Bill Gates-backed nuclear contender Terra Power aims to build dozens of UK reactors::A Bill Gates-backed clean energy player is hoping to build dozens of nuclear reactors in the UK and will compete with global rivals.

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14 points

And electric cars have had over 100 years, so should we have given up on them? Your argument is flawed.

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-10 points

Not at all. We’ve seen massive advancements with EVs, 300+ miles ranges for under $40k are common now. Has nuclear both gotten more capable and cheaper during its lifetime? The answer is a resounding no.

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9 points

All of those EV advancements were only in the passed 20 years.

The first electric vehicle was made well over 100 years ago. Until very recently they were considered wildly expensive and impractical.

You consider nuclear to me unnecessary and impractical because we’ve had the tech for 75 years and it’s still expensive. Yet nuclear tech is younger than EVs, and you discredit advancements because… reasons.

Your stance confuses me.

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-5 points

Why is it confusing? One is a battery on wheels, the other is controlled nuclear fission, creating steam to drive turbines for electricity generation.

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3 points

The technology of modern reactors ,like the one in the article, is a greater advancement from early reactors that the 1900th century electric car to a modern one.

The materials, manufacturing techniques, fuels, controls, and components are only achievable due to modern advancements.

The latest reactors will be cheaper, more efficient, and safer. They are a necessary stopgap to overcome the transient nature of renewable energy in the UK and an important piece in ensuring energy availability and detachment from from fossil fuels.

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-6 points

Oh come on. Cheaper? Nuclear reactors frequently go way over budget and take longer than promised to build.

We don’t need nuclear as a stopgap, in fact, it’s not helpful to have base load at all with renewables - nuclear has to run at as close to 100% uptime as possible to make any financial sense. What do you do on windy, sunny days when renewables are generating more power than is required? You can’t switch off a nuclear plant very quickly.

Nuclear makes no sense any more. We need to save the cash and invest in more renewables and storage, and an upgraded power grid.

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