Britain’s nuclear regulators have approved early designs for small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by Rolls-Royce SMR as a first step towards significantly expanding the UK’s nuclear power capabilities.
The firm is offering a different approach to delivering new nuclear power that is easier to scale and more affordable than building larger nuclear power plants.
It’s an approach that aims to deliver an entirely factory-built nuclear power plant that would be transported as modules and assembled on-site, radically reducing construction activity and making the SMRs a commodifiable product.
The previous government had an ambition to increase nuclear capacity in the UK from around 6GW to up to 24GW by 2050, as set out in the 2022 British energy security strategy.
The SMRs designed by Rolls-Royce will only provide around 470MWe of energy, but are significantly cheaper than major plants like the upcoming Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.
The Environment Agency, Office for Nuclear Regulation and Natural Resources Wales confirmed that the firm has completed step 2 of a generic design assessment (GDA).
The GDA process assesses new nuclear power plant designs for deployment in the UK, demonstrating they can be built, operated and decommissioned in accordance with strict regulations on safety, security, safeguards and environmental protection.
Step 2 of the GDA began in April 2023, and since the design has now been approved, it can move onto step 3 which will entail more detailed scrutiny.
Saffron Price-Finnerty, the Environment Agency’s new reactors programme manager, said: “Our team of specialist assessors have worked diligently to assess hundreds of submissions and documents provided by Rolls-Royce SMR Limited and attended numerous technical meetings with the company.
“We have not currently identified any significant issues or concerns with the design and Rolls-Royce SMR Limited has been able to demonstrate that environmental protection and radioactive waste management are key areas of focus for its developing design.”
Rolls-Royce SMR said that today’s announcement puts it ahead of any other SMR manufacturer in Europe.
Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s safety director, said: “The completion of step 2 of the GDA is the most important milestone to date in advancing deployment of Rolls-Royce SMRs in the UK.
“We have built fantastic momentum, and the team will move directly into step 3 of this rigorous independent assessment of our technology – ideally positioning us to deliver low-carbon nuclear power and support the UK transition to net zero.”
However, four companies, GE Hitachi, Holtec, Westinghouse (Canada), and Rolls Royce SMR have been shortlisted following two rounds of assessment by GBN, the government’s expert nuclear delivery body.
GBN will negotiate with all four before final tenders are submitted, with final decisions to be taken in the spring.
Each of the four designs was subject to a robust analysis to reach this stage. GBN has evaluated each technology, including aspects such as safety, deliverability, and their ability to support development of a fleet of SMRs. GBN considers the designs, each of which is proceeding through the UK’s regulatory process, are viable options for development. Subject to negotiations, GBN consider any one of these designs would be fit to use in the UK nuclear programme.
GBN’s Chair, Simon Bowen said, ‘This is a significant moment for the SMR programme. Our technical experts have assessed each design in detail and are very confident these SMRs could play a key role in the UK’s future energy.
Once again this news strengthens Peter Dutton’s proposal for Australia to include nuclear in our energy supply mix.
For developing economies, the availability of cost-effective, dispatchable baseload electricity is crucial for the growth of electricity-intensive industries that can drive economic progress and improve living standards. This is mandatory considering the amount of electricity needed for the latest technologies: AI, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Data Centres etc.
This underscores the need to address the proverbial elephant in the room without the ideological haze of international climate agreements or theoretical doomsday hypotheses. Here and now, there is a real need to apply pragmatism and do what is sensible for a reliable electricity supply.
Older power plants should be refurbished in the interim to maintain supply stability. Investment in unreliable and unproven renewable electricity sources should be reconsidered, as they are ill-suited to meeting developing country’s long-term economic demands, particularly in the mining, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors. Furthermore, over-reliance on imported refined products could jeopardize developing country’s energy sovereignty and exacerbate balance of payments issues.
