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If only the world would have followed Sweden and France [1] and largely de-carbonized their electrical grid by the 90s using primarily nuclear, we would be in a
by Ottolay 5y ago
If only the world would have followed Sweden and France [1] and largely de-carbonized their electrical grid by the 90s using primarily nuclear, we would be in a much better situation when it comes to global warming.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_France#/media/File:FR_ELEC_PROD.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_France#/...
It's 30 years later and countries which push renewables heavily like Germany still have over 40% of their electricity produced from carbon producing sources. [2]
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany#/media/File:Germany's_electricity_generation_by_major_fuel,_energy_sources_and_share_of_electricity_generation_by_fuel,_energy_source,_from_2000_through_2017_(47958295396).png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany#/media/File:...
- fsh 5y agoAccording to TFA, conventional nuclear power plants would exhaust the available uranium resources in 5.7 years if used to provide 100% of the world primary energy. The world could not possibly have followed Sweden and France even if it wanted to.
- Ottolay 5y agoCitation?
- p_l 5y agoFirst graphic. That said, that assumes we only use USA-style LWR/PWRs that depend on natural U-235 to operate, I think, given that the numbers I've seen for reactors operating on unenriched uranium point to more like 50 years as super low-end estimate.
- Ottolay 5y agoMy bad, I forgot what "TFA" was.
- ben_w 5y agoBreeder reactors are a thing. I think the reason we lost interest was down to not needing them rather than anything else, but am prepared to be wrong if that turns out to be an urban legend.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- mro_name 5y agoFrance has an ugly war in Mali because of their dependance on yellowcake AFAIK.
- Ottolay 5y agoFound some articles claiming this but also others disputing it. France does not appear to get much Uranium from Mali.[1] Although I would not put it past them having an interest in future Uranium prospects. [1] "France uses some 12,400 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate (10,500 tonnes of U) per year for its electricity generation. Much of this comes from Areva in Canada (4500 tU/yr) and Niger (3200 tU/yr) together with other imports, principally from Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia, mostly under long-term contracts. Areva perceives the front end of the French fuel cycle as strategic, and invests accordingly." https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/france.aspx https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-pr...