By the way, happy Tchernobyl anniversary, everyone.
7 Likes
Oh shit! Is that today?
5 Likes
Tomorrow.
7 Likes
So… is that today? 
5 Likes
7 Likes
Wouldn’t that mean spending less at this point?
6 Likes
Realistically yes - but that’s just not how the military-industrial-political complex works, is it.
6 Likes
8 Likes
This must be the first “solar storms could wipe out all the technology” piece I’ve read that doesn’t mention the Carrington event.
8 Likes
9 Likes
9 Likes
That’s a lot like what was proposed for Zurich in the late 1950ies.
https://etheritage.ethz.ch/2009/01/09/die-plane-fur-einen-eigenen-atomreaktor-an-der-eth-zurich/
5 Likes
Google tries to greenwash massive AI energy consumption with another vague nuclear deal
Google has signed a strategic agreement with nuclear project developer Elementl Power to support the early development of three potential fission reactor sites in the US.
But with no selected reactor tech and no construction timeline, the announcement sounds more like a handwaving exercise to distract onlookers from the massive amount of energy that will be expended as Google and other companies race to capitalize on the AI boom.
[…]
8 Likes
It’s rather sad that the only way to get the “the market” to direct huge investment into clean power and upgrading the electric grid in the US is to say that tech companies need it to run their predictive texting models.
We can only hope that we get the investment but “AI” turns out to be unprofitable and we’ll just have to repurpose the infrastructure.
8 Likes
I’m glad I read the comments there, because I didn’t get how a nuclear-powered plant could use electrical power in lieu of nuclear power and still be nuclear-powered.
“The test version of the plant will be constructed in the turbine hall of the recently decommissioned Salmisaari coal-fired power plant. It is similar to a simplified pressurized light water reactor LDR-50 plant designed by Steady Energy, but the heat will be produced by electric resistance rather than a nuclear reaction.”
The plant is indeed designed use nuclear heating directly. However the prototype will use electric heating in lieu of the nuclear core, presumably until they are satisfied enough with the design to introduce actual nuclear fuel.
6 Likes
5 Likes
4 Likes