It would still depend on a non-renewable resource that needs to be mined
One thing to point out is the energy density in nuclear fuel, even before reprocessing, is higher than all the energy that will pass through the same amount of lithium processed into rechargeable batteries, over the entire life cycle of that battery. A typical 1GW plant consumes an average of 70 kg of fuel per day, at a 90% capacity rate. So that’s 24 hours x 90% x 1000000 kW, divided by 70 kg, for about 300,000 kWh per kg of fuel.
Meanwhile, LFP batteries are about 10% lithium and have 150 Wh per kg of battery weight. Let’s say the battery can get through 10,000 charging cycles before recycling. That’s 15,000 kWh per kg of lithium.
Obviously lithium can be recycled and uranium fuel can be reprocessed. We can also compare the very inefficient extraction of either element (uranium or lithium) from the actual natural ore pulled out of the ground. And the very involved manufacturing processes of turning that ore into useful fuel or batteries.
But either way, the overhead of mining physical stuff to support the supply chains of things that get used up, even reusable/recyclable durable goods, will always be there. Uranium genuinely is special in its energy density and requires closer examination of the calculations.
One thing to point out is the energy density in nuclear fuel, even before reprocessing, is higher than all the energy that will pass through the same amount of lithium processed into rechargeable batteries, over the entire life cycle of that battery. A typical 1GW plant consumes an average of 70 kg of fuel per day, at a 90% capacity rate. So that’s 24 hours x 90% x 1000000 kW, divided by 70 kg, for about 300,000 kWh per kg of fuel.
Meanwhile, LFP batteries are about 10% lithium and have 150 Wh per kg of battery weight. Let’s say the battery can get through 10,000 charging cycles before recycling. That’s 15,000 kWh per kg of lithium.
Obviously lithium can be recycled and uranium fuel can be reprocessed. We can also compare the very inefficient extraction of either element (uranium or lithium) from the actual natural ore pulled out of the ground. And the very involved manufacturing processes of turning that ore into useful fuel or batteries.
But either way, the overhead of mining physical stuff to support the supply chains of things that get used up, even reusable/recyclable durable goods, will always be there. Uranium genuinely is special in its energy density and requires closer examination of the calculations.