• HaiZhung@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    France has been importing more electricity than exporting in 2022 because their nuclear reactors can’t perform in the heat resulting from climate change. And this is more likely to happen again as each year becomes hotter.

    I’m not sure where this fetishism for France‘s nuclear energy is coming from.

    • Obline@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You’re quoting 2022 because that year >30% of the reactrors were taken offline for maintenance. The French government is also shutting down nuclear reactors due to lack of funding & outdated technology.

      This is not an inherant problem with nuclear, but because the French government hasn’t invested since the 70s.

      If funding wasn’t cut (due to environmental activists), the output would be more than needed.

      Nuclear is still our best bet for combatting climate change and reducing carbon emissions.

      • HaiZhung@feddit.de
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        1 year ago

        Im quoting 2022 because this was last year. As in, the most recent year.

        I don’t disagree that we should have phased out coal instead of nuclear first. But what has happened has happened. I do disagree that we need a „nuclear renessaince“ now, because neither the economics nor the timelines work out at this point in time. Solar and wind is cheaper, faster to build, and more flexible as you can iterate on their designs MUCH more quickly than nuclear plants. That’s the main reason why solar panel efficiency is going through the roof.

        Why cannibalize the investments in what obviously works?