Florida Power & Light Company to expand nuclear capacity

[Dogmudgeon]

FPL describes plans to expand capacity at existing nuclear facilities, pursue building two nuclear units

JUNO BEACH, Fla. – Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today said it proposes making nuclear power a bigger part of Florida’s clean energy future.

At a Public Service Commission workshop on future energy needs today, FPL signaled its intention to file proposals by the end of the third quarter covering the expansion of power production at its existing nuclear generating facilities and to pursue building two new nuclear power units.

...

FPL proposes to add approximately 400 megawatts of power capacity to its existing nuclear power plants at Turkey Point in Miami-Dade County and at its St. Lucie County facility. Subject to a number of factors, including timely regulatory approvals, this added capacity is expected to be in place by 2012. FPL also plans to pursue the option of adding two new nuclear power units to the existing Turkey Point complex by 2020, a move that would add up to 3,000 megawatts of power to the Florida electric grid.

Nuclear power currently provides 20 percent of the energy needs of FPL’s 4.4 million customer accounts. With FPL’s customer base expected to grow to 5.5 million customers by 2020, the new projects will have nuclear power meeting more than 30 percent of the increased total energy demand at that time. FPL projects that the additional nuclear power will keep an estimated 11 million tons of carbon dioxide out of Florida skies every year.

“Additional nuclear energy will be a major contributor to meeting Governor Crist’s aggressive goals for reducing greenhouse gases while cost effectively supporting the needs of a growing population in Florida. It also will help cushion the price swings associated with oil and natural gas,” FPL’s Olivera noted. “And for nearly 35 years, nuclear power has been providing our customers with safe, affordable and reliable power.”

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For approximate comparison:

400 MW at 90% load = 1200 individual 1000 kW wind turbines at 30% load.

3000 MW at 90% load = 9000 individual 1000 kW wind turbines at 30% load.

Nuclear energy plants average approximately 90% load; wind plants average about 15% load, but with good siting, can achieve 30% load.

--p!

[Double T]

1. We can't have enough Wind Turbines BUT...........

what do we do when there isn't ANY wind. NEW nuclear power plants are essential to our nations energy needs NOW and in the future. We must drastically lower our dependency and use of fossil fuels and specially foreign oil.

[thunder rising]

2. It's a scam, FPL proper is bound to growth within south FL

and so the state has 100s of miles of lit highway NOW to make the demand look much greater than it is. Ever wonder what happens to all that electricity from Nuc Power except for that 2 hour peak at mid day? It's wasted! FPL had to get the state to do some very non-conservative electrical usage to burn it off.

YOU CANNOT SHUT DOWN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, it must keep generating.

Next, how are they going to transmit that power?

[Dogmudgeon]

3. This just doesn't make any sense

FPL proper is bound to growth within south FL and so the state has 100s of miles of lit highway NOW to make the demand look much greater than it is.

I don't understand what you're getting at. Are you saying that the FPL nuclear plants are mainly/just for lighting up the highway?

Ever wonder what happens to all that electricity from Nuc Power except for that 2 hour peak at mid day? It's wasted! FPL had to get the state to do some very non-conservative electrical usage to burn it off.

It's not wasted, it's "dumped" to the grid, where it is sent to places that need the extra power; FPL gets credit for it. That's how it works with any electrical system -- unless there is some funky arrangement in Florida where the electrical grid isn't used. Since federal laws also regulate the power grid, I doubt that this is the case.

Also, in most reactors, the power output can be varied, or modulated.

YOU CANNOT SHUT DOWN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, it must keep generating.

Not at all; Nuclear power plants are shut down easily and quickly for maintenance, and occasionally in emergencies. In fact, emergencies are quite rare, so most reactors have planned "practice emergencies".

Next, how are they going to transmit that power?

Copper wire is the traditional method.

--p!

[thunder rising]

4. Off peak dumping is exactly what I'm talking about

and you cannot fire up a nuc to cover the peak ... it is the base output.
So, the state of FL lights up 100s of miles of highway to burn this output and create a false minimum.

About transmission, of course wire the point is how many more and over whose property?