Post B2NDS57RYxdKdXT9Ky by gerrymcgovern@mastodon.green
(DIR) More posts by gerrymcgovern@mastodon.green
(DIR) Post #B2NDS57RYxdKdXT9Ky by gerrymcgovern@mastodon.green
2026-01-17T10:13:18Z
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Copper use in turbines, wind, solarI came across these figures in a post. Does anyone know if they are correct?1 GW steam turbine plant uses 1,000 tonnes of copper1 GW wind farm uses 2,000 tonnes of copper1 GW solar farm uses 5,000 tonnes of copper
(DIR) Post #B2NDS6BjaUexx8U5fE by nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
2026-01-17T10:45:58Z
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@gerrymcgovern A 1 GW generator (similar to those used in other power plants) generally uses high-purity copper windings, which can range from 50 to over 100 tons of copper, depending on efficiency requirements and generator design.A super critical CO2 turbine is the ideal generator for a molten salt breeder reactor, uses 1/10th the copper of a steam turbine. This is where we should be going.
(DIR) Post #B2NDlMdKfYBoSUZzRw by cjd@pkteerium.xyz
2026-01-17T10:49:43.375640Z
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Copper mining shares are the new bitcoin ?
(DIR) Post #B2NDvvdJOcMXu6bir2 by Suiseiseki@freesoftwareextremist.com
2026-01-17T10:51:43.392940Z
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@gerrymcgovern The GNUclear reactor in my back yard would use a few dozen kg of copper - why can't I buy slightly-enriched uranium?
(DIR) Post #B2NEH0ARjSry349coq by nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
2026-01-17T10:55:04Z
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@cjd @gerrymcgovern There is no indication that the world is running short on copper ores only mining capacity, so probably not.
(DIR) Post #B2NI8YMLdbBjIrwqLQ by nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
2026-01-17T11:36:51Z
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@gerrymcgovern We're a genetic line that's made it 4+ billion years so far by adapting to environmental changes over which we have no control, I see no reason not to continue that legacy.
(DIR) Post #B2NMz0EHf9AYcDRQzQ by citc@zotum.net
2026-01-17T12:24:51Z
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@Nanook @Gerry McGovernSeems plausible since solar PV are so inefficient. As for CO₂ or steam turbine, one should be sceptical about significant claims of copper reduction per se.
(DIR) Post #B2NMz2eaeJOs8NlTGq by nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
2026-01-17T12:32:41Z
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@citc @gerrymcgovern No reason to be, they are much smaller and that includes the windings.
(DIR) Post #B2NTlkRhjXkVZuLUYK by debbie@mendeddrum.org
2026-01-17T13:38:07Z
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@gerrymcgovern do you know if this includes cabling to the main power cable as well as windings etc...There doesn't seem to be much context.Good luck in your search.
(DIR) Post #B2NTllsgOivK1ryYF6 by nanook@friendica.eskimo.com
2026-01-17T13:48:44Z
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@debbie @gerrymcgovern No, I don't, the material I referenced specified 50-100T for 1Gw supercritical CO2 turbine, but did not specify if that included cabling outside the alternator, transformer, etc. However that was directly contrasted with 1000T for steam turbine.