Reply #5: I doubt than. [View All]

[CJvR]

They are ready to go, On a minor scale perhaps, but to replace the big power producing units? No way.

they can produce all the power we need, Not even close.

they can deliver the power when it is needed, Well that eliminates solar, wind, wave and water - what remains?

they are safer, To a point yes.

they are cheaper and Hardly, about 3 times the cost of coal.

they can be built far faster than nuclear... I doubt they can be built far faster once we are talking serious volume and reliability.



I would like to say the alternatives are mature enough to step forward but I dont think they are. That means you have two choises coal(oil & gas) or uranium (hydro if you have unexploited rivers). Increased demand are burning the uranium assets rather swiftly and coal have atmospheric issues and fusion seems to be permanently out of reach. Thorium seems like a reasonable option and while Technetium 99 is radioactive it is beta rays - not the Reapers rapiers of death, gamma rays, beta radiation is much easier to deal with.