US Unveils Plan to Triple Nuclear Power by 2050 as Demand Soars

[OKIsItJustMe]

18. EDF seems to have lost their mojo

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/edfs-nuclear-project-britain-pushed-back-2029-may-cost-up-34-bln-2024-01-23/

EDF's UK Hinkley Point nuclear plant start date delayed again, costs mount
By Forrest Crellin, Benjamin Mallet and Nina Chestney
January 25, 202412:02 PM EST

PARIS/LONDON, Jan 23 (Reuters) - (This Jan. 23 story has been corrected to say 35% more steel was required, not 70%, in paragraph 13)

French utility EDF on Tuesday again pushed back the start date on its long-delayed 3.2-gigawatt (GW) Hinkley Point C reactor plant in Britain to at least 2029, with a new estimated cost of between 31 billion and 34 billion pounds ($43 billion) based on 2015 values.

The project in southwest England, Britain's first new nuclear plant in more than two decades, was at the last update expected to start operations in June 2027, with an estimated cost of 25-26 billion pounds, which also was a revision of a previous 2025 start date at a cost then estimated at 18 billion pounds. EDF had initially said it would be powering British homes in 2017.

EDF said that the new target date is based on current productivity goals as the company shifts to the ramp-up of electro-mechanical work, following the installment of the dome on unit one in December.

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If the French cannot build a reactor on schedule, what makes you think the American nuclear industry can? Perhaps it was the stunning success of Vogtle?

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/southern-cos-long-delayed-vogtle-unit-4-nuclear-reactor-enters-commercial-2024-04-29/

Southern Co's long-delayed Vogtle unit 4 nuclear reactor enters commercial operations
By Reuters
April 29, 202411:55 AM EDT

April 29 (Reuters) - Southern Co's (SO.N), opens new tab Vogtle unit 4 nuclear reactor has entered commercial operation after years of running behind schedule, the utility firm's Georgia unit said on Monday.

The Vogtle two-unit expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia has been hailed as a major milestone for the U.S. nuclear power industry as they are the nation's first large-scale nuclear reactors in decades. Vogtle unit 3 had entered commercial operation in July 2023.

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When Georgia approved the Vogtle expansion in 2009, the two reactors were expected to cost about $14 billion and enter service in 2016 and 2017. However, along with the delays, the costs have ballooned to $30 billion.

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Maybe it was the NuScale triumph? Small Modular Reactors are supposed to be quick and easy to install making their power cheap in comparison to projects like Vogtle:

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/nuscale-power-uamps-agree-terminate-nuclear-project-2023-11-08/

NuScale ends Utah project, in blow to US nuclear power ambitions
By Timothy Gardner and Manas Mishra
November 9, 2023 1:19 PM EST

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NuScale Power said on Wednesday it has agreed with a power group in Utah to terminate the company's small modular reactor project, dealing a blow to U.S. ambitions for a wave of nuclear energy to fight climate change and sending NuScale's shares down 20%.

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NuScale's Utah plant was expected to be the first SMR to win a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for construction. But NuScale said it appeared unlikely the project will have enough subscription to continue toward deployment.

NuScale said in January the target price for power from the plant was $89 per megawatt hour, up 53% from the previous estimate of $58 per MWh, raising concerns about customers' willingness to pay.

An Energy Department spokesperson said it was unfortunate news, but added, "We believe the work accomplished to date on CFPP will be valuable for future nuclear energy projects.

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As for China, they’re deploying wind and solar much faster than nuclear power: