What costs more per kwh, nuclear or wind power? How should I debate nuclear over wind?
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Nuclear has a higher up front cost to build (for obvious reasons), but lower cost per kwh when compared to wind.
If you are debating this though, try this approach.
Nuclear power is a base load power supply system. That means it will always run 24/7 and supply large amounts of electricity (average for Generation II plant is about 1000 MW)
Wind power could never be a base load provider for the fact that it is so unpredictable. Also, when the wind does kick in, utility companies have to ramp up or down their systems to accommodate for this extra power coming into the grid. This makes wind cumbersome when compared to nuclear which will always run when asked and not change rapidly.
Wind could maybe be a peak load system, but the wind doesn’t really blow much when electric demand is peaking (wind usually blows at night.) Wind, while it looks good on paper, isn’t very friendly to utility companies due to the constant ramping up and down of base and intermediate load systems. Everyone is so caught up in the green revolution though that they want to see more wind turbines though.
To wrap this up….Nuclear has a higher initial cost for construction, but very low cost per kwh. Very reliable, no pollution except for waste (average Nuclear power plant will produce about a refrigerator full of waste a year, AND THAT’S IT!). No CO2, no SOX, no NOX. Nothing but water vapor and waste.
Wind is cheaper up front, and has no variable fuel cost, but is unpredictable. Not as efficient in the long run.