Sizewell C: Cost estimate up to $51 billion
So today we learned that Sizewell C is going to cost twice as much as we were told before. Surprise (not)! £38 billion ($51 billion) for 3.2GW.
And I'll be willing to bet that's not the last cost increase.
Remember how nuclear's cost problem was because we didn't build enough reactors of the same design? Well, assuming it goes ahead,
Remember how nuclear's cost problem was because we didn't build enough reactors of the same design? Well, assuming it goes ahead,
#SizewellC would consist of the 7th and 8th of EDF's EPR design.
So, what N is needed to deliver Nth-of-a-kind cost savings? Any ecomodernists out there want to hazard a guess? And maybe to back it up with their own money, not other people's (and defo not mine)?
Oh, before you claim that whatever is going on is EPR-specific, you serious do well to recall Admiral Rickover's wise words about the difference between academic and real reactors (see image).
The UK government recently committed anither £14.2 billion to Sizewell C, bringing the total to £17.8 billion ($24 billion) so far. If you thought the way the government negotiated with EDF over Hinckley C was bad (being left with only one potential provider), this is much worse: being left with only one provider and then committing 1/2 of the cost up front, before negotiating a power price.
"I'll give you a million pounds to start building me a house. While you do that, we'll negotiate the total price. Please be nice to me."
So, what N is needed to deliver Nth-of-a-kind cost savings? Any ecomodernists out there want to hazard a guess? And maybe to back it up with their own money, not other people's (and defo not mine)?
Oh, before you claim that whatever is going on is EPR-specific, you serious do well to recall Admiral Rickover's wise words about the difference between academic and real reactors (see image).
The UK government recently committed anither £14.2 billion to Sizewell C, bringing the total to £17.8 billion ($24 billion) so far. If you thought the way the government negotiated with EDF over Hinckley C was bad (being left with only one potential provider), this is much worse: being left with only one provider and then committing 1/2 of the cost up front, before negotiating a power price.
"I'll give you a million pounds to start building me a house. While you do that, we'll negotiate the total price. Please be nice to me."
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