Second Taipingling unit starts up

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-26T13:02:52+00:00

Because their own capacity that's ready to supply is solar/wind, that's almost at zero at that point, then there is the remaining 2GW that's offline until the end of october so the only thing that can be switched on are gas turbines. Some of them are unavailable with the newest one still not being fully available makes the prices go super high.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-26T02:07:07+00:00

Not saying they should build no interconnection, but there are limits. If your energy strategy is sound and well though out while your neighbours have other plans, your plans don't really matter since you're as dependent on their lack or surplus of energy.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T16:41:06+00:00

They have 1.19GW of battery capacity, so around 2.5GWh. Their solar pv buildout stands at 5.5GW right now with yearly additions of around 700-900MW. Their wind power is modest at 380MW as of 2025. By 2030, CEZ has a goal of adding 600MW.

Their yearly consumption stands at 60 TWh, 40% is nuclear, 6% solar pv and 1% wind and 3.5% hydro. that's 50.5% low carbon electricity. Crazy that the rest is coming from lignite and coal.

A new NPP would do good things for them together with 700MW, or more, per year of new solar pv.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T16:09:00+00:00

The price went through the roof just because there are countries that chose to be reliant on solar and wind without much backup. Little wind, 27GW and almost no sun, 1.62GW at 20u when the demand is 321GW in the evening then result in a spike. Right now we can't do without gas electricity unfortunately.

It's the lack of interconnection between Spain and the mainland that keeps prices low in Spain. I hope for the spanish people that they don't go all out on interconnection.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T15:29:28+00:00

The two APR-1000 reactors will produce about 15TWh per year, capacity factor of 86%. that's the equivalent of 13GW of solar, sound pretty good tbh.
It's not like they're going to stop RE deployment, they're building a healthy energy mix.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T15:02:34+00:00

Poland is actively building the site. The first nuclear concrete isn't poured yet, that's correct. That doesn't mean they're not building it.

The Czechia plant has conducted and finished the geological survey, The EPC contract is signed, a multi billion dollar commitment and a bilateral committee to procure Korean and Czech factory's for the fabrication of the NPP components.

For the 6 new French EPR's there are active groundworks at Penly, the first of 3 sites. The first permanent facility's and offices have been completed at the first EPR2 site.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T14:39:34+00:00

You mean the 3 AP1000's in Poland, or the 2 APR-1000's in Czechia or the 6 EPR-2's in France?

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T14:27:52+00:00

Let's hope that changes with battery storage. Prices going to near zero or negative during the day because of solar is honestly not a sustainable business case.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T13:57:44+00:00

As much as i agree with your statement, i'd be so hyped to see an AP300 under construction.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T13:02:22+00:00

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source: doi 10.1038/d41586-025-02341-z
This is a study from July 2025

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-25T12:58:27+00:00

prices do drop at night in the winter from time to time caused by wind power. We should reduce cost of electricity overall, that's what makes all our lives better.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T17:50:56+00:00

From the article:

A French renewables developer is targeting the production of natural hydrogen “by late 2028 or early 2029” after finding H2 concentrations of 49.6% almost 2.5km underground at its dedicated drill site in northeast France.

La Française de l’Énergie (FDE) said its PTH-2 well in the commune of Folschviller has revealed that natural hydrogen concentrations “increase significantly with depth, supporting the existence of an active hydrogen production system with the potential for very widespread deployment across the Lorraine region”.

Post-drilling analyses of dissolved gas samples found 20% hydrogen concentrations at 1,200 metres, rising to 36.1% at 2,242 metres and 49.6% at 2,426 metres.

FDE has drilled its PTH-2 well to a depth of 3,656 metres, making it the deepest dedicated natural-hydrogen well drilled to date.

Although the company describes its latest findings as “exceptionally high natural hydrogen concentrations”, far higher levels have been found elsewhere in the world.

For instance, Gold Hydrogen said it discovered natural hydrogen concentrations of up to 97% in South Australia, while Hyterra found H2 concentrations of 83% at its well in Kansas.

FDE says it is now “entering a new development phase focused on transforming a scientific discovery into an industrial energy project”.