The future of electricity in developing countries needs to focus on efficient and effective technologies. These are Nuclear and High-Efficiency, Low-Emissions (HELE) coal-fired, and natural gas power stations.
Electricity in developing countries such as South Africa is a major necessity for business and associated development and is required for future economic growth.
Nuclear and HELE coal and gas represent the most viable options for providing the reliable, dispatchable baseload electricity needed to support the country’s industrial and economic development. Governments must focus on repairing the damage to investor confidence caused by ongoing electricity disruptions and ensure the introduction of adequate, competitively priced electricity supplies to sustain future growth.
Biblical prophecy indicates we are fast approaching the end of Satan’s rule over Earth and Jesus ushering in His Millennial Kingdom. The nation God established for His purposes, Israel with its Messiah, Jesus Christ, will finally rule the nations of the world.
No doubt we will be using Nuclear technology during this time. We are currently using nuclear fission but perhaps then we will use nuclear fusion which is capable of releasing much greater energy than nuclear fission.
The Bible gives us a lot of information about what is next on God’s agenda for planet Earth when Jesus and the glorified Saints will be ruling the nations with a rod of iron. Jesus Millennial Kingdom is a transition period prior to the second resurrection and Jesus White Throne judgement of believers that have died during Jesus Millennial reign and all unbelievers. It is only at the end of Jesus Millennial reign will this Cosmos be destroyed and God creates a new heaven and new Earth where only the righteous will dwell.
USA is planning to convert closed coal-fired power stations to nuclear. Just as Peter Dutton suggests Australia should do with small modular nuclear reactors as well as new conventional nuclear reactors.
Nuscale Small Modular Nuclear reactor
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released a report showing that hundreds of U.S. coal power plant sites could convert to nuclear power plant sites, adding new jobs, increasing economic benefit, and significantly improving environmental conditions. This coal-to-nuclear transition could add a substantial amount of clean electricity to the grid, helping the U.S. reach its net-zero emissions goals by 2050.
The study investigated the benefits and challenges of converting retiring coal plant sites into nuclear plant sites. After screening recently retired and active coal plant sites, the study team identified 157 retired coal plant sites and 237 operating coal plant sites as potential candidates for a coal-to-nuclear transition. Of these sites, the team found that 80% are good candidates to host advanced reactors smaller than the gigawatt scale.
A coal-to-nuclear transition could significantly improve air quality in communities around the country. The case study found that greenhouse gas emissions in a region could fall by 86% when nuclear power plants replace large coal plants, which is equivalent to taking more than 500,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the roads.
It could also increase employment and economic activity within those communities. When a large coal plant is replaced by a nuclear power plant of equivalent size, the study found that jobs in the region could increase by more than 650 permanent positions. Based on the case study in the report, long-term job impacts could lead to additional annual economic activity of $275 million, implying an increase of 92% in tax revenue for the local county when compared to the operating coal power.
“This is an important opportunity to help communities around the country preserve jobs, increase tax revenue, and improve air quality,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Kathryn Huff. “As we move to a clean energy future, we need to deliver place-based solutions and ensure an equitable energy transition that does not leave communities behind.”
The reuse of coal infrastructure for advanced nuclear reactors could also reduce costs for developing new nuclear technology, saving from 15% to 35% in construction costs. Coal-to-nuclear transitions could save millions of dollars by reusing the coal plant’s electrical equipment (e.g., transmission lines, switchyards), cooling ponds or towers, and civil infrastructure such as roads and office buildings.
Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted the study, sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
According to Bloomberg, China has more nuclear reactors under construction than any other country, having approved a dozen in each of the past two years. The nation is on track to become the world’s largest producer of nuclear energy by 2030, overtaking France and the United States. Moreover, it was the first country to connect a small modular nuclear reactor to its grid in the Shandong province.
The EAST fusion-research tokamak at the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) in Hefei, China.
