Coal fired power stations being used because of electricity shortages

Nuclear waste? Any takers?

Peasblossom

Krispii

Peasblossom

Nope. Looked it up.

Four coal fired boilers that generate steam that drives generators.

So I think it is smoke from those four towers.

From one who worked at Didcot Power Station (now demolished)...
The four boilers will all share the chimney stack - the other towers are cooling towers and that will be steam that you can see.
For four boilers, there would usually be a total of eight cooling towers. Didcot was a bit of an anomaly as it had four boilers and six cooling towers (to reduce the visual impact to the Thames Valley)!!

Thank you.?

And to think Ivevsoent years and years angering about those big clouds of smoke hovering over some of.my family, when they were only steam all along?

So does the smoke come out of the single tall chimney?

Yes - that's how it works. If you look really closely at the top of the stack, you may be able to see four separate chimneys.
Our power station was always known as the 'cloud factory' creating white steam clouds against a blue sky - or even localised snow if it was cold!

Alegrias1

Nuclear waste? Any takers?

Yep me for one.
I'll put my money where my mouth is!! ??
Along with quite a few eminent scientist.

I'd really like to see some references explaining why I don't have to worry about it, seriously Namsnanny

ps - I used to be an eminent scientist so I won't be bamboozled by science. Well, I like to think I was eminent

Of course you are, I wouldn't doubt it.
As such I'm sure you have access to the relevant information names and research.

Alegrias1

Nuclear waste? Any takers?

Yes.

Passing on the problems to future generations to deal with.

Krispii we obviously live quite close. As i too live near Didcot Power Station and I am on the power station's Local Liaison Committtee.

BTW I didn't say it would all be plain sailing.

Of course there will be some difficulties.

I understand the concern about waste.
A lot less is produced now, as it's possible to extract more energy.
This will be be improved as time rolls on.

But I dont want to sound as if I'm teaching grannies to suck eggs
I'm quite sure you're very knowledgeable on the subject.

Oh, okey doke. No references then.

This is interesting; world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-management.aspx

Nuclear waste is neither particularly hazardous nor hard to manage relative to other toxic industrial waste.

in countries with nuclear power, radioactive waste comprises a very small proportion of total industrial hazardous waste generated.

I think they're being economic with the truth...but in the absence of any actual scientific papers telling me I'm wrong, and since half lives and the radiation characteristics of radioisotopes haven't actually changed in the last 40 years, since I first learnt why they are so unsustainably dangerous, (you canna change the laws of physics, remember?) I'll just stick with my point of view.

Nuclear fusion now, if we would only put some effort into that.

A lot less is produced now, as it's possible to extract more energy.

Smaller holes under the ocean then.

Ah, nuclear fusion, the key to endless free eectricity with no after affects.

The trouble is that it is always at least 20 years in the future and has been the whole of my adult life and is likely to be for some time to come.

Indeed, M0nica, no arguments from me.

We could give it a go though

Its a hot day, lets leave it for now.

Passing on the problem for future generations.

It was always thus though callistemon
Each generation has to change to meet it's current demands.

Pea soup fogs dont exist here anymore, a legacy from the industrial revolution.
As consequence ww1&2 a rebuilding of Europe was undertaken.
I dont see it as passing on a problem when today's experts are working hard on the subject.

Now, solar, there's an idea!! ☀

Enjoy the weather

Did you see this in the news about a week ago?
www.google.com/amp/s/www.imperial.ac.uk/news/228373/major-nuclear-fusion-milestone-reached-ignition/amp/

Well, I didnt but I expect some others on here did.

Thanks for the link NotSpaghetti

No, I'd missed it on the news, but I did see it on the IoP site. Thanks for posting that NotSpaghetti.

Regarding the OP - did anyone see on the news that they are proposing to open a new coal mine?

Yes, in Cumbria.
We import coal now anyway.

The one in Cumbria is for the steel works.

yes, I saw the nuclear fission news item. News like this on fusion comes out every year or two, but somehow then fizzle out.

I will continue to think that fusion is at least 20 years ahead, until they have a close to full size prototype up and running.

I think it's a clear move forward this time M0nica. I've been waiting for this since the early 70s when I was first aware.
This time they have ignition which is new.

I'd like to err on the side of positivity too NotSpaghetti.
It is true that the difficulties seem insurmountable, but they keep on trying.
The rewards would be tremendous for the first one past the post.

I was simply stating that we are a bit closer to fusion this time.
I'm not exactly positive yet!

Well, when I used the term positive, I mean I'm more positive that this step is leading to a positive outcome.
What do you mean?
I just dont always express myself clearly.