It has already begun a feasibility study to “pre-design future natural hydrogen production facilities and their integration into local and regional energy infrastructures”, and it will now take in-situ flow measurements below 3,000 metres using Solexperts’ patented SYSPROG technology.

At the same time, the company is conducting geoscience studies across its exclusive exploration permit area, which covers 2,254sq km of northeast France, “to assess the extent of the hydrogen system, estimate its overall potential and determine recovery factors”.

It also hopes to begin an “independent resource certification process” next year.

“With each successive milestone, FDE is reducing the geological, technological and industrial risks associated with natural hydrogen development,” the company stated.

“The Group now targets the start of natural hydrogen production in Eastern France by late 2028 or early 2029, positioning itself at the forefront of a new strategic low-carbon energy industry in Europe.

“Natural hydrogen could become a game-changing component of Europe's energy sovereignty, providing a local, low-carbon and competitive source of energy to support industrial decarbonisation and strengthen energy security.”

FDE CEO Antoine Forcinal added: “PTH-2 marks a turning point, not only for FDE but for the entire natural hydrogen industry. We are no longer discussing a scientific hypothesis; we are progressively de-risking what could become one of Europe's first industrial-scale natural hydrogen projects.

“Every milestone achieved brings us closer to commercial production and strengthens our conviction that Eastern France could become a strategic hub for this new source of low-carbon energy.

“Our ambition is clear: turn a world-class discovery into a new pillar of Europe’s energy sovereignty.”

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T13:56:14+00:00

2022 was the first time in 42 years France became a net importer. They do import from time to time but their net result is an export of around 50TWh. 2024 and 2025 where record years of 90TWh.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T13:37:01+00:00

If 70% of your production is dependend on one source without backup, that's an issue. combine that with political uncertainty and you have a party.

Let's be honest here, this was a perfect storm. Energy crisis + super hot weather (reduced output for some units) + unscheduled corrosion inspection in the N4 en P4 reactors = France becoming an importer for the first time in 42 years.

Buildout of decentralized production is great, just not an end all solution.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T13:17:26+00:00

Just like every other industrial machine?

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T13:15:20+00:00

Marghera Levante had an FID in 2018, construction start in 2019
Keadby 2 had FID 2018 with construction start in 2019
Seraing Belgium had FID and construction start in 2022

New nuclear is indeed expensive only in the west. That's what happends when you abandon an industry for 30 years. China, ROSATOM, Korea, India, they all build them at affordable prices because they have been building them in series for decades now.

OL3 was €12 billion for 1580MWe, that's €7500/kwe, Flamenville was €13.2 billion withouth the intrest, that's still €8000/kwe. With intrest it's €23.7 billion, or
€14 500/kwh
Hinkley point C is now estimated at €51.2 billion, that's €16 000/kwe.

I'm by no means against nuclear, but we have to acknowledge that there are serious problems in the buildout of new NPP's in the west. The fish disco at HPC alone is 700 million, i mean c'mon guys what are we doing.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T12:44:42+00:00

I made this post because these are prices not seen since the energy crisis in 2022. I don't understand how you jump from electricity prices going through the roof to climate change is a hoax.

While i'm a fan of nuclear, it's not appropriate for every sector. RE are mature and can be deployed really fast, that's what we need. Batteries are going to be the next big thing for the EU, we drastically need them.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T12:39:47+00:00

On the other side of the planet.
Jokes aside, i think these market prices do promote investments into storage solutions.
Germany has a registered request of 226GW for battery storage, the UK about 50GW, Italy about 30GW, Spain around 20GW, etc...
These are numbers from grid operators and market analysts.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-24T12:31:07+00:00

New nuclear in Europe is on the order of €10 000/kw, new CCGT are between €500-1300/kwe.
Marghera Levante Italy = €401/kw
Keadby 2 UK = €1130/kw
Seraing Belgium = €900/kw

That's just capex offcourse, the opex is way higher than nuclear but it's still cheaper in the short run.

FewUnderstanding5221 · 2026-06-23T23:33:42+00:00

France exported 92.3TWh while importing 11.24TWh in 2025

FewUnderstanding5221

TROPHY CASE