China has approved five new nuclear power projects, adding 11 reactors with an estimated investment of 220 billion yuan ($30.79 billion), marking a new record in the country’s atomic energy expansion. The decision was taken at an executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Li Qiang on Monday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said. State-controlled Chinese business news outlet Jiemian said the reactors will be constructed across the provinces of Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Guangxi.
Jiemian estimates are based on the average cost of 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion) per reactor. Typically, China completes such projects within five years of approval. Six of the reactors will be managed by subsidiaries of the state-owned China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), with several expected to be third-generation Hualong One reactors.
The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) will build three more reactors, while the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) will oversee the construction of two others. Both CNNC and SPIC are also publicly owned. Notably, the Xuwei project in Jiangsu, operated by CNNC, will include a fourth-generation gas-cooled reactor designed to supply both heat and electricity, featuring enhanced safety measures.
China connected its first commercial onshore small modular nuclear reactor to its power grid, making it the first country in the world to draw power from such a machine, a report from Bloomberg reveals. China Huaneng Group Co.‘s 200-megawatt unit 1 reactor at Shidao Bay is connected to the grid in the Shandong province.
As part of its energy security and emissions reduction strategy, China is heavily investing in nuclear power alongside renewable sources like wind and solar. Beijing aims to double nuclear energy’s share of the national energy mix from 5 percent to 10 percent by 2035. Dutton is correct in including it in Australia’s energy mix.
Alphabet’s Google is plugging into nuclear power for its artificial intelligence (AI) operations. The tech giant inked a deal with Kairos Power to purchase electricity from small modular reactors (SMRs).
The plan: Bring the first SMR online by 2030, with more to follow through 2035.
The bigger picture: This move highlights the surging energy demands of AI, with U.S. data center power consumption projected to triple between 2023 and 2030.
In a deal that marks the first corporate agreement to deploy multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) in the U.S., Kairos Power, and Google have signed a Master Plant Development Agreement to facilitate the development of a 500-MW fleet of molten salt nuclear reactors by 2035 to power Google’s data centers.
Momentum for a nuclear revival driven by data center power demand is already beginning to crop up. As POWER reported earlier this month, Microsoft and Constellation Energy committed $1.6 billion to restart the Unit 1 reactor of the shuttered Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania by 2028. The facility, known as the Crane Clean Energy Center, could supply Microsoft’s AI-driven data centers for at least 20 years. Amazon Web Services, similarly, last year bought a 960-MW data center campus powered by the 2,500-MW Susquehanna nuclear plant.
Also, the Strategic Capabilities Office of the US Department of Defense (DOD) has selected BWXT Advanced Technologies and X-energy LLC to develop a final design for a prototype mobile microreactor under the Project Pele initiative. The two teams have been selected through a preliminary design competition which began in April 2019. Three companies – BWX Technologies, Westinghouse Government Services, and X-energy – were selected last year to begin preliminary design work for a prototype reactor. One of the remaining two companies may be selected to build and demonstrate a prototype after a final design review early next year, and the completion of an environmental analysis under the US National Environmental Protection Act, DOD said.
Australia has realized the need for nuclear submarines, so we are committed to nuclear energy and need to develop expertise with small nuclear reactors. We have also had a nuclear reactor in Sydney since the 1950s without incident. Hence, it makes good business sense to bring nuclear energy into our energy mix as well.
There are already SMRs deployed and operating in China and Russia, as well as one test reactor in Japan. Other first-of-a-kind SMRs are expected to be built this decade, followed by accelerated deployment worldwide during the 2030s, particularly as a source of reliable, low-carbon power generation and heat for hard-to-abate sectors. This includes notably the use of SMRs for on-grid baseload power to replace coal-fired generation, though market demand for SMRs continues to grow for other applications as well. The most promising include off-grid heat and power to replace diesel generators in remote regions for mining operations, fossil-fuel replacement for district heating, and high-temperature heat to replace fossil-fuel cogeneration in heavy industries. Other applications include replacing fossil fuels in cogeneration for ammonia and potash production for the fertiliser industry; hydrogen production for synthetic fuels and clean steel production; as well as marine propulsion to replace heavy-fuel oil for merchant shipping.
SMRs are driving innovation in the nuclear sector The sector is witnessing significant innovation internationally. This includes SMRs at various stages of development, from fundamental research on new concepts to commercial deployment and operation. The innovation pipeline includes a range of reactor concepts – from incremental innovation in existing light water reactor technologies to breakthroughs in advanced Generation IV reactor concepts. It also includes SMRs in a variety of configurations – with land-based, multi-module, marine-based and transportable designs. These innovations incorporate new materials, a range of coolants, and, in some cases, innovative fuels. This is in turn expected to lead to the deployment of a range of SMRs of different sizes, with a range of outlet temperatures, and new attributes.
Nuclear energy supplies approximately 10% of the world’s electricity from 412 nuclear power reactors in operation, providing 370 gigawatts of capacity. It is the largest source of non-emitting electricity generation in OECD countries and the second largest source worldwide after hydropower.
The role of nuclear energy in meeting these pathways was emphasized at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai on 2 December 2013 when the leaders of over 20 countries committed to tripling global installed nuclear capacity by 2050, recognizing the critical role of nuclear energy in achieving global net zero greenhouse gas emissions and keeping within reach the goal of limiting the temperature rise to 1.5°C.
This commitment builds on NEA analysis that concluded in 2022 that to meet climate goals consistent with a 1.5°C scenario, global installed nuclear capacity needs to triple to 1 160 gigawatts by 2050 (NEA, 2022).
Britain’s new Labour government has said small nuclear plants will play an important role in helping the country meet its net-zero targets.
Britain’s Office of Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said the Rolls-Royce SMR 470 megawatt (MW) Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design had completed stage two of its three-step generic design assessment (GDA) – the formal process for approving a new reactor.
“The team will move directly into Step 3 of this rigorous independent assessment of our technology – ideally positioning us to deliver low-carbon nuclear power and support the UK transition to net zero,” said Helena Perry, Rolls-Royce SMR’s Safety and Regulatory Affairs Director.
The overall duration for the Rolls-Royce SMR GDA is expected to be 53 months, reaching completion in August 2026.
A unique approach
According to Paul Stein, Chairman of Rolls-Royce SMR, “The UK SMR heralds a new approach to the cost of nuclear power by broadly rethinking the manufacturing and construction methods and by the extensive use of digital twinning, keeping the physics package exactly the same. The SMR uses a pressurised water reactor, a type we know and love.”
The production will utilize commercially available, off-the-shelf components from within the UK supply chain, injecting revenue into the British economy and avoiding high-risk, complex construction principles.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
The second volume of The NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard is another milestone in the ongoing efforts of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) to comprehensively assess the progress toward commercializing and deploying SMR technologies. It is important to note that the present publication is not an update to the complement of reactors assessed in Volume I. Instead, the work extends the same methodology to a further 21 SMR designs worldwide to evaluate their progress toward commercialization and deployment as of 21 April 2023.
Australia is a member of the OECD and has access to the publications of its Nuclear Energy Agency on SMR’s and would be aware that the widespread use of SMRs is underway.
Notable public announcements, even in the intervening months since NEA published Volume I in March 2023, now reflect technology choices and plans by chemical manufacturers, oil companies, and copper mine owners. Market signals suggest that this trend will only continue to accelerate as awareness grows about the potential for SMRs to provide alternatives to fossil fuels for both power and non-power industrial applications.
Nuclear Energy allows us to use the existing transmission lines and infrastructure, which is extremely important in Australia with a widely distributed, small population in a large country. The proposal submitted by the Liberal Party for replacing cold fire power stations with SMRs and larger-scale nuclear reactors utilizes the existing transmission lines so is a cost-efficient option.
