News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by linkdink on Saturday August 06, 2022 @02:05PM (#32370251)
That's exactly the problem this modular type is supposed to address.

> small modular reactors (SMRs) are designed to be small enough to build in a factory before being shipped

Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by epistasis on Saturday August 06, 2022 @02:20PM (#32370372)
Right, but that's why we it won't be a win until it's generating. We don't know that this manufacturing method will work out better than prior attempts.

The AP1000, was supposed to address construction problems by being able to ship in large parts already constructed. But that failed so miserably that SMRs-long ignored because they weren't thought to be economically efficient-became the last ditch effort to build nuclear. And the AP1000 failed because of all the on-site mismanagement of things as simple as concrete pours.

SMRs are unproven in at least two regards: 1) ability to manufacture in a factory economically, and 2) ability to construct all the on-site infrastructure for the SMR to generate the electricity.

Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by Accujack on Saturday August 06, 2022 @07:01PM (#32372366)
>We don't know that this manufacturing method will work out better than prior attempts.

There are never certainties in anything except in hindsight. Most people with expertise who have reviewed SMR designs (and there are many) believe there's a high probability of the central manufacturing concept being able to work. Factories are a very well known concept at this point.

Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by pfdietz on Monday August 08, 2022 @01:35PM (#32388535)
Renewable builds typically come in within 10% of the contracted cost. You get certainty by installing things in very large quantities, with rapid cycle time.
Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by naasking on Saturday August 06, 2022 @09:11PM (#32372971)
> ability to construct all the on-site infrastructure for the SMR to generate the electricity.

I'm a little confused by this, as all existing reactor designs required both the reactor and their infrastructure to be built on-site. I'm not sure why you think it would be an open question to just do the infrastructure.

Re:The First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Was Just Approved... by linkdink on Tuesday August 09, 2022 @09:19AM (#32397410)
I see what you mean now. The unknown of if it will be successful. Not the existence of the intent. You wrote it, I just misunderstood it.