Nuclear Power

[JEMC]

silicon said:

JEMC said:

Dr.Grass said:

JEMC said:

Dr.Grass said:

silicon said:

Expensive financially or also energetically?

Both. The energy yield is just about positive, but it costs an enormous amount of money.

As far as I know there is only 1 fission nuclear, the ITER project in France, and they are still building the facilities. Acording to Wikipedia, the cost is around € 15 billion and allegedly will produce 500 MW while consuming 50 MW.

Ja that's the one they're trying to get working. Those figures are open to speculation though.

True. It will probably end up costing € 18-20 billion, producing 400 MW and consuming 80-100 MW. ;)

If they can get that 80-100 MW from a renewable source then it could be really interesting.

Any idea how long they last and the energy required to make the reactor?

First let me say that those 80-100 MW are the power requested just to make it work (it's predicted to be around 50 MW but since it's all theory you never know, it could end being twice as many, hence those 80-100 that I said) and they would be generated by the reaction itself.

After the start up, which would need to be powered from an external source, the plant will produce is expected to produce 500 MW of which 50 will be used just to power the plant.

They are still building it, and acording to wikipedia (not the most reliable source, I know) they expect to generate the first plasma by 2019, start the reaction by 2026 (yes, apparently they will need all that time) and finish the experiment by 2036.

So no, it's not a viable solution in the short term.