Nuclear energy is beneficial to the planet. However, this is not a thing for Norway, as is often said. After all, we have good wind resources in this country. To suggest that nuclear power is part of the solution is almost bankruptcy.
But it is practically impossible to double Norway’s electricity production Large-scale wind energy development That’s where our power grid was created today. Since the wind is unstable, it requires flexible energy sources when it is not blowing. What will actually take this role?
So far, large-reservoir hydropower has ensured our supply, and has ensured some flexibility. and she Few reserves left For take-off. So we need more measures to ensure the backup capacity of wind energy.
One proposal that has been on the table is large-scale improvements in the capacity of existing hydropower plants. It will be done without That something in particular gets more energy into the power grid.
It will be needed to build one Much larger An electricity grid with much less use in order to be able to carry wind energy away when it’s windy and import it from other areas when the winds are calm.
In this sense, it makes the wind energy venture very expensive, because there are huge costs on top of the construction costs. This, in turn, can lead to increased electricity prices and grid rent to consumers.
Our experience is that all new solutions come with trade-offs that must be assessed environmentally, technically and economically. In this context, nuclear energy stands out as an opportunity.
Need a new worker
To save on investment, we need one stable factor who work 24 hours a day and can take on more basic burden. Then we can dilute the hydroelectric power, so that it can be used to a large extent in interaction with the wind.
The solution to this can be very simple. Norway should invest in nuclear energy.
Then consumers need to a much smaller extent to subsidize the costs of the wind energy venture system, in terms of capacity upgrades in hydroelectricity, which are assumed to be several hundred billion NOK.
At the same time, nuclear power can also contribute new stable energy to the system, making it pay for itself.
Today, wind energy is considered one of the most important renewable natural resources. However, there are so far only a few good solutions for how to harvest more wind energy without massive development of power lines and upgrades to existing hydropower – unless we go to nuclear power.
Look at other countries
It is no coincidence that China is ahead in both wind and nuclear power worldwide. Technologies fit together. Integration increases the amount of renewable energy without compromising the security of supply.
China will build 150 reactors The next fifteen years coincide with the massive development of wind energy.
Great Britain It also goes in the same direction And the stakes are on both wind and nuclear energy as complementary energy sources.
At the same time, Sweden has I started turning around In their attitudes to the new nuclear energy.
Some would say it is better to use surplus electricity from the wind to pump water to hydroelectric reservoirs, or to use hydrogen as an energy storage.
It is true that pumping power increases the availability of electricity, but it does not increase the total amount of energy we put into the grid.
Moreover, hydrogen storage is extremely important inactiveSo, in principle, we need three times as much electricity. In other words, three times more than wind turbines.
Hitting two birds with one stone
Nuclear power can kill several birds with one stone.
New, stable and reliable energy is introduced into the system. This ensures availability of electricity, while at the same time attenuating hydropower to balance new developments in wind energy.
In addition to producing electricity, the same reactors can be used Produces large amounts of hydrogen and heating the area. From a social and economic point of view, this is the case.
Norway is at a crossroads where large parts of industry and transport will be electrified for the first time. The biggest obstacle to an all-electric society is the availability of stable power.
offshore wind strategy hurdahl platform It also includes a commitment to Norwegian industry. To achieve this, it becomes important that energy is available at all times. Then we are better equipped to win the battle of green manufacturing and zero-emissions industries.
The solution is to expand nuclear power to cover more of the base load in the power grid. In this way, we can take full advantage of the flexibility of hydropower, providing good conditions for the realization of the Norwegian wind energy adventure.
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