Comments on: “The Demand for Nuclear Power Plants Is Going to Explode” http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 7 Sep 2008 11:07:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Zonath http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-137079 Zonath Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:02:44 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-137079 The main problem with wind power is that the wind doesn't blow all the time, and sometimes it blows too hard (wind turbines shut down over certain wind speeds for safety reasons). So in order to ensure the stability of the grid, it has to be backed up by something, which is usually coal- or gas-fired power plants, since nuclear plants tend to be difficult to take on and off line on short notice. Which basically means you're building two power generation sites where you could build one - maybe not bad policy for a country with lots of unused, empty space... Plus, that brings up the issue of where you could put wind turbines in South Korea. Put them up on ridgelines, and geomancers and people with family graves up on the mountains get pissed off because you're messing with the 'chi' of the site. And down in the valleys, you're probably not going to get much usable wind because SK is so hilly. I guess you could site a wind farm offshore or else on reclaimed land... The main problem with wind power is that the wind doesn’t blow all the time, and sometimes it blows too hard (wind turbines shut down over certain wind speeds for safety reasons). So in order to ensure the stability of the grid, it has to be backed up by something, which is usually coal- or gas-fired power plants, since nuclear plants tend to be difficult to take on and off line on short notice. Which basically means you’re building two power generation sites where you could build one - maybe not bad policy for a country with lots of unused, empty space… Plus, that brings up the issue of where you could put wind turbines in South Korea. Put them up on ridgelines, and geomancers and people with family graves up on the mountains get pissed off because you’re messing with the ‘chi’ of the site. And down in the valleys, you’re probably not going to get much usable wind because SK is so hilly. I guess you could site a wind farm offshore or else on reclaimed land…

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-137072 R. Elgin Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:37:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-137072 <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/business/23wind.html?hp=&pagewanted=all" rel="nofollow">Here is an interesting article on the rapid growth of wind power in Texas</a> -- of all places. As per the article:<blockquote>"Texas could be a model for the entire nation," said Patrick Woodson, a senior development executive with E.On, a German utility operating here. The quaint windmills of old have been replaced by turbines that stand as high as 20-story buildings, with blades longer than a football field and each capable of generating electricity for small communities. Powerful turbines are able to capture power even when the wind is relatively weak, and they help to lower the cost per kilowatt hour.</blockquote>It seems that it is more than feasible and no end is in sight in regards to this growth. Instead of some *bs* notion of a grand canal, a project of this scope and magnitude could be a real legacy to Korea. Here is an interesting article on the rapid growth of wind power in Texas — of all places. As per the article:
“Texas could be a model for the entire nation,” said Patrick Woodson, a senior development executive with E.On, a German utility operating here. The quaint windmills of old have been replaced by turbines that stand as high as 20-story buildings, with blades longer than a football field and each capable of generating electricity for small communities. Powerful turbines are able to capture power even when the wind is relatively weak, and they help to lower the cost per kilowatt hour.

It seems that it is more than feasible and no end is in sight in regards to this growth. Instead of some *bs* notion of a grand canal, a project of this scope and magnitude could be a real legacy to Korea.

]]> By: cmm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136634 cmm Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:13:12 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136634 @18 Probably an appropriate response. Ironically, where they might have the best chance of working is in the application where they would be implemented for business reasons, and not environmental reasons... mobile devices. @18 Probably an appropriate response.

Ironically, where they might have the best chance of working is in the application where they would be implemented for business reasons, and not environmental reasons… mobile devices.

]]> By: bumfromkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136605 bumfromkorea Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:50:53 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136605 "I do believe that bumfromkorea has become the Expats’ pet." Lol... yeah, I've been wagging my tail hoping that masters won't forget to feed me. Speaking of, it's almost lunchtime... Fine... Fuck expats, they're all horrible people. Korea rules. Yay Korea. I hate Americans and whities in general. Good enough? “I do believe that bumfromkorea has become the Expats’ pet.”

Lol… yeah, I’ve been wagging my tail hoping that masters won’t forget to feed me. Speaking of, it’s almost lunchtime…

Fine… Fuck expats, they’re all horrible people. Korea rules. Yay Korea. I hate Americans and whities in general.

Good enough?

]]> By: Zonath http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136590 Zonath Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:20:30 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136590 Actually, I have to write up a retraction for #13 above... South Korea isn't required to export spent fuel to the US... they're just forbidden from reprocessing it in any way. So everything is basically stored on-site at each nuke plant until they finish the national dump, which will probably be on-line about 50 years before Yucca Mountain will be. Actually, I have to write up a retraction for #13 above… South Korea isn’t required to export spent fuel to the US… they’re just forbidden from reprocessing it in any way. So everything is basically stored on-site at each nuke plant until they finish the national dump, which will probably be on-line about 50 years before Yucca Mountain will be.

]]> By: Zonath http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136589 Zonath Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:17:27 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136589 <blockquote>Hey, nobody wants to chime in on the wonders of fuel cells???</blockquote> BWA HAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! *ROTFLMAO*

Hey, nobody wants to chime in on the wonders of fuel cells???

BWA HAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
*ROTFLMAO*

]]> By: cmm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136518 cmm Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:01:50 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136518 @16 if you are expecting efficiency to double every so often, you better pick a time period much longer than the year or so of Moore's Law. They've been working at that one for many many years, and the improvements to economical and practical (commercializable) cells just hasn't materialized. Not that it can't, just needs more time. Hey, nobody wants to chime in on the wonders of fuel cells??? @16 if you are expecting efficiency to double every so often, you better pick a time period much longer than the year or so of Moore’s Law. They’ve been working at that one for many many years, and the improvements to economical and practical (commercializable) cells just hasn’t materialized. Not that it can’t, just needs more time.

Hey, nobody wants to chime in on the wonders of fuel cells???

]]> By: Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog) http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136516 Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog) Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:48:44 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136516 Solar is a semiconductor industry -- its efficiency improvements will probably track Moore's Law. Solar is a semiconductor industry — its efficiency improvements will probably track Moore’s Law.

]]> By: andy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136509 andy Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:31:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136509 I do believe that bumfromkorea has become the Expats' pet. Now why do Kyopos love being the pet of the Expat on one hand while bashing them on the other? I do believe that bumfromkorea has become the Expats’ pet. Now why do Kyopos love being the pet of the Expat on one hand while bashing them on the other?

]]> By: peninsular aborigine http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136485 peninsular aborigine Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:33:03 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/02/20/the-demand-for-nuclear-power-plants-is-going-to-explode/#comment-136485 Mo Nukes! Mo Nukes!

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