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In 4 years, US power grid increased battery storage to the equivalent of 20 nuclear reactors | The Optimist Daily (www.optimistdaily.com)

submitted 1 week ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of battery capacity have been added to the US electric grid in the last four years. This rapid expansion is equivalent to the production of 20 nuclear reactors and is crucial for averting power disruptions, especially in states that rely significantly on intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Can we still get a nuclear reactor or two though?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I don't think anyone really should have a problem with nuclear being built.

Just as long as the government doesn't have to pay for the construction, or for running costs including subsidising electricity or for the clean up costs. If a company wants to go ahead and pay for it I say let them.

They wouldn't because it would be financially stupid. But I wouldn't be against it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The government should be building long term waste storage and mandating it's use by the nuclear facilities at cost.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yea I agree with that actually.

But the point was when the cost is held by the companies it is a bad idea for them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

True, the companies get subsidised to build meaning you already paid for a lot of the up front cost through your taxes and are later price gouged again. And once it's over probably they stick the populace with the waste and decommissioning costs.

Example in the Netherlands, we actually had a foundation setup to run the nuclear powerplant, and they had to reserve money for the decommissioning. Once the end of the reactors life was passed, the decommissioning was paid for from the foundation, the money that was left was paid to the shareholders. Turned out the decommissioning was 20 million more expensive... Guess who had to pay...