Wind and Solar in remote locations means a whole new transmission infrastructure to get the power to where it is needed. Moreover, they only work when the wind blows and the sun shines, so the power output is unreliable.
Blocking nuclear is a major setback for Australia’s industrial sector. In the past with our own coal and natural gas Australia provided industry with comparatively cheap energy that will change dramatically without nuclear. Also, Australia has the world’s largest economic demonstrated resources of uranium. In 2021, it was the world’s 4th largest uranium producer. However, Australia has only one commercial nuclear power plant therefore, it has limited domestic uranium requirements. It has and will continue to provide excellent export income.
Why aren’t our politicians following what is happening in Canada specifically in Ontario. Watch the video below and hear from Ontario politicians on what they believe about nuclear power.
(CAMBRIDGE, Ontario – April 19, 2024) – BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) announced today an investment to expand its Cambridge manufacturing plant. Already one of the largest nuclear commercial manufacturing facilities in North America, the site’s increased footprint will enable greater capacity to support ongoing and anticipated customers’ investments in Small Modular Reactors, traditional large-scale nuclear, and advanced reactors, in Canada and around the world.
The expansion, estimated to cost C$50 million, will increase the facility’s footprint 25 percent to 280,000 square feet. Additionally, over the next few years, BWXT will invest approximately C$30 million in advanced manufacturing equipment for the facility that has designed and manufactured hundreds of large nuclear components. This total estimated C$80 million investment will increase capacity significantly, improve productivity and create more than 200 long-term jobs for skilled workers, engineers and support staff in the area.
John MacQuarrie, president of Commercial Operations, BWXT, stated, “Our expansion comes at a time when we’re supporting our customers in the successful execution of some of the largest clean nuclear energy projects in the world. At the same time, the global nuclear industry is increasingly being called upon to mitigate the impacts of climate change and increase energy security and independence. By investing significantly in our Cambridge manufacturing facility, BWXT is further positioning our business to serve our customers to produce more safe, clean, and reliable electricity in Canada and abroad.”
Mike Rencheck, president and CEO of Bruce Power said, “The nuclear industry is powering Ontario’s economy, by supplying clean, reliable electricity, life-saving medical isotopes, and creating thousands of good jobs. We are supporting advanced manufacturing while providing a deeply decarbonized grid to attract new businesses to our province. The expansion at the BWXT facility in Cambridge is another great example of the positive impact our industry can have in communities all across the province. Clean air, cancer-fighting medical treatments, and economic expansion leading Ontario to a better future.”
Ken Hartwick, president and CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), said, “As we refurbish our existing nuclear facilities and build new, OPG is also generating jobs and economic activity in Ontario’s robust nuclear supply chain. BWXT’s planned expansion is a great example of how building out a system to meet Ontario’s increasing clean energy needs is also paying dividends for our province’s economy.”
Premier of Ontario Doug Ford said, “We’re thrilled to see BWXT expand its footprint and create hundreds of new jobs in Cambridge. As our province continues to lead the future of nuclear energy, the company’s investment will help provide Ontario families and businesses with access to clean, reliable, and affordablepower.
Rolls-Royce SMR was successful in the Swedish nuclear selection process 12th June 2024. It has won a place on Vattenfall’s shortlist of just two SMR companies competing to potentially deploy a fleet of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden.
Vattenfall, the Swedish multinational power company, has announced the shortlist of two SMR vendors as part of its plans to meet the rising electricity demand, adding nuclear capacity and helping Sweden achieve its goal of creating a fossil-free economy by 2045. The other successful SMR wasGE Hitachi’s BWRX-300.
This selection follows a thorough assessment process in which Rolls-Royce SMR had the opportunity to present a fundamentally different approach to building nuclear projects and a modularisation strategy focused on risk reduction to Vattenfall, an experienced and technically respected energy utility.
