Latest news with #APR-1400
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nuclear power offers Colorado communities a lifeline
(Stock photo by) As Coloradans, we share a commitment to clean air and a sustainable future. But the state's current energy plans — the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0 and Pathways to Deep Decarbonization — risk leaving us with an unstable grid, soaring bills, and missed opportunities for real economic revitalization. Let's examine the flaws in our renewables-only approach and explore a better path forward. Colorado's goal of 95% wind and solar ignores a critical fact: These sources are intermittent. When the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining, grid operators scramble to fire up backup gas plants. Xcel Energy's own 2021 study revealed that wind integration costs rise sharply as reliance grows, requiring expensive grid upgrades and reserve gas capacity. Meanwhile, Colorado's existing coal plants — slated for closure by 2031 — currently provide stable, 24/7 power. Replacing them with weather-dependent renewables risks repeating Germany's mistakes, where electricity prices spiked to $1,025 per megawatt-hour during calm, cold spells in 2024. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Proponents claim wind is 'zero-emission,' but this ignores reality. Wind turbines require gas-powered plants to stabilize the grid during low-wind periods. A 2021 study of Colorado's grid found that balancing wind with coal plants increased sulfur dioxide emissions by 23% and nitrogen oxides by 27%. Even Xcel's system relies on gas for 29% of generation today — a dependency that will grow as coal retires. Wind isn't cheap either. While turbines have low operating costs, their total system expenses — transmission, storage, and balancing plants — are staggering. Xcel's $15 billion proposal for new wind and solar in 2023 came with a $628/month projected average bill by 2040. Germany's 'Energiewende' — a renewables-focused transition — offers a cautionary tale. In December 2024, a week-long 'dunkelflaute' caused wind output to plummet to 3 gigawatts (versus an average of 19 GW). The electricity price surge forced industries to halt production and households to brace for unaffordable bills. Building interstate transmission lines, as proposed in Colorado's Pathways plan, won't solve this. During regional calm periods — common in winter — interconnects spread scarcity, as seen in Europe's 2024 price crisis. Do we want California causing our prices to spike? Nuclear energy offers what wind and solar cannot: 24/7 clean power at stable costs. South Korea's APR-1400 reactors — like those at the Shin Hanul plant — cost $3,571/kW to build, far below the U.S. average of $5,833/kW. These reactors deliver power at $29/MWh, matching Xcel's current wind contracts. Critics claim nuclear construction is too slow, but South Korea built four APR-1400 units in the UAE in 10 years — faster than Colorado's 17-year timeline for wind/solar builds. Retired coal plants like Craig and Comanche already have transmission lines and skilled workers, making them ideal sites. Nuclear isn't just about electrons — it's about jobs. A single APR-1400 reactor creates 900 construction jobs and 300 permanent roles paying $80,000–$120,000 annually. These are union-compatible, career-track positions, unlike temporary wind/solar gigs. For Pueblo, Craig, and Hayden — communities facing coal closures — nuclear offers a lifeline. South Korea's recent $17.4 billion contract to build reactors in the Czech Republic proves this model works globally. Colorado can replicate this success. Colorado's energy plans are at a crossroads. We can continue betting on unreliable renewables, rising bills, and destabilized grids — or pivot to nuclear: Reliability: Nuclear provides 'always-on' power, eliminating blackout risks. Affordability: Stable 80-plus-year plant lifespans lock in low costs. Jobs: Replace lost coal jobs with high-wage nuclear careers. The Legislature should amend its low carbon goal to explicitly exclude electricity generation that requires carbon emitting backup. And with that change the Colorado Energy Office should then amend the Roadmap and Pathways to stop further wind (solar has a useful role) and use nuclear for our base load. Let's learn from Germany's mistakes, not repeat them. By embracing proven nuclear technology, Colorado can achieve true decarbonization — without sacrificing reliability or burdening families. Our energy future is too important to leave to outdated ideologies. Let's choose pragmatism over dogma and build a grid that's clean, reliable, and inexpensive. Otherwise we continue down our present path to expensive, unreliable, carbon emitting energy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
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Korea Herald
19-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Kim Jong-hoon] Nuclear power can reenergize US, Korea
The age of the AI transformation is upon us, driven by profound breakthroughs in AI technology. Entire industries and societies are poised for disruption by innovations such as ChatGPT, with the United States standing at the forefront of this transformation. Yet these extraordinary strides come with a formidable challenge: the explosive demand for energy to power the AI data centers that enable such growth. According to Reuters, energy consumption by AI data centers in the US is expected to triple by 2028, accounting for as much as 12 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. Given this significant strain on the power grid, nuclear energy is becoming more critical as a key energy source to address this challenge. Unlike intermittent renewables such as wind and solar, nuclear power offers a stable, continuous supply capable of satisfying the demand of energy-intensive infrastructures such as AI data centers. Despite this potential, however, nuclear power plant construction in the US is progressing much more slowly than expected. Plant Vogtle in Georgia, for instance, was delayed by over seven years with excess costs ballooning to about $20 billion, while the VC Summer expansion project in South Carolina was abandoned at 40 percent completion after drawing investments worth $10 billion. Similar setbacks have plagued nuclear projects in other nations. Electricite de France's Flamanville 3 in France and Finland's Olkiluoto 3 suffered delays extending over a decade and costs exceeding the tens of billions. These cases highlight the complexity and unpredictability of nuclear projects, underscoring the need for more efficient and cost-effective alternatives. On the other hand, South Korea is globally recognized for its