Electric Vehicles. Can anyone make this make sense?

[Hugo Habicht]

How about since 1961?

Nothing happened after that with small reactors because nobody tried this nonsense any more after the SL-1 disaster.

Major incidents with nuclear power were:

2024 Nuclear incident at Khabarovsk, Russia
2022–2023 Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant leak
2019 Radiation release during explosion and fire at Russian nuclear missile test site
2017 Airborne radioactivity increase in Europe in autumn 2017
2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
2010 Mayapuri radiological accident
2007 Radioactive leakage in C.N. Ascó I (Ascó - Tarragona)
2004 Mihama Nuclear Power Plant accident
2001 Instituto Oncologico Nacional radiotherapy accident
2000 Samut Prakan radiation accident, Thailand.[3]
1999 and 1997 Tokaimura nuclear accidents
1996 San Juan de Dios radiotherapy accident
1994 Theft of radioactive material in Tammiku, Estonia.[4]
1993 Tomsk-7 accident at the Reprocessing Complex in Seversk, Russia, when a tank exploded while being cleaned with nitric acid. The explosion released a cloud of radioactive gas (INES level 4).[5]
1990 Clinic of Zaragoza radiotherapy accident
1987 Goiânia accident
1986 Chernobyl disaster and Effects of the Chernobyl disaster
1985 Explosion during refuelling of the K-431 (formerly K-31) submarine
1984 Radiation accident in Morocco
1982 Lost radiation source in Baku, Azerbaijan, USSR.[6]
1980 Houston radiotherapy accident.[6][7]
1979 Church Rock uranium mill spill
1979 Three Mile Island accident and Three Mile Island accident health effects
1974–1976 Columbus radiotherapy accident.[6][7]
1969 Lucens reactor
1968 Thule B-52 crash
1966 Palomares B-52 crash
1964 SNAP 9a satellite releases plutonium over the planet earth, an estimated 630 TBq or 2100 person-Sv[citation needed] of radiation was released.
1962 Thor missile launch failures during nuclear weapons testing at Johnston Atoll under Operation Fishbowl
1962 Radiation accident in Mexico City
1961 SL-1 nuclear meltdown
1961 K-19 nuclear accident
1959 SRE partial nuclear meltdown at Santa Susana Field Laboratory
1958 Mailuu-Suu tailings dam failure
1957 Kyshtym disaster
1957 Windscale fire
1957 Operation Plumbbob
1954 Totskoye nuclear exercise
1946–1954 Bikini Atoll nuclear tests
Hanford Site
Rocky Flats Plant, see also radioactive contamination from the Rocky Flats Plant
Techa River
Pollution of Lake Karachay
1945 and 1946 Demon core
1942 Leipzig L-IV experiment accident

Apart from all that the waste storage problem remains unsolved. But humans do not think from 11 to lunchtime and this is the main reason the human race is on their way out

 

[TheOldHokie]

You obviously did not read the Wikipedia link in post #58

Very impressive, particularly the "cleanup" operation.

Anybody suggesting nuclear should come up with a solution for the storage of the waste for the next 200000 to 500000 years first. And provide the storage cost up front.

Its already back in favor with the capital markets and the the current US administration.

The Palisades decommisioning was abandoned and now restarting with plans to be back online early this year. Federal funding of $1.5B to assist.

TMI (just a little accident) is restarting with plans to be online late this year or early 2027. Another $1.5B in government incentives.

SMRs are the talk of the investment and big tech world with the investors aand the US government throwing more cash that direction.

Dan

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Its already back in favor with the capital markets and the the current US administration.

The Palisades decommisioning was abandoned and now restarting with plans to be back online early this year. Federal funding of $1.5B to assist.

TMI (just a little accident) is restarting with plans to be online late this year or early 2027. Another $1.5B in government incentives.

SMRs are the talk of the investment and big tech world with the investors aand the US government throwing more cash that direction.

Dan

Yes, as Hagrid said: follow the money...

Human stupidity is infinite.

"When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money"

 

[lynnmor]

Russia had small nuclear generators for many years, here is one report. I remember reading of abandoned generators in Siberia many years ago.

 

[ken erickson]

Another case of build it and then worry who is going to pay for it and where the power will come from.

