The entire global military aparatas, from mobile headquarters, in-country bases, and submarines, is hardly a niche. And no, that’s also not how it’s done all over the world, that’s how it’s done in modern western countries. SMRs would work very well in rocky or rainforest regions, or areas where speed of deployment is more important (kick starting a region pre-solar, or brownout coverage, for instance).
Dont get me wrong, I’m making this point because SMRs have a place. I do believe solar should be the vast, vast majority of global energy production until something better comes along.
Well, the military have already figured it out it seems. And compared to the rest of the world it’s niche IMO.
For “poor countries”, solar + batteries is better than classic nuclear, so why build SMRs that are just much more expensive and take ages to build compared to solar (except in some niche places)?
We know how to do solar, transporting electricity etc. SMRs not so much, and they will be more expensive too. I just see absolutely no positive side for it for regular use. The nightmare having nuclear stuff all over the place is just an extra horror.
Like on the north pole maybe, but otherwise it’s just a massive loss of economy of scale.
Uhh any major metropolitan area without US large area infrastructure? Also, underwater.
Cheaper to drag a cable there.
I… don’t think you are thinking this through.
That’s how it’s done all over the place though. Sure, you can probably find some niche but in general I bet electric transport is better.
The entire global military aparatas, from mobile headquarters, in-country bases, and submarines, is hardly a niche. And no, that’s also not how it’s done all over the world, that’s how it’s done in modern western countries. SMRs would work very well in rocky or rainforest regions, or areas where speed of deployment is more important (kick starting a region pre-solar, or brownout coverage, for instance).
Dont get me wrong, I’m making this point because SMRs have a place. I do believe solar should be the vast, vast majority of global energy production until something better comes along.
Well, the military have already figured it out it seems. And compared to the rest of the world it’s niche IMO.
For “poor countries”, solar + batteries is better than classic nuclear, so why build SMRs that are just much more expensive and take ages to build compared to solar (except in some niche places)?
We know how to do solar, transporting electricity etc. SMRs not so much, and they will be more expensive too. I just see absolutely no positive side for it for regular use. The nightmare having nuclear stuff all over the place is just an extra horror.