OT: “Mini” Nuclear power plants

[T-TownDawgg]

Not political.

In conjunction with the new chip manufacturers coming to Arizona, a company In Washington state says it is fast tracking plans to build small nuke plants in TX. These will be the model for providing power to these chip manufacturers and data centers, meaning no further outside electric infrastructure will be needed.

Last Energy | 20 MWe SMR | Fully modular, factory made

Last Energy is a new nuclear energy solution for customers of any size – rapidly deploying, affordable, clean, baseload power at scale with a full-service delivery model.

www.lastenergy.com

Very interesting. My mind is swirling with the possibilities, but I’m no EE, and definitely not a nuclear regulator.

Thoughts? I’ll hang up and listen.

 

[57stratdawg]

**

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Not political.

In conjunction with the new chip manufacturers coming to Arizona, a company In Washington state says it is fast tracking plans to build small nuke plants in TX. These will be the model for providing power to these chip manufacturers and data centers, meaning no further outside electric infrastructure will be needed.

Last Energy | 20 MWe SMR | Fully modular, factory made

Last Energy is a new nuclear energy solution for customers of any size – rapidly deploying, affordable, clean, baseload power at scale with a full-service delivery model.

www.lastenergy.com

Very interesting. My mind is swirling with the possibilities, but I’m no EE, and definitely not a nuclear regulator.

Thoughts? I’ll hang up and listen.

Lot of investment in small nuclear. I know Bill Gates is in among other tech investors. Makes sense so it will probably hit some red tape roadblock…

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Lot of investment in small nuclear. I know Bill Gates is in among other tech investors. Makes sense so it will probably hit some red tape roadblock…

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I am a fan of nuclear. Of course they have an absurd amount our natural gas already there, so sure invest in something else. Trying not to be cynical or political.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

Not political.

In conjunction with the new chip manufacturers coming to Arizona, a company In Washington state says it is fast tracking plans to build small nuke plants in TX. These will be the model for providing power to these chip manufacturers and data centers, meaning no further outside electric infrastructure will be needed.

Last Energy | 20 MWe SMR | Fully modular, factory made

Last Energy is a new nuclear energy solution for customers of any size – rapidly deploying, affordable, clean, baseload power at scale with a full-service delivery model.

www.lastenergy.com

Very interesting. My mind is swirling with the possibilities, but I’m no EE, and definitely not a nuclear regulator.

Thoughts? I’ll hang up and listen.

I'm not an engineer either, but both the nuke plant and the chip manufacturing seem like they're gonna require a lot of water at some point. Both for the people who are located there to run them and for the processes themselves, particularly the power plant. Where is that water coming from in Arizona? I lived in coastal California for a bit and water was the limiting factor in lots of manufacturing and residential location decisions.

 

[WilCoDawg]

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

Are you okay?

 

[turkish]

Not political.

In conjunction with the new chip manufacturers coming to Arizona, a company In Washington state says it is fast tracking plans to build small nuke plants in TX. These will be the model for providing power to these chip manufacturers and data centers, meaning no further outside electric infrastructure will be needed.

Last Energy | 20 MWe SMR | Fully modular, factory made

Last Energy is a new nuclear energy solution for customers of any size – rapidly deploying, affordable, clean, baseload power at scale with a full-service delivery model.

www.lastenergy.com

Very interesting. My mind is swirling with the possibilities, but I’m no EE, and definitely not a nuclear regulator.

Thoughts? I’ll hang up and listen.

I don’t know if they’ll ever catch on. I’ve always heard them referred to as SMRs, small modular reactors. They check a lot of boxes for a lot of the big difficulties modern industry has with reducing GHG emissions.

And, yes, the water use concerns me too.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

If it’s feasible go for it. I think nuclear needs to be in our comprehensive energy plan.

 

[mstateglfr]

If it can operate safely and cooled effectively, go for it.
As for where to store the nuclear waste...send it to space and don't think about it again.
If any that blows up on a failed launch?...well 17 it I guess we only live once.

 

[MSTerritoryDog]

Energy diversification is crucial. If mini nuclear plant gets us there then give it a shot. I think France is pursuing this model.

 

[GloryDawg]

Those things have been powering US Naval ships since the 60's. How much developing does it take? Hell the navy has guys with out college degree runing those things. They know how to keep them safe.

 

[The Peeper]

Are you okay?

Hopefully, not

 

[The Peeper]

I think France is pursuing this model.

Then it's a no from me

 

[GloryDawg]

I have never heard Trump say he was against Nuclear Power. I think if it will work, make America more independent, bring prices down he will approve.

 

[T-TownDawgg]

If it can operate safely and cooled effectively, go for it.
As for where to store the nuclear waste...send it to space and don't think about it again.
If any that blows up on a failed launch?...well 17 it I guess we only live once.