WE Energies in Wi serves about 1.16 million customers. Two data centers are ALREADY in construction which will require WE Energies to DOUBLE it's current electric power production. Let that sink in, 2 data centers will require the same amount of kilowatts as the 1.16 million customers they now serve.

The Public Service commission of Wi which sets rates etc, is just now starting to work out a plan to "protect" the existing customers from large rate increases" which WE Energies will need to pass on to pay for the building of new power plants , lines, etc.

Of course we all know how this will turn out. The little guy has little recourse , the big tech companies building these things will weasel out of paying and covering the huge expenses involved in supplying power to their data centers.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Another case of build it and then worry who is going to pay for it and where the power will come from.

WE Energies in Wi serves about 1.16 million customers. Two data centers are ALREADY in construction which will require WE Energies to DOUBLE it's current electric power production. Let that sink in, 2 data centers will require the same amount of kilowatts as the 1.16 million customers they now serve.

The Public Service commission of Wi which sets rates etc, is just now starting to work out a plan to "protect" the existing customers from large rate increases" which WE Energies will need to pass on to pay for the building of new power plants , lines, etc.

Of course we all know how this will turn out. The little guy has little recourse , the big tech companies building these things will weasel out of paying and covering the huge expenses involved in supplying power to their data centers.

Its scenarios like this that make rooftop solar look very appealing. Cut the cord.

Dan

 

[ken erickson]

Here in central Wi, at 45 degrees north latitude roof top solar is very challenging from a cost and battery storage point of view. Snow build up on panels would be impossible for me to deal with, not that much energy would be produced during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb anyways Lots of cloudy days, weeks.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Here in central Wi, at 45 degrees north latitude roof top solar is very challenging from a cost and battery storage point of view. Snow build up on panels would be impossible for me to deal with, not that much energy would be produced during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb anyways Lots of cloudy days, weeks.

I realize that. But here in eastern MD the opposite is true. I have a 3000 sf shop with a metal roof that could easily power shop and house with capacity left over.

What I am getting at is if/when the cost of centralized generation and distribution gets too high people with the option will go elsewhere.

Dan

 

[jimh406]

Look into what the Texas company Base is doing for a battery based generator backup. Basically, they charge a battery bank during cheaper hours, but the same principle applies to using solar. Charge when the sun is out.

Assuming your load isn't consistent, charge your battery bank with solar, and power your AC equipment from the battery with an inverter. Fwiw, there are used large batteries out there with large capacity.

If you used your battery capacity, you could fall back to typical power grid.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Look into what the Texas company Base is doing for a battery based generator backup. Basically, they charge a battery bank during cheaper hours, but the same principle applies to using solar. Charge when the sun is out.

Assuming your load isn't consistent, charge your battery bank with solar, and power your AC equipment from the battery with an inverter. Fwiw, there are used large batteries out there with large capacity.

If you used your battery capacity, you could fall back to typical power grid.

Exactly. And if the grid operators were FORCED to implement fair net metering pricing you could further amortize costs and help your neighbors.

Dan

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Here in central Wi, at 45 degrees north latitude roof top solar is very challenging from a cost and battery storage point of view. Snow build up on panels would be impossible for me to deal with, not that much energy would be produced during Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb anyways Lots of cloudy days, weeks.

Snow should not be your problem. If going off-grid or optimising your winter yield the panels will be much steeper than 45 degrees anyway. I will put mine on a steel frame in the garden, not on a roof, so easily accessible for cleaning or, in your case, removing snow if required.

Frequent power cuts, due to lack of supply and building of useless data centres, car chargers, heat pump systems etc., are forcing me to go off-grid.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Frequent power cuts, due to lack of supply and building of useless data centres, car chargers, heat pump systems etc., are forcing me to go off-grid.

I think thats a good thing. Widespread point of use generation reduces the need for massive central generation plants and threatens the current monoplistic control model which needs to shrink not grow.

