Bill Gates on Next-Gen Nuclear Power Technology

Nuclear power is the future of clean energy. While innovations in hydro and solar have seen increased investments over the past few years, there is still a major global power deficit still being catered to by fossil fuels. Ships, cars and several other categories of industrial machinery all run on fossil fuels. And despite the global sustainability agenda strongly themed on achieving net-zero carbon emissions, the world is still some distance from achieving its power goals. However, by harnessing nuclear energy, fossil fuels could become a thing of the past.

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What Is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy is the type of energy released from the core or nucleus of an atom, made up of neutrons and protons. It can be produced either via fission or fusion. Nuclear fission is the splitting apart of atom nuclei, while nuclear fusion is the joining together of the nuclei. Today, nuclear fission is used to generate electricity, while technology to produce power via fusion is in the research and development phase.

Nuclear power plants are where nuclear energy is generated. These facilities contain nuclear reactors and other equipment that control chain reactions, usually fuelled by uranium-235, which produce heat via fission. The heat is then converted to steam, which is channelled to activate the spinning of turbines, which ultimately generates low-carbon electricity. 

Bill Gates and the Push for Nuclear Power

Bill Gates, one of the world’s foremost billionaire entrepreneurs is embarking on one of his biggest projects to date. The 67-year-old Microsoft founder is building the platform for next-gen nuclear power technology, making giant strides with his energy company TerraPower and its Natrium nuclear reactor. The journey towards his energy sustainability goal has been long in the works, with the TerraPower demonstrator project announced as far back as November 2021. The $4 billion project would be based in Kemmerer, Wyoming, a coal-generating town, and would also include training the nuclear facility’s employees on becoming proficient nuclear technicians. The Natrium project aims to help the U.S. become a dominant force in nuclear power, even as other nations seek to transition to clean energy. The project also aims to export standard-setting, world-class nuclear reactors. 

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What Does the Natrium Project Seek to Achieve?

The TerraPower-sponsored Natrium reactors aim to supplement deficits in solar and wind power generation. The project features a 345 Megawatt (MW) sodium-cooled fast reactor with molten salt-based energy storage and aims to boost energy output to 500 MW during peak demand periods. The technology is also equipped with the capacity to store heat in molten salt tanks, similar to batteries. The heat storage tanks are similar to those used in solar power systems and allow for economic variable electricity output. 

The Natrium Project: Safety Concerns 

Bill Gates’ new power project is based on nuclear power, which has a mixed reputation in terms of safety. Nevertheless, such concerns are overreaching, as nuclear power is safer than all other forms of power generation when assessed by deaths per unit of electricity generated. The Natrium Reactor plants will be doubly safer due to the cooling systems, which reduce the buildup of excess pressure-causing steam inside the reactors that are responsible for explosions. The project will employ the use of liquid sodium as a cooling agent to ensure that high pressure does not accumulate inside the nuclear reactors. 

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Conclusion

Despite what Bill Gates and his nuclear project are about, there are strong debates over the viability of nuclear power, with questions regarding the designs of advanced nuclear reactor designs. While nuclear power has been around since the 1950s, it has proven to be fraught with dangers and extremely slow and expensive to deploy. This goes without mentioning the adverse effects of nuclear waste on the environment. Nevertheless, Bill Gates’ nuclear project is set to go ahead, and, with the moral and financial backing of one of the world’s most brilliant entrepreneurs, access to large-scale nuclear-generated electricity is set to be available by 2030.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Will the Natrium Nuclear Power Plant Be Based?

The site for Bill Gates’ nuclear reactor project is Kemmerer, Wyoming, a remote town situated 50 miles off Interstate 80. The town’s average elevation is higher than the local population and attracts fossil-fuel-hunting tourists. Kemmerer’s biggest industry is its coal mine and natural gas wells which employ over 450 individuals. If the nuclear project delivers on its promise, Kemmerer could become one of the world’s most famous locations. 

Why Is the Natrium Project Unique?

Bill Gates’ Natrium project is based on the next generation of advanced reactors that make more use of efficient materials, are easier to site and offer efficient balance to increased reliance on renewables in the form of readily available clean energy. Another distinguishing feature of the Natrium project is its incorporation of a thermal salt storage system which optimises power output and increases the safety of the reactor. 

What Are the Benefits of Nuclear Energy?

If done correctly, nuclear energy has the potential to help the world achieve its climate goals, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions without increasing the cost of the electricity system or reducing its reliability. Another benefit of nuclear energy is that it is not weather dependent. Unlike wind, hydro and solar energy which can only be harnessed in certain climatic and environmental conditions, nuclear energy works all the time. With it, it is possible to generate a significant amount of energy from even a small nuclear plant.