The demise of the pebble bed modular reactor (????)

[lektrode]

Re: The demise of the pebble bed modular reactor (????)

considering the luddite brigade has been predicting 'the end' of 'civilization' since the dawn of the industrial age, and mechanization of production...

taint likely nuke power will take us/humanity out either...

[leegs]

Re: The demise of the pebble bed modular reactor (????)

Ghent I hope you're right. My leanings (which are indeed leanings not strong convictions about what I think will happen) are based on the premise that energy-intense fossil fuels were a one-time gift that provided the underpinnings for much of our technological success, and that without continued cheap and easy access to this energy, our growth-based societies and economies won't fare too well, regardless of how clever we are. But as I say, I hope you're right.

[Polish_Silver]

New Technology is very uncertain

The Pebble bed article shows how undertain new technology is. Many utopian expectations fail because they assume progress can be extrapolated, and ignore
the high probability of unforeseen problems. Many good ideas do not work out.

That is why national policy (and personal investment) should not be staked on technological hopes. That includes solar power, which is still very expensive.

Nuclear power is still in a very early stage. Besides pebble beds, there are several other reactor designs and fuel cycles which may prove far superior to current reactors.

The development of nuclear power is so slow because of the political liability.

Look at Fukishima: The worst earthquade in 1000 years, and not a single person died of radiation exposure. Yet world wide, 90% of governments have decided against nuclear power.

Also, an obvious lesson from Fukishima is not to store spent fuel rods at the reactor. Yet, almost every nation is doing exactly that, except perhaps Russia and France.

[Starving Steve]

Re: The demise of the pebble bed modular reactor (????)

Rather than to buy oil from OPEC, especially from that bunch in the Middle East, the best choice we have is a combination of hydro-electric, nuclear, natural gas, and filthy coal.

There is no shortage of energy in the world, and not any more than there is a shortage of fresh water. We have the technology now to be energy rich and to be well-supplied with fresh water. All that we lack now is the will to develop water and energy resources. We can and should proceed to build pebble-bed reactors and to move to thorium as a reactor fuel.