Bill Gates’ TerraPower plans to build first US next-generation nuclear plant

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Bill Gates' TerraPower is on the cusp of revolutionizing the United States' energy landscape with plans to construct the nation's first next-generation nuclear power plant. Founded by Gates, TerraPower aims to lead the charge in developing and exporting cost-effective reactors, competing with Russian and Chinese counterparts in a race to redefine nuclear energy.

 

In an interview with the Financial Times, Chris Levesque, TerraPower's CEO, revealed the company's ambitious timeline, indicating its intention to apply for a construction permit from US regulators this month. TerraPower's reactor, cooled with liquid sodium rather than water, promises to usher in a new era of nuclear power generation at significantly reduced costs.

 

Levesque asserts that TerraPower's Natrium-branded reactors could be built for approximately half the cost of conventional water-cooled reactors, marking a substantial breakthrough in the industry. With nearly $1 billion in private funding and government support totaling up to $2 billion, TerraPower is poised to accelerate its groundbreaking project in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

 

 

What sets TerraPower apart is its innovative use of liquid sodium as a coolant, offering a game-changing advantage over traditional water-cooled reactors. Levesque emphasizes the substantial cost savings and heightened efficiency afforded by this approach, projecting a competitive edge in the nuclear energy market.

 

TerraPower's Natrium reactor, developed in collaboration with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, boasts a power capacity slightly larger than most small modular reactors (SMRs). Additionally, it features a molten salt-based energy storage system, providing flexibility and reliability in power generation.

 

Despite challenges faced by the US nuclear industry, including rising costs and fuel shortages, TerraPower remains undeterred in its pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. Adam Stein, director of nuclear energy innovation at The Breakthrough Institute, commends TerraPower's secure funding and competitive reactor design, positioning it favorably among its peers.

 

While TerraPower's Wyoming project has drawn scrutiny for its substantial government funding, Levesque emphasizes the strategic importance of the Natrium reactor to US interests. As global competition intensifies, particularly with China and Russia eyeing future markets, the geopolitical significance of nuclear energy cannot be overstated.

 

As TerraPower advances its pioneering efforts in nuclear energy, it stands poised to reshape the energy landscape, offering a compelling alternative in the fight against climate change. With its innovative technology and strategic vision, TerraPower embodies the promise of a brighter, more sustainable future powered by nuclear innovation.

 

21.03.24

Source

 

[mfd101]

Sounds like an item for Dutton to add to his list to consider when he moves on nuclear power for Oz after the next federal election.

[Srikcir]

TerraPower has received $2 billion from the US Department of Energy. Nice and the US gets a demonstrator. Should it prove better economics (ie., higher burn efficiencies, lower waste generation) for commercialization, the $2 billion should be repaid.

[eisfeld]

So this is how they will power the 5G chips.

[placnx]

Here's a compendium of SMR projects - see attached.

SMR_Book_2020.pdf

[Flying Saucage]

Liquid sodium is extremely reactive when in contact with air (its humidity) and especially when in contact with water. For this reason, reactors with a cooling system using sodium always have been controversial.

 

Sounds like a potential disaster. Well, it's Bill Gates after all.

[jingjai9]

TerraPower might produce energy at a lower cost for Gates and Company, but will this result in lower prices for the end consumers?

Please consider Bill Gates' record when it comes to lower cost. Microsoft has maintained a monopoly on an operating system for nearly 90% of the world's computers for 30+ years. If Gates had even a little bit of heart, he could show it by reducing the cost of Windows or making it open source. This of course is my dream.

 

Do any of you on this forum recall seeing Bill Gates at a Congressional hearing back in the 90s attempting to demonstrate that Windows Explorer could not be separated from the windows operating system? 

 

Do you smell another monopoly in the air?

 

We will have to take this new Gates project with a grain of salt I guess.

 

[Scouse123]

2 hours ago, jingjai9 said:

 

 

We will have to take this new Gates project with a grain of salt I guess.

 

 

 

or a drop of sodium?

[xtrnuno41]

Well not really. It is politics and friends. They make the choice.

I came upon this video, watched it and then you can see it is like that.

 It is about what happened and one project was frozen totally. Thorium reactors with molten salt cooling.

The guy,  Kirk Sorensen, loves talking, he keeps straight on for 36 minutes, but interesting. The guy is a promoter for thorium reactors.

The man first behind those reactors was Alvin Weinberg, but he was just put aside with his invention, cracked down.

however thorium has many pro's. You can hold it in your hand, no problem of radiation.

 

So the Gates fast reactor plant is approved by Biden then. All depends on presidents and their blurry visions

If you see the problems with sodium reactors and the development, you should scratch your head.

As they have done test with this reactor again in Santa Susanna, having unwanted sodium oxide in the system !

How is that possible with a closed system? That is another movie on youtube about that reactor in the late 50 ties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NKdWV5SCg

However another movie about it in Idaho 1951, which was said fist working one. Both with sodium liquid.

Interesting they had 3  layered pipes for the liquid with a purge of argon gas.

Funny to hear in the interview movie with the guys who worked there.

They ordered 3 iron chambers , specially made and tested in Chicago.

They werent right?! So they asked a worker, workers were just local handy men, if he could make at least 2.

He did and they worked. They would kill you now for doing so. But otherwise they had to wait again for 3 months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KncekYvqyWs

 

SO they were a that time already careful with it, well you must.

Now they are going to try it again. Liquid sodium gives best performances, however ...pure sodium!

Not real  pressure on cooling, like the common reactors as they are water cooled.

So what is Gates going to do? Also bend some rules? There are some problems with airplanes, not according to rules.

[ericthai]

10 hours ago, Srikcir said:

TerraPower has received $2 billion from the US Department of Energy. Nice and the US gets a demonstrator. Should it prove better economics (ie., higher burn efficiencies, lower waste generation) for commercialization, the $2 billion should be repaid.

actually it's $1 billion from the govt, it's a total of $2 billion from govt and private funds. 

 

I would like to see if the US government is investing that much they should have 50% shares in the company. No voting rights just share in the profits. 

[stbkk]

22 hours ago, Flying Saucage said:

Liquid sodium is extremely reactive when in contact with air (its humidity) and especially when in contact with water. For this reason, reactors with a cooling system using sodium always have been controversial.

 

Sounds like a potential disaster. Well, it's Bill Gates after all.

I read a book called 'Plentiful Energy' promoting this type of cooling in the integral fast reactor which was around in the 1990's (co-written by 2 scientists who had worked on the project) . The whole program was very well advanced, and the technology was found to have numerous advantages over traditional water cooled reactors. Unfortunately it was cancelled by the Clinton administration of the time. There is a detailed discussion about the pros and cons of liquid sodium v. water cooling in it, which is very worth a read, along with the whole book in fact.