Rolls-Royce SMR CEO, Chris Cholerton, said: “We are delighted to be one of the two SMR technologies selected by Vattenfall for further evaluation in Sweden. Success in reaching the final two, in such a fiercely competitive process, reflects the benefits of our integrated power station design, our approach to modularisation, and our use of proven nuclear technology.
“Rolls-Royce SMR is the fastest and most affordable way of bringing new nuclear power online and we are excited to work with utilities and industrial customers around the globe, to unlock sustainable sources of low-cost, low-carbon electricity for decades to come.”
Vattenfall’s focus will be deployment at the Ringhals nuclear site with a project that, at the earliest, is operational in the first half of the 2030s, with assessments for SMR and large-scale reactors ongoing.
Sweden has said it needs an additional 100-250 TWh of electricity production over the next 25 years and Vattenfall is poised to play a critical role in the country’s energy transition, including integrating new nuclear capacity into the energy mix.
Rolls-Royce SMR is on track to complete Step 2 and immediately enter Step 3 of the Generic Design Assessment by the UK nuclear industry’s independent regulators this summer. This will be the most important regulatory milestone to date – confirming Rolls-Royce SMR’s first-mover advantage as the leading technology in Europe.
AI Could Soon Need as Much Electricity as An Entire Country
This graph reveals that for decades the power demands for A.I. closely followed Moore’s Law, doubling roughly every 20 months. However, Moore’s Law was shattered in 2010. And the processing power required to train AI went from doubling every 20 months to doubling every six months. To put this in perspective for you: that’s a 16 trillion percent increase over the last 13 years alone… This growth shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, Epoch AI, a research institute warns: The amount of [computing power] developers use to train their systems will continue increasing at its current accelerated rate. That means in one year, the amount of computing power required to train AI systems will increase by 300%… In 3 years, by 6,300%… In 5 years, by a staggering 102,300%.
Operating and developing new artificial intelligence systems requires unparalleled energy demands… energy demands we cannot currently meet. Consider this: ChatGPT already receives an average of 10 million queries per day. That’s roughly 300 million queries per month. Research from the University of Washington shows it costs around one gigawatt-hour of energy to answer these queries. One gigawatt-hour is roughly the same energy consumed by 33,000 households! And that’s for only one AI program.
The problems are FAR worse at scale. The University of Massachusetts Amherst found that “training a single AI model can emit as much carbon as five cars in their lifetimes.” That’s not operating, just development. And that’s for just ONE of the thousands upon thousands of AI models that are being trained every single day. That’s why, The New York Times reported, by 2027 AI servers are predicted to consume as much as 134 terawatt hours annually. In less than three years, AI will have the same annual energy consumption as countries like Argentina, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
“If you really want to make the biggest, most capable super intelligent system you can, you need high amounts of energy.” SAM ALTMANCEO, OPEN AI
“The world is actually headed for a really bad energy crisis because of AI unless we fix a few things.” ARIJIT SENGUPTA, FOUNDER, AIBLE
Elon Musk predicts that by 2045 the power demand in the U.S will have tripled from current levels – largely driven by AI’s needs.
Those in the know, understand that unless the insatiable energy demands of artificial intelligence are met, the industry will never go mainstream.
Fossil fuels are the primary energy source used to train and operate AI systems and could continue to meet the growing energy demands…
But that would require the woke Silicon Valley tech companies and progressive politicians to turn their backs on the religion of Climate Change. And with the activists already up in arms about the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, this is untenable to the ruling class. So they’ll argue that renewables like wind and solar should be used to meet the energy demands of AI…
But the reality is that there is ZERO chance of these renewables producing enough low-cost energy to meet AI’s needs. As The Manhattan Institute reported: “Thinking that wind and solar can ever replace fossil fuels is nothing but an “exercise in magical thinking.” Of course, those who have decided that fossil fuels are quite literally the end of humanity don’t care for these facts.