Spent fuel storage is addressed in that company’s FAQ’s
And refueling for these things is ~40 yrs away, so let them kids deal with that shiiiiit along with the national debt.***

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Are you okay?

Nope. The idea that half wits like yourself are in charge keep me pretty 17ing far from “okay”.

MAGA mayun hayul Yayuh fuccem

 

[T-TownDawgg]

MAGA mayun hayul Yayuh fuccem

As much as you type this
cRAzYSOunDING sTUhf
in so many of your posts,
Tells us much about the voices in your head.
Get help, or just stop. The schtick is old and it makes your posts read as dumb as the idiots you’re trying to lampoon.

 

[mcdawg22]

Energy diversification is crucial. If mini nuclear plant gets us there then give it a shot. I think France is pursuing this model.

 

[dawgoneyall]

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

Damn, does that TDS hurt.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

If it can operate safely and cooled effectively, go for it.
As for where to store the nuclear waste...send it to space and don't think about it again.
If any that blows up on a failed launch?...well 17 it I guess we only live once.

 

[leeinator]

Elon is already talking about expanding the currently largest AI data center in the world in south Memphis. I think he calls it the "Grok" if I'm not mistaken. Where that name came from, I have no idea. That means that TVA is going to have to somehow get him enough power to run the thang. There's an old coal plant next to him, but it is almost running at a minimum. They might have to bring it back on line to the max or build, like you say,.....a mini nuke plant to run it. Cooling it won't be a problem with the Mississippi River a short distance from the plant. AI is taking over the world boys! We'll soon be having robots to do all the menial jobs around the world. Lot of folk gonna be without jobs.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Elon is already talking about expanding the currently largest AI data center in the world in south Memphis. I think he calls it the "Grok" if I'm not mistaken. Where that name came from, I have no idea. That means that TVA is going to have to somehow get him enough power to run the thang. There's an old coal plant next to him, but it is almost running at a minimum. They might have to bring it back on line to the max or build, like you say,.....a mini nuke plant to run it. Cooling it won't be a problem with the Mississippi River a short distance from the plant. AI is taking over the world boys! We'll soon be having robots to do all the menial jobs around the world. Lot of folk gonna be without jobs.

It’s funny to me that you old folks celebrate that sort of thing.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Elon is already talking about expanding the currently largest AI data center in the world in south Memphis. I think he calls it the "Grok" if I'm not mistaken. Where that name came from, I have no idea. That means that TVA is going to have to somehow get him enough power to run the thang. There's an old coal plant next to him, but it is almost running at a minimum. They might have to bring it back on line to the max or build, like you say,.....a mini nuke plant to run it. Cooling it won't be a problem with the Mississippi River a short distance from the plant. AI is taking over the world boys! We'll soon be having robots to do all the menial jobs around the world. Lot of folk gonna be without jobs.

You think they use a 1 or 2 ply filter on that river water?

 

[MSTerritoryDog]

Elon is already talking about expanding the currently largest AI data center in the world in south Memphis. I think he calls it the "Grok" if I'm not mistaken. Where that name came from, I have no idea. That means that TVA is going to have to somehow get him enough power to run the thang. There's an old coal plant next to him, but it is almost running at a minimum. They might have to bring it back on line to the max or build, like you say,.....a mini nuke plant to run it. Cooling it won't be a problem with the Mississippi River a short distance from the plant. AI is taking over the world boys! We'll soon be having robots to do all the menial jobs around the world. Lot of folk gonna be without jobs.

I’ll probably be booed off stage for this, but coal has a place in a diversified energy plan. We should get 15-25% of our energy from across different energy sources to allow us to tweak the mix as needed. Locking into one or two sources puts us into the situation Germany is in right now; heavily reliant upon natural gas imports.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

If it can operate safely and cooled effectively, go for it.
As for where to store the nuclear waste...send it to space and don't think about it again.
If any that blows up on a failed launch?...well 17 it I guess we only live once.

As I understand it there are some new cooling methods that reduce water needs. Localized generation should help a lot with delivery efficiency, substantially reducing power line loss, so at least you should get the benefit of actually using a lot more of the energy you produce.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Damn, does that TDS hurt.

Is it reasonable to expect someone sworn to uphold the Constitution to not trample it and then ignore the legal system when it tells him that he can’t legally do something? Since 2016 Trump has progressively said something that everyone , including the MAGAs says is bat$hit crazy with MAGAs saying that that’s just Trump he would never really do it, then he does it, and depending on how bad it is, like 1/6 or Zelenskyy meeting, most are appalled and get it right that it is EXACTLY as bad as it looked and sounded. Then MAGA tells everyone what they should think about it and then they justify the bad behavior. The Trump says something even crazier. Then does it. Repeat cycle.

We have three parties. Democrats who can’t seem to come up with anything that appeals to America policy wise, for the most part. Republicans who have been neutered by Trump and no longer value law and order, morality or anything but power.

