this post was submitted on 08 May 2025
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Ontario set to begin construction of Canada's 1st mini nuclear power plant (www.cbc.ca)
submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world to c/canada@lemmy.ca
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There's been a lot of talk about SMR's over the years, it's nice to see one finally being built.

Even if it comes in over budget, getting the first one done will be a great learning experience and could lead to figuring out how to do future ones cheaper.

Assuming it's on time, completion in 2029, connected to grid in 2030.

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[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I'm not pro-nuclear, but the baseload argument is compelling. We clearly need both more renewables, but sprinkling a few SMRs throughout the system seems to be a pretty good idea - especially if we don't want to integrate with the US grids.

The article mentions that IF it comes in on budget

That's one of the big ifs. It's new technology (kind of), so I'll be surprised if there aren't some overruns.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (2 children)

All you need to counter the baseload though is a shit ton of batteries.

It's doable, but it greatly increases the cost vs just solar. Going that route would still be very competitive price wise when centralized.

Edit: And even the baseload of an SMR might want batteries if there isn't enough usage overnight, so they can use it during the day rather than building another SMR. So we want batteries regardless.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It's still kinda comparable:

According to that analysis, providing a similar level of base power as the SMRs by building wind and solar power with battery energy storage would cost in the range of 13.5 to 18.4 cents per kWh

At the lower end of the estimate, at least.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

At the lower end of the estimate, at least.

That will probably change for batteries as well as we come up with cheaper options. Lithium Ion ones can be expensive, but don't take up much space, but when you want grid scale, space isn't as big an issue. I have a lot of hope for the new Sodium Ion batteries. They're much cheaper, they just take up more space. Very new tech though.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 0 points 5 days ago (1 children)

All you need to counter the baseload though is a shit ton of batteries.

This is not presently a practical option. That's why it's almost never attempted. The best "batteries" we have right now are things like reservoirs with a pump and a dam.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Except it is happening now. It wasn't happening before.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 0 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It happens now in rarefied cases, but in general, it is not a practical option. It doesn't merely have to be physically possible, it has to be economically competitive.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

But it is competitive now, we've reached that point. It's not "rarefied" cases anymore.

Tesla just installed 37GWh of capacity in the past year and recently bumped their capacity to 80GWh, and they're just one company.

We're going to start seeing GWh scale batteries now from the likes of Tesla, CATL, BYD and others.

Edit: This is a 15.3 GWh contract - https://www.intersectpower.com/tesla-provides-intersect-power-with-15-3-gwh-of-megapacks-for-solar-storage-projects/