The Ivy League elites continue to lecture us that wind and solar are the ONLY way forward. But let’s look at the data: Recent research has shown that after two decades of intense support for increased clean energy… The proportion of energy provided by these “clean sources” went from a paltry 13-14% to… get this… 15.7%. That’s after global investment and spending on these clean energy solutions hit an estimated $1.4 trillion in 2022. Tell me, after more than twenty years of failure, do you think these green “solutions” will suddenly be able to meet the exponential energy needs of AI. Of course not. Just consider the projected energy consumption of artificial intelligence we discussed earlier, 134 terawatt hours annually. To generate this amount of energy from wind power alone would require almost 17,000 wind turbines. That would take up roughly 2,284 square kilometers, about 1.5-times the size of London – a city of 8.9 million people.
And that’s assuming all this energy went to AI. This is why it’s obvious to me that renewables like wind, solar, and hydro will NEVER meet the energy demands of AI. And this has created a unique situation… The economic, social, and geopolitical incentives behind AI are far too powerful to be stopped.
Even the Biden administration is not incompetent enough to halt the progress on AI development and cede power to our rivals like China and Russia. However, for artificial intelligence development to continue and reach its full potential vast amounts of energy will be required. And there’s only one solution…
The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, a radical who makes inane music videos about ending fossil fuels… …has come to admit that… the future of nuclear energy is here and should be protected. JENNIFER GRANHOLM, U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY
Hence the U.S. government is adopting nuclear power and recently passed the ADVANCE Act (the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy)
Its stated mission is to: “Boost development and deployment of new nuclear technologies, incentivize expansion in America, […] and help position the U.S. as the world’s leader in nuclear energy.”
Miraculously, this is one of the only bills this year that made it through the Senate with bipartisan support… which highlights the importance of nuclear energy, not just for the future of AI, but for the country. In fact, the US Department of Energy recently went so far as to say: “Nuclear power is intrinsically tied to national security.”
While it’s refreshing to finally see D.C. pass legislation that is grounded in reality and that will benefit the country, there’s a problem. After decades of negative attention and pressure from the mainstream media, the U.S. has been closing nuclear power plants.
In 1998, the number of operating reactors declined to 104 and remained there through 2013… When the number then declined even further to 92 in 2022. On top of that, nuclear power has only provided 20% of total annual U.S. electricity generation from 1990 through 2021- that’s 31 years of stagnation. In fact, Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia, will be America’s first new nuclear plant since the 1990’s.
The only catch? It took 15 years to build… and it cost more than $30 billion. This is a massive milestone for Waynesboro and the country. The plant is projected to power 500,000 homes and businesses for the next 60 to 80 years… but Plant Vogtle’s story exposes a brutal truth: Building nuclear power plants is expensive, time-consuming, and complicated.
This means that traditional nuclear power plants will be unable to meet the exponentially growing energy demands of the AI sector. It could take decades for the U.S. to build out the necessary infrastructure.
However, thanks to a single decision on February 21 last year… a new type of nuclear energy will be able to provide practically endless clean energy all across the country. A new technology was recently approved by the U.S. government… and it’s THIS technology that will act as the Keystone for the AI industry. It enables AI companies to use nuclear energy – easily, quickly, and without spending years and billions of dollars to develop power plants. It’s a revolutionary new technology that allows us to build hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of nuclear facilities all across the country. At 1/50th the cost and in 1/5th the amount of time. To say this is a historical development would be an understatement. It is a generational achievement that, according to former Presidential advisor David Durham is A game-changing technology. DAVID DURHAMFMR. PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR
It’s something that former White House Deputy, Matt Bennett, believes will… Save the world. MATT BENNETT FMR. WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY
So what is this technology that I believe will be the Keystone of the artificial intelligence industry for decades to come. It’s a nuclear power plant named after a Nobel-prize winning scientist named Enrico Fermi. Fermi was one of the greatest geniuses of the last 100 years and is considered the father of nuclear energy. it was the world’s first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR). As the name implies, an SMR is a nuclear reactor that produces nuclear energy but is MUCH smaller than a typical reactor. It has all the advantages of a nuclear reactor, with almost none of the disadvantages.
