Option Lockout

The current enthusiasm on nuclear energy is reminiscent of yesteryears, three decades ago or thereabouts. It's yesterday once more. But perhaps this time it would lead to a proclamation of nuclear energy being one of future energy-mix; or perhaps it won't. Both have finite possibility of happening, one will be more possible if the possibility of the other is less. Obviously.
The long period needed to introduce the first nuclear power plant makes timely decision important. The process is full of critical paths that are dependent on each other as could be seen when plotted on a Gantt chart. Prof. Shikama of Tohoku University quoted that for Japan, 5-7 years is the time needed to bring a nuclear power reactor to first criticality starting from the first pile in the ground. That figure is fairly consistent, he added.
Since nuclear energy cannot be put on-line in a relatively short period of time, it cannot respond to energy crunch fast enough. In real operation too it is best for base load operation, not for load following. When energy crisis becomes imminent, the time available will no longer be sufficient to introduce or even to consider nuclear energy. In that case, the fastest and familiar way to increase generation capacity would be the practical approach. Nuclear definitely does not fit the bill in such a scenario. Call it the nuclear option lockout.