Dan

 

[Daferris]

I went solar during 2025 mainly because the tax credit was going to end. But mine are on a seasonally adjustable ground mount. That tilts from 13.5° to 58.5° so I can adjust the 16kW of panels easily for the best production during the year. I'm around 42.6N also have 64kWh of batteries. Went from June '25 to around Thanksgiving before needing power from the grid due to clouds. Used 157 kWh for December's bill & 82 kWh for January's bill. February's should be up next week when I looked at grid usage online a few days ago it's looking like it will be less than 10 kWh. I'm my case it's working well and should pay for it's self in about 5 years. But I had the land that I could mount them south of the woods.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I went solar during 2025 mainly because the tax credit was going to end. But mine are on a seasonally adjustable ground mount. That tilts from 13.5° to 58.5° so I can adjust the 16kW of panels easily for the best production during the year. I'm around 42.6N also have 64kWh of batteries. Went from June '25 to around Thanksgiving before needing power from the grid due to clouds. Used 157 kWh for December's bill & 82 kWh for January's bill. February's should be up next week when I looked at grid usage online a few days ago it's looking like it will be less than 10 kWh. I'm my case it's working well and should pay for it's self in about 5 years. But I had the land that I could mount them south of the woods.

Are you net metering?

Dan

 

[Hugo Habicht]

I think thats a good thing. Widespread point of use generation reduces the need for massive central generation plants and threatens the current monoplistic control model which needs to shrink not grow.

Problem here is that millions of domestic local supply systems are an environmental disaster. Way too many resources used compared to a centralised supply. Let alone the millions of tons of electronics waste (no, there is no such thing as electronics recycling) we will be faced with in the future. Also from battery cars.

Yes, I am aware that my off-grid supply will contribute to the destruction of the environment. Anything with electronics in it is not long term sustainable. People will see that once society, as we know it, has collapsed.

Nevertheless I am looking forward to say goodbye to my electricity provider with their third world country supply reliability.

 

[Daferris]

Are you net metering?

Dan

No, because the array is bigger than the poco would allow. I was not allowed the "distributed generation" that's what my poco calls their net metering. Instead I had to used something they call "simple renewable" if I wanted to remain connected to the grid. The difference is if I export power I only get paid what the lowest wholesale contract price they pay for power currently ( it's set every 5 years) is $0.046 per kWh.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Problem here is that millions of domestic local supply systems are an environmental disaster. Way too many resources used compared to a centralised supply. Let alone the millions of tons of electronics waste (no, there is no such thing as electronics recycling) we will be faced with in the future. Also from battery cars.

Yes, I am aware that my off-grid supply is contributing to the destruction of the environment. Anything with electronics in it is not long term sustainable. People will see that once society, as we know it, has collapsed.

Have you built and stocked your bunker yet

Assuming you are right I guess its just a matter of choosing the mix of technologies that best prolongs our inevitable doom

Dan

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Have you built and stocked your bunker yet

No, I have not, but I am slowly beginning to consider it

Assuming you are right I guess its just a matter of choosing the mix of technologies that best prolongs our inevitable doom

Yes, I agree. And you cannot win with 8 billion lemmings on the planet, so I just do what I think is right and try not to be too wasteful with the few resources we have left. For example fixing and using a 35 year old lawn tractor with over 6000 hours on the clock

 

[TheOldHokie]

No, because the array is bigger than the poco would allow. I was not allowed the "distributed generation" that's what my poco calls their net metering. Instead I had to used something they call "simple renewable" if I wanted to remain connected to the grid. The difference is if I export power I only get paid what the lowest wholesale contract price they pay for power currently ( it's set every 5 years) is $0.046 per kWh.

Unfortunately thats the case in too many POCO dominated jurisdictions. That was the case here in MD but it has been changed. The POCO has to credit a residential customer at the same rate they charge and the credit is capped at 200% of the customer's annual usage.

Dan

 

[Daferris]

Unfortunately thats the case in too many POCO dominated jurisdictions. That was the case here in MD but it has been changed. The POCO has to credit a residential customer at the same rate they charge and the credit is capped at 200% of the customer's annual usage.

Dan

Here the limit for the distributed generation is 110%. Meanwhile summer the A/C was at 69° to help burn up the excess and on sunny days in the winter. I have about 7.5kW of electric heaters that are programmed to run when more PV is coming in than the batteries need to get fully charged.
That saved the propane when it's too cold for the heat pump ( dual fuel) to run.