It can produce electricity without overheating.
It can self-regulate.
It can be paired with renewable resources.
It can be built in two years (as opposed to ten).
It can be deployed on top of shuttered coal plants, of which we have 300 in America right now… This is what Bill Gates’ nuclear company – TerraPower – has done. They’ve staked their claim at the site of a retired coal plant.
An SMR can produce energy for 10 years without being refueled, whereas a typical reactor has to be refueled every 18 to 24 months
This is why, as our energy needs continue to surge, SMRs are gaining the attention of governments all around the world. They know green energy can’t meet the demands so hundreds of billions of dollars are pouring into the development of SMRs. Right now, 80 different SMR designs are being developed in 19 different countries. Three have already begun operating. Others will soon follow. And when they do, the world will never be the same again.
For the first time ever, we will be able to provide nuclear energy to ANYONE, ANYWHERE, AT ANYTIME. And we’ll be able to do it WITHOUT having to spend billions of dollars on reactors that take a decade to build. And this is why Small Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) are the Keystone technology to the AI industry. It’s the ONLY way tech companies can meet the energy demands of artificial intelligence without fossil fuels.
In five… ten… even fifteen years from now… When we’re looking back on the craze of the AI boom, the top investments won’t be the company with the best artificial intelligence. The real winners will be those who master the SMR. Consider Sam Altman’s SMR startup, Oklo. He plans to take it public this year for upwards of $500 million dollars. Why? In his own words: “If the use of artificial intelligence scales up, it will demand a lot of energy… I don’t see a way for us to get there without nuclear.” SAM ALTMAN CEO, OPEN AI
He not only serves as the chairman of Oklo, the startup working to commercialize nuclear fission with microreactors… But he’s also invested $375 million in Helion – that’s right; another nuclear company – marking the “biggest investment [he’s] ever made” Helion is a nuclear energy startup working on systems that are “smaller, a lot faster to iterate, and then gets […] to commercially useful electricity […] as soon as possible.” Sam Altman – is ALL-IN on nuclear microreactors.
In addition to Oklo, a number of other companies are working on “new breeds” of advanced microreactors… Including GE Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale Power, TerraPower, and X-energy. However, despite the potential of these companies, I don’t recommend you go near them. You see, there is one major roadblock each of them faces. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In November 2022, the NRC denied “without prejudice” Oklo’s application to build and operate the company’s Aurora microreactor in Idaho. The reason? “Failure to provide information on several key topics.” Vague, confusing, and totally unhelpful – classic bureaucrats!
The company that is building small nuclear reactors is BWXT and it’s got the backing of the US government. BWXT will build the first advanced full-scale transportable nuclear microreactor in the USA under a contract awarded by the US Dept. of Defence (DoD) Strategic Capabilities Office. To be completed and delivered in 2024 for testing at the Idaho National Laboratory.
Poland’s first two nuclear stations will be BWRX-300 small modular reactors. By the end of the year, 20 locations will be presented to local communities, with the first SMR reactor set to be built between 2028 and 2029.
BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) today announced a two-phase, two-year contract with the Wyoming Energy Authority to assess the viability of deploying small-scale nuclear reactors in the state as a source of resilient and reliable energy to augment existing power generation resources. 03/21/2023
Man taking God’s place in controlling His universe will soon end. In Australia, the present government has ruled out the use of nuclear energy and is charging ahead with wind and solar. What madness. We need Holy Spirit-led people in power who can make Godly decisions. Fortunately, Biblical prophecy tells us that Satan and man’s control of Earth is coming to an end.
What energy sources will Jesus use during His Millennial reign to power the world? Will nuclear fusion be perfected for energy use? God uses nuclear fusion for the sun to provide the heat needed to sustain life on Earth so I think it is a natural alternative energy source..
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 