[hermitcrab]

Most things get cheaper as you build more of them. However, those economies of scale never seem to kick in for nuclear as a) we don't build enough of them and b) the safety are requirements are always going up.

Sizewell C is being built by EDF, a French company. And it seems that every time they go over-budget they hold their hand out and the British Government coughs up some more. I read that it is likely to cost in the region of £40 billion.

[_benedict]

Are you thinking of Hinkley Point C? My understanding was that there has been no additional funding provided. The project is way over budget, but it is EDF and its owner (the French taxpayer) who appear to be on the hook.

The project is funded by a pre agreed electricity price for the plant once it is operational, and private investment.

It is however likely to impact negotiations for Sizewell C which has not yet been greenlit, as funding terms amenable to the U.K. government and EDF have not been reached. EDF want terms that would cause cost overruns to be born by energy consumers, to avoid a repeat of Hinkley Point.

[hermitcrab]

Yes, I think I've confused Hinkley C with Sizewell C. Thanks.

https://www.energylivenews.com/2024/08/02/uk-government-addr...

[rtpg]

France built a bunch of them, they're still expensive and hard projects. People talk about economies of scales but there are only so many power plants you need to build in the world.

I'm sure there are strategies that could, at the very least, make things predictable. I think the biggest trouble with huge projects isn't so much the cost as it is the uncertainty.

[Neonlicht]

Economies of scale work very well for wind farms funny that. If only the UK had a North Sea...

[hermitcrab]

Wind energy is great. But it only works when the wind is blowing...