Alberta Goes Nuclear!

[Flash Walken]

Hope this isn't a fata.

Linky Poo!

A private Calgary-based company looking to build Canada's first nuclear reactor west of Ontario, in the Peace Country of northwestern Alberta, has filed an application with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for a licence to prepare a site for the facility.

Energy Alberta Corp., whose backers include Hank Swartout, founder of the country's largest oil and gas driller, Precison Drilling Trust, said it has teamed up with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. to build two twin-unit ACR-1000 Advanced CANDU Reactors on a site 30 kilometres west of the town of Peace River in the province's northwest.

The $6.2-billion facility would be in service by 2017 and would ultimately produce a total net 2,200 megawatts of electricity, although Energy Alberta will seek permitting from the Alberta government for four such reactors.

[Hack&Lube]

Good, Nuclear is actually one of the best clean power options out there.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Good, Nuclear is actually one of the best clean power options out there.

Agreed but it is unfortunatley it's kinda risky. I say kinda as the odds of one that is being run properly goes into melt down is unlikley but the possibility remains none the less.

Personaly, I'm all for it.

[jonesy]

Right on.
I am a nuclear power proponent.
Plus, I need a job wiggling levers and pushing buttons while eating sprinkled doughnuts and reciting children's rhymes.

[FireFly]

And if there's a meltdown... it's WAY closer to Edmonton...



Seriously though, this is good news. I'm all for clean energy.

[worth]

Hari Seldon said it was so many years ago. It was inevitable.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by jonesy

Right on.
I am a nuclear power proponent.
Plus, I need a job wiggling levers and pushing buttons while eating sprinkled doughnuts and reciting children's rhymes.

A multi-tasker like you should be in management!

[alltherage]

Ya I don't really know enough to weigh in here, but I don't think the same risks are as predominant as when the Chernoble (sp?) disaster took place.

[blankall]

How much energy is that equivalent to? Trying to put this number in perspective. Enought ot powe lethbridge? Red Deer? A portion or all of Calgary/Edmonton? Or is this primarily for the oil sands project?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by blankall

How much energy is that equivalent to? Trying to put this number in perspective. Enought ot powe lethbridge? Red Deer? A portion or all of Calgary/Edmonton? Or is this primarily for the oil sands project?

I believe that is the primary reason for it, yes.

[Flames89]

A MW can power between roughly 700-1000 avg homes.

[mykalberta]

We'll see if this materializes - I am sure the process will drag on for a long time as does all envornmental reviews in North America.

Also in the article it mentions Ontario reactors produce 6k MW is that total or per station? Just wondering because it mentions the Alberta one would prodice 2.X MW

Also, just wondering what the cost/MW hour is for a nuclear reactor compared to coal/ng based one? I would have to think they are far cheaper but have nothing to base that on.

Thanks - MYK

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

We'll see if this materializes - I am sure the process will drag on for a long time as does all envornmental reviews in North America.

Also in the article it mentions Ontario reactors produce 6k MW is that total or per station? Just wondering because it mentions the Alberta one would prodice 2.X MW

Also, just wondering what the cost/MW hour is for a nuclear reactor compared to coal/ng based one? I would have to think they are far cheaper but have nothing to base that on.

Thanks - MYK

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...eactors#Canada

[Flames89]

Based on VERY quick and likely wrong calc's...

The estimated power input needs of the oilsands are 1.6-2.3bcf/d in 2025. This would be equivalent to about 30,000 MW (est.)

Nuclear is rediculously cheap to run, just expensive to build.


Note: the above data refer to fuel plus operation and maintenance costs only, they exclude capital, since this varies greatly among utilities and states, as well as with the age of the plant.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

It's little known, but Edmonpuke actually already has a nuclear reactor. (though nothing near CANDU size behemoths)

http://www.ualberta.ca/~slowpoke/

So much explained....

[Azure]

2,200 megawatts of electricity? How much is that really?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Flames89

Based on VERY quick and likely wrong calc's...

The estimated power input needs of the oilsands are 1.6-2.3bcf/d in 2025. This would be equivalent to about 30,000 MW (est.)

Nuclear is rediculously cheap to run, just expensive to build.


Note: the above data refer to fuel plus operation and maintenance costs only, they exclude capital, since this varies greatly among utilities and states, as well as with the age of the plant.

Hmm so this power plant really wouldn't make that big of a dent in the overall power needed for the oilsands. Maybe this smaller reactor is just a test for a much larger one? Also, the oilsands energy right now is coming largely from natural gas which is in limited supply. Especially with energy demands from the States increasing.

I'm guessing the issue here is also Carbon output. While nuclear has a low cost it also has virtually no carbon cost compared to other methods. But then there is always the risk of mutating some gopher into astronomical sizes and having it go on a rampage through the city.... a toss up really.

[FireFly]

The article did say they want to build a total of four of them... so this is just the start.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Azure

2,200 megawatts of electricity? How much is that really?

Almost 900 megawatts more than needed to power a Flux Capacitor.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Almost 900 megawatts more than needed to power a Flux Capacitor.

Oh sweet, I'll take two!