Why the grid relies on nuclear reactors in the winter

Nuclear power plants play a crucial role in meeting high electricity demands during winter and summer. Despite high capacity factors, downtime for maintenance and refueling is scheduled strategically during lower-demand seasons. The reliability of nuclear reactors has significantly improved over the years, with the current fleet operating at a high level of consistency. Next-generation technologies, like molten-salt reactors or small modular reactors, face challenges in proving their reliability compared to the existing commercial fleet. The article highlights the importance of maintaining a consistent energy supply amidst unexpected challenges like natural disasters or technical failures.