Finally, the MAGA Party that demands loyalty to Trump, not our country or Constitution or laws and they are actively pushing only Trump loyalists into power, just like Project 2025 prescribes, on a playbook straight form 1930’s Germany. I was told on here that Trump knew nothing about Project 2025, but here he is executing and empowering its founder in his admin.

It took 2 years for Germany to go from Democracy to autocracy. Hitler supporters justified his increasing evil behavior until we had a Holocaust. I don’t know that the modern world will tolerate a Holocaust, but we don’t have to get that far for the love of authoritarianism to ruin our free country.

you do not dismantle democracy to “save” democracy. Wake up. Trump is a narcissist. That means literally every time you hear him accuse someone of something it is because he is either doing it or will be soon.

I’ll be learning to grift like Trump and opening a webstore with shirts that read “I gave up my freedom and all I got was higher egg prices”. Get your pre-orders in now.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I’ll probably be booed off stage for this, but coal has a place in a diversified energy plan. We should get 15-25% of our energy from across different energy sources to allow us to tweak the mix as needed. Locking into one or two sources puts us into the situation Germany is in right now; heavily reliant upon natural gas imports.

We are now aligned with Russia. We good in natural gas. Thank goodness we came around to the side of the good guys.***

 

[RiverCityDawg]

Every major utility in the US is currently looking at SMR's and many have already sent out RFPs to manufacturers. There's only one project in development currently, of which Gates is a major investor, but it's not going to make it. With that said there are a few different technologies that show a lot more promise.

The biggest issue is still cost. Without the government stepping in and incentivizing the way it did for renewables (or a billionaire picking up the tab), we're still a ways off on SMRs making sense financially. It's still just way more cost efficient to build a gas fired power plant. I guess cost inefficiency hasn't stopped development of other technologies, so maybe it won't stop this one... At least this one should be reliable for 24 hours.

Overall, I'm very optimistic about them long term. I would say we're probably ~10 years off from the first SMR being up and running in the US. Other countries are further ahead, so will be interesting to follow that development.

 

[The Cooterpoot]

Nope. The idea that half wits like yourself are in charge keep me pretty 17ing far from “okay”.

MAGA mayun hayul Yayuh fuccem

Stop, you're leaving a snell trail on my screen. You understand the more things like power plants increases the opportunity for power grid expansion, thus making electric cars a more viable option right? They aren't viable when the power grid is too old/small and the charge takes hours. Looks like they're working on a charger that works within the car themselves now too. It's not that people don't want electric cars, it's they aren't viable at this point.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Finally, the MAGA Party that demands loyalty to Trump, not our country or Constitution or laws and they are actively pushing only Trump loyalists into power, just like Project 2025 prescribes, on a playbook straight form 1930’s Germany. I was told on here that Trump knew nothing about Project 2025, but here he is executing and empowering its founder in his admin.

Russ Vought LITERALLY SAYS he wants this. And MAGAs just lap it up.

We are in dangerous territory.

 

[tbaydog]

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

 

[tbaydog]

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

 

[TXDawg.sixpack]

With the current administration, yes.

Drill baby drill. Even if in a national park. Drive a gas guzzler to work everyday to a draconian office (17 Microsoft Teams). And of course 17 EVs and hybrids (unless it’s Elon’s).

Let’s just be as old school as possible. Gulf of America! America’s deep water drills, anyway.

What anti-intelligent world am I living in?

Seriously? The current administration is literally promoting co-location of data centers and commercial nuclear power:

Will the Trump Administration Clear a Path through the Nuclear Regulatory Thicket for the Co-Location of Data Centers with Nuclear Generation? (Part 1 of 2)

During his first week in office, President Trump issued Executive Orders on Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Declaring

www.insideenergyandenvironment.com

From the article:

The Trump Administration has positioned itself as supporting the rapid deployment of both co-location and nuclear energy. President Trump has promoted co-location as a solution for data centers, and on February 7 the Secretary of Energy put out an order implementing Unleashing American Energy which states that the Department will take actions to “unleash commercial nuclear power in the United States” and “streamline permitting.”

 

[GloryDawg]

Not that it really matters but...

North America
Central America
South America
Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of America makes sense.

 

[Marler]

Do you believe every Democrat talking point

Nothing can be done on the boarder unless a bill can be passed.

How is Trump going to create all these jobs. Is he going to wave his magic wand.

I can’t wait for the next 4 years

Hopefully you will be a MAGA fan by the time it’s over

 

[bolddogge]

In before the lock!
Good job GoatShack.

 

[ckDOG]

Damn, does that TDS hurt.

TDS! Drink!

 

[thatsbaseball]

Not that it really matters but...

North America
Central America
South America
Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of America makes sense.

Well after we invade Mexico we'll rename it too **

 

[leeinator]

You think they use a 1 or 2 ply filter on that river water?

Probably a standard plate & frame with a polyester media would suffice.