A new report has assessed the feasibility of deploying small modular nuclear reactors to meet increasing energy demands around the world. The findings don't look so good for this particular form of energy production.

[T]he report’s executive summary certainly gets to the heart of their findings.

“The rhetoric from small modular reactor (SMR) advocates is loud and persistent: This time will be different because the cost overruns and schedule delays that have plagued large reactor construction projects will not be repeated with the new designs,” says the report. “But the few SMRs that have been built (or have been started) paint a different picture – one that looks startlingly similar to the past. Significant construction delays are still the norm and costs have continued to climb.”

    • Zron@lemmy.worldEnglish
      112·
      6 months ago

      Gotta love how the post office is legally required to show they can turn a profit, but the military has a history of building literal burn pits that essentially burn US tax dollars by lighting equipment on fire and giving soldiers cancer.

      • Dasus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        41·
        6 months ago

        https://www.teenvogue.com/story/most-ridiculous-things-united-states-military-spent-money-on

        Boner pills, anti-rape lip balm (which they destroyed) and other such brilliant things.

        And the margins for DoD contracts can be through the roof.

        During her face-off with manufacturing company TransDigm at the hearing, AOC questioned the company’s alleged price gouging on a small metal part, called a “non-vehicular clutch disc,” that the government purchases for the Department of Defense.

        According to the congresswoman from the Bronx, the part is about 3 inches in size and costs TransDigm $32 to produce — which is why she’s pissed the company is charging $1,443 per disc. The company reportedly sold the government 149 discs for $215,000.

      • PriorityMotif@lemmy.worldEnglish
        52·
        6 months ago

        I don’t think the military should show a profit. That would just bring back colonialism. Although, they do make a hefty profit for defense contractors.

        • Zron@lemmy.worldEnglish
          82·
          6 months ago

          The fact that this was your take away is concerning.

          No government service should have to show a profit. If it’s an essential service, then it needs to be done. The only time money should come into it is in regular audits to ensure the budget is being used efficiently.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          2·
          6 months ago

          Yup, the military’s purpose is to not be needed. It should be strong enough to deter attack and assist diplomacy (carrot and stick), and no larger. Our (US) military is bigger than that, so it gets used in place of diplomacy.