competitive nuclear power plant construction. What the nation brings to the table is its unparalleled ability to deliver projects on time and on budget. The successful completion of four APR-1400 reactors for the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE within the agreed timeframe and budget stands as a testament to South Korea's efficient supply chain management and robust project execution. By working together, South Korea and the US can alleviate uncertainties in construction and execute stable, cost-effective nuclear projects. Moreover, strengthening nuclear cooperation between the US and South Korea is essential for energy security. The US currently relies on Russia for 25 percent of its enriched uranium -- a clear vulnerability in its nuclear supply chain that can be readily addressed through Korea-US cooperation. Resuming the High-Level Bilateral Commission on nuclear energy would be a critical step in that direction. The HLBC serves as the official platform for coordinating bilateral nuclear policies, engaging in far-reaching discussions on technological cooperation, supply chain stabilization and nonproliferation. Jumpstarting these talks will enable our two nations to successfully complete nuclear projects on the basis of our close cooperation while solidifying our leadership in the future nuclear market. If the US and South Korea cooperate, the two nations could not only secure leadership in nuclear construction within the US but also in the global market. With the US providing the technological expertise and funding, and South Korea demonstrating its proven capabilities in engineering, procurement and construction, we can ensure the effective rollout of large-scale light-water reactors and small modular reactors. Not only will this partnership guarantee reliable energy that is so crucial in the era of AI but it will also help respond to the growing global demand for nuclear power. US-South Korea nuclear cooperation will be a strategic alliance that goes beyond mere industrial collaboration, helping to design the energy security and economic future of both nations. The revival of the HLBC will be a vital step toward advancing this collaboration and resolving the energy demand in the Age of AI while positioning both nations as leaders in the global nuclear energy industry.
![[Kim Jong-hoon] US-South Korea nuclear cooperation](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F02%2F18%2Fnews-p.v1.20250218.699b75338ade499296ab00930ab52f88_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
18-02-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Kim Jong-hoon] US-South Korea nuclear cooperation
The age of the AI transformation is upon us, driven by profound breakthroughs in AI technology. Entire industries and societies are poised for disruption by innovations such as ChatGPT, with the United States standing at the forefront of this transformation. Yet these extraordinary strides come with a formidable challenge: the explosive demand for energy to power the AI data centers that enable such growth. According to Reuters, energy consumption by AI data centers in the US is expected to triple by 2028, accounting for as much as 12 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. Given this significant strain on the power grid, nuclear energy is becoming more critical as a key energy source to address this challenge. Unlike intermittent renewables such as wind and solar, nuclear power offers a stable, continuous supply capable of satisfying the demand of energy-intensive infrastructures such as AI data centers. Despite this potential, however, nuclear power plant construction in the US is progressing much more slowly than expected. Plant Vogtle in Georgia, for instance, was delayed by over seven years with excess costs ballooning to about $20 billion, while the VC Summer expansion project in South Carolina was abandoned at 40 percent completion after drawing investments worth $10 billion. Similar setbacks have plagued nuclear projects in other nations. Electricite de France's Flamanville 3 in France and Finland's Olkiluoto 3 suffered delays extending over a decade and costs exceeding the tens of billions. These cases highlight the complexity and unpredictability of nuclear projects, underscoring the need for more efficient and cost-effective alternatives. On the other hand, South Korea is globally recognized for its competitive nuclear power plant construction. What the nation brings to the table is its unparalleled ability to deliver projects on time and on budget. The successful completion of four APR-1400 reactors for the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE within the agreed timeframe and budget stands as a testament to South Korea's efficient supply chain management and robust project execution. By working together, South Korea and the US can alleviate uncertainties in construction and execute stable, cost-effective nuclear projects. Moreover, strengthening nuclear cooperation between the US and South Korea is essential for energy security. The US currently relies on Russia for 25 percent of its enriched uranium -- a clear vulnerability in its nuclear supply chain that can be readily addressed through Korea-US cooperation. Resuming the High-Level Bilateral Commission on nuclear energy would be a critical step in that direction. The HLBC serves as the official platform for coordinating bilateral nuclear policies, engaging in far-reaching discussions on technological cooperation, supply chain stabilization and nonproliferation. Jumpstarting these talks will enable our two nations to successfully complete nuclear projects on the basis of our close cooperation while solidifying our leadership in the future nuclear market. If the US and South Korea cooperate, the two nations could not only secure leadership in nuclear construction within the US but also in the global market. With the US providing the technological expertise and funding, and South Korea demonstrating its proven capabilities in engineering, procurement and construction, we can ensure the effective rollout of large-scale light-water reactors and small modular reactors. Not only will this partnership guarantee reliable energy that is so crucial in the era of AI but it will also help respond to the growing global demand for nuclear power. US-South Korea nuclear cooperation will be a strategic alliance that goes beyond mere industrial collaboration, helping to design the energy security and economic future of both nations. The revival of the HLBC will be a vital step toward advancing this collaboration and resolving the energy demand in the Age of AI while positioning both nations as leaders in the global nuclear energy industry.
