Here is a short video put together by Flexblue demonstrating the sea floor nuclear reactors being placed.
DCNS is now working on the next steps of the project (that will take approx. 2 years). And for all of you that posted concerned comments about the safety of the reactors, one of the key components that they will be discussing with the EDF (France's Elec. Company and the world's largest utility company) , AREVA and the CEA (the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) are the safety and security aspects of the reactors. One of their main goals will be trying to demonstrate that these reactors are safer than land based reactors.
Is safety the only reason these are being developed? It seems to me that this is an expensive measure to make reactors safer when we have yet to see any terrorist problems with reactors. The nuclear industry is already faced with large up-front costs which drive many of the arguments against nuclear power. Is this method more expensive than what is already done? If it is, it just seems a bit silly to me...
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of making nuclear reactors safer but there are some real concerns I have with placing nuclear material that could potentially contaminate large bodies of water. Also how far out are these reactors going to be and will it be really be that easy to place power transmission line underwater to the land? Is one of the advantages of placing reactors underwater the use of ocean water for cooling?
ReplyDeleteWhy would placing the reactors underwater make them any safer? Does it have to do with heat issues or political issues? And would there be enough feedback technology to prevent a disaster like the BP oil spill?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I was reading, the primary safety benefit is that from natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. They are also compact and reasonably priced. Provided they are indeed safe for the oceans, I think they sound like a good idea. Time will tell.
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