Reply #11: Yeah not saying we should adopt the Chinese model.

[Statistical]

rather than other countries seem to build reactors without decade long delays.

Japan, Korea, Germany, Sweden, Finland, France all seem to be able to build reactors in a 4-6 years.

The issue with delays in the US has nothing to do with technology. It is a self fulfilling prophecy for anti-nukers.

Anti-nuker: "Nuclear power is an expensive boondogle"
Delays construction of reactor for decade.
Capitalized interest increases the cost of reactor
Anti-nuker: "See proof that nuclear power is an expensive boondogle!"

If we could break that cycle even for a few reactors it would radically change the economics of nuclear power.

People often under estimate the power (or pain) of compounded interest.

Say hypothetical reactor x is $6 billion.
5 year construction with costs capitalized (no payments while under construction) then 30 year repayment at 7% interest.
The cost (including capitalized interest) at end of construction is $7.0 billion.
Total capital cost over 30 years the (interest and principle) is $16.8 billion.

Now take the same hypothetical reactor but increase construction to 10 years, add $1 billion in regulatory changed in middle of construction, and boost interest rate to 8.5% (to compensate for risk).

The cost (including capitalized interest) at end of construction is now $15.8 billion (over double the baseline reactor).
Total capital cost over 30 years the (interest and principle) is $43.8 billion.


The two hypthetical plants have the same lifetime, same amount of power generated, same amount of revenue, same operating costs.
The second one however has an extra $27 billion in lifetime costs.

Extra $1 billion in cost because of regulatory design changes after construction starts
Extra 5 years in construction
Extra 1.5% in interest
The combination triples the construction side (90% of lifetime cost) and vastly changes the economics of nuclear energy.