. Areva perceives the front end of the French fuel cycle as strategic, and invests accordingly." https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-pr...

[ Parent | on HN ]