Re:The world’s biggest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2, genera...
by pfdietz on Wednesday December 29, 2021 @01:28PM
(#29727960)
You back that up with combustion turbines burning some renewably-sourced fuel.
Capital cost of a simple cycle combustion turbine power plant: $500/kW
Capital cost of a nuclear power plant: $10,000/kW
So, one can have this backup sitting there ready to go for just 5% of the cost of an all nuclear grid. You do need the fuel, but if it's only used a few hundred hours per year the fuel cost will be minor.
Capital cost of a simple cycle combustion turbine power plant: $500/kW Capital cost of a nuclear power plant: $10,000/kW
So, one can have this backup sitting there ready to go for just 5% of the cost of an all nuclear grid. You do need the fuel, but if it's only used a few hundred hours per year the fuel cost will be minor.