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Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

antaresindustries.com

11–20 of 122 posts

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#11

I am still quite confused on the scientific consensus: Should we double down on renewable energy and solve its issues with lots of batteries or should we invest in next generation nuclear energy? Both at the same time? Does anyone know?

Both at the same time. I don't see how putting all our eggs in a single basket benefits us.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#12

I am still quite confused on the scientific consensus: Should we double down on renewable energy and solve its issues with lots of batteries or should we invest in next generation nuclear energy? Both at the same time? Does anyone know?

Government should tax / provide incentives based on negative externalities such as environmental impact and let the free market decide

https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2022-04/LCA_3_FINAL%20...

I think a low carbon mix will result in the cheapest, most reliable and cleanest energy grid.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#13
post #8
post #7

> "The Trump administration is proud to support the rebirth of America’s nuclear industry and ensuring Americans have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for generations to come." > "The demonstration and the licensing pathway it establishes represent a key step toward deploying electricity-producing microreactors for U.S. military installations by September 30, 2028." So which is it? Power to the people…

Why would microreactor concepts not be suitable for commercial use? History is overwhelmed with examples of large, rare and expensive tech being produced in small cheap packages and becoming massive commercial successes that make the old way look primitive.

Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient. And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#14

I am still quite confused on the scientific consensus: Should we double down on renewable energy and solve its issues with lots of batteries or should we invest in next generation nuclear energy? Both at the same time? Does anyone know?

When it comes to avoiding the worst impacts of the current catastrophic path we’re on, “nothing will work, but everything might”.

Do it all.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#15
post #7

> "The Trump administration is proud to support the rebirth of America’s nuclear industry and ensuring Americans have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for generations to come." > "The demonstration and the licensing pathway it establishes represent a key step toward deploying electricity-producing microreactors for U.S. military installations by September 30, 2028." So which is it? Power to the people…

"Antares is a nuclear fission energy company developing compact microreactors for defense and space applications"

[dead]

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#16

I am still quite confused on the scientific consensus: Should we double down on renewable energy and solve its issues with lots of batteries or should we invest in next generation nuclear energy? Both at the same time? Does anyone know?

China does: all of the above, where it makes sense.

Renewables and batteries to keep your AC, workplace EV charger, stove, pool heater and (since recently) green ammonia producer going, nuclear to prevent e.g. aluminium smelters from seizing up.

Also the cheapest way to make renewables work 24/7 is to build HVDC lines - they cost as much as a highway per unit length and even undersea cables would deploy for less and faster than equivalent nuclear.

The total length of HVDC lines just in China is currently more than 40k km, so they've literally deployed enough of them to wrap around the globe.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#17
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would microreactor concepts not be suitable for commercial use? History is overwhelmed with examples of large, rare and expensive tech being produced in small cheap packages and becoming massive commercial successes that make the old way look primitive.

Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient. And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities.

> Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient

Rooftop solar is an example of small scale decentralized energy production, maximum efficiency is not the only relevant metric.

> And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities

Why not? If they're considered safe and pass all inspections, what's the problem?

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#18
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would microreactor concepts not be suitable for commercial use? History is overwhelmed with examples of large, rare and expensive tech being produced in small cheap packages and becoming massive commercial successes that make the old way look primitive.

Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient. And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities.

On the other hand you can scale production of reactor themselves. And I don't think the idea is to scatter them around, but to have a power plant with dozens of them in one place (instead of 3-4 regular reactors in a regular nuke power plant).

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#19
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would microreactor concepts not be suitable for commercial use? History is overwhelmed with examples of large, rare and expensive tech being produced in small cheap packages and becoming massive commercial successes that make the old way look primitive.

Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient. And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities.

I think that may be exactly wrong. The small scale may make it easier for a reactor to be “walk away safe” ie shut itself down absent external activity. I know that is a design goal of some of the Chinese micro reactors and those are used for civilian power generation.

Secondly although generating large amounts of power is more efficient in terms of generation, generating power close to the point of use is significantly more efficient in terms of power loss on the grid as I understand it.

Re: Antares achieves criticality of Mark-0 reactor

#20
post #13
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would microreactor concepts not be suitable for commercial use? History is overwhelmed with examples of large, rare and expensive tech being produced in small cheap packages and becoming massive commercial successes that make the old way look primitive.

Because large scale production is generally more scalable and efficient. And you probably don't want dozens of "microreactors" scattered across cities.

Large scale production of commodity goods is generally more efficient. Which is why microreactors don't seem to have any inherent disadvantages. The efficiencies tend to kick in with the raw number of items produced.
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