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685327592 t1_iuyj43g wrote

Shutting down perfectly good nuclear plants is silly, but we also need to recognize most nuclear plants are either nearing their original designed lifespan or have already surpassed it. We need to be building new plants, not just keeping ones from the 1970s going forever.

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Neker t1_ivejhw4 wrote

The original lifespan of an NPP is most often a matter of accounting : it's the time it takes to amortize the initial investment, including compound interests.

Of course, this is measured in decades. When the time comes, a major overhaul is most likely a good idea, which means new investments and a new multi-decade business plan. The bottom line, however, is that you get a brand-new NPP almost for free.

Centenarian NPPs will exist sometime this century.

E.g. : Beznau

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