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China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

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11–20 of 141 posts

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#13
post #9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. But I suspect it's beyond learning. The Chinese may understand nuclear power better than almost anyone else, France not withstanding. I could believe this is a strategic move, to diversify power input sources as well. Look I am not knocking learning, but I don't think thats the key drive here.

yeah I think that hypothesis has legs. China has been trying to diversify their energy portfolio for a long time now. They're also going full steam ahead on wind and solar and is the world leader in battery storage (lithium ion and other types too). Fossil fuel, other than coal, has always been a major weakness for China that can be choked off via the Straits of Malacca. I wonder if powering their reactor using thori…

I mean learning for learnings sake is more surprising then learning for a purpose.

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#14

But at what cost?

Not sure if you mean financial cost, or possibly environmental / human losses - but since it's in the middle of a desert, I assume they're trying to minimize the risk?

It's a meme. Just google "china but at what cost" There are probably hundreds of articles with the title at this point

China is getting smarter - but at what cost? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50658538

China's wind industrial policy "succeeded" – but at what cost? https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/chinas-wi...

China Invests in Environment – but at What Cost? https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-04-...

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#15

But at what cost?

Authoritarianism isn't cost for building this. The lacking need of progress in this field here is the answer.

Stubborn and rigid bureaucratic rules combined with unreasonably tought regulations are the reason why we are not able to innovate as fast as we could.

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#16
post #3

Commence, maybe. Given their lead in pebble bed, I wonder why? Probably competing teams and competing funding and goals. Thorium was in test decades ago in the USA and its applicability to large scale power with lower proliferation risk is given. I think the article's pointing out how much usable thorium China has as a side effect of rare earth mining may get to the heart of things: people with giant trash piles look…

China has a portfolio strategy when it comes to nuclear technology (and energy systems in general).

[deleted]

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#17
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure if you mean financial cost, or possibly environmental / human losses - but since it's in the middle of a desert, I assume they're trying to minimize the risk?

It's a meme. Just google "china but at what cost" There are probably hundreds of articles with the title at this point China is getting smarter - but at what cost? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50658538 China's wind industrial policy "succeeded" – but at what cost? https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/chinas-wi... China Invests in Environment – but at What Cost? https://www.usnews.com/news/best-co…

The sources you've listed don't seem to show any environmental damage. In fact, China has been leading among major nations in environmental protection efforts in recent years. For instance, the destruction of natural forests has been virtually halted, and China has been the most successful country in combating desertification through massive reforestation projects. Ironically, some Western media outlets are now criticizing China for "having too many trees" and reducing desert areas across the globe.

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#18
post #17
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a meme. Just google "china but at what cost" There are probably hundreds of articles with the title at this point China is getting smarter - but at what cost? https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50658538 China's wind industrial policy "succeeded" – but at what cost? https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/energysource/chinas-wi... China Invests in Environment – but at What Cost? https://www.usnews.com/news/best-co…

The sources you've listed don't seem to show any environmental damage. In fact, China has been leading among major nations in environmental protection efforts in recent years. For instance, the destruction of natural forests has been virtually halted, and China has been the most successful country in combating desertification through massive reforestation projects. Ironically, some Western media outlets are now criti…

What are you on... I am not interested in the political slinging that both the west and china deploy large capital in.

I just think it is funny

Re: China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025

#20
post #9
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. But I suspect it's beyond learning. The Chinese may understand nuclear power better than almost anyone else, France not withstanding. I could believe this is a strategic move, to diversify power input sources as well. Look I am not knocking learning, but I don't think thats the key drive here.

yeah I think that hypothesis has legs. China has been trying to diversify their energy portfolio for a long time now. They're also going full steam ahead on wind and solar and is the world leader in battery storage (lithium ion and other types too). Fossil fuel, other than coal, has always been a major weakness for China that can be choked off via the Straits of Malacca. I wonder if powering their reactor using thori…

"full steam ahead on wind and solar" the only two generation strategies that don't involve steam ;)
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