From Mr. Gates' blog Gates Notes, May 6:
Visiting the site of a historic new power plant that I’m funding.
Today I’m in the town of Kemmerer, Wyoming, to celebrate the latest step in a project that’s been more than 15 years in the making: designing and building a next-generation nuclear power plant. I’m thrilled to be here after all this time—because I’m convinced that the facility will be a win for the local economy, America’s energy independence, and the fight against climate change.
It’s called the Natrium plant, and it was designed by TerraPower, a company I started in 2008. When it opens (potentially in 2030), it will be the most advanced nuclear facility in the world, and it will be much safer and produce far less waste than conventional reactors.
All of this matters because the world needs to make a big bet on nuclear. As I wrote in my book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, we need nuclear power if we’re going to meet the world’s growing need for energy while also eliminating carbon emissions. None of the other clean sources are as reliable, and none of the other reliable sources are as clean.
But nuclear has its problems: The plants are expensive to build, and human error can cause accidents. Plus, as we move away from fossil fuels, there’s a risk that we’ll leave behind the communities and workers who have been providing reliable energy for decades.
The Natrium facility is designed to solve these problems, and more.
I’ll start with improved safety. Keep in mind that America’s current fleet of nuclear plants has been operating safely for decades—in fact, in terms of lives lost, nuclear power is by far the safest way to produce energy. And this new facility in Kemmerer will be even better.
Like other power plant designs, it uses heat to turn water into steam, which moves a turbine, which generates electricity. And like other nuclear facilities, it generates the heat by splitting uranium atoms in a chain reaction. But that’s pretty much where the similarities stop.
A typical reactor keeps the atom-splitting nuclear reaction under control by circulating water around a uranium core. But using water as a coolant presents two challenges. First, water isn’t very good at absorbing heat—it turns to steam and stops absorbing heat at just 100 degrees C. Second, as water gets hot, its pressure goes up, which puts strain on your pipes and other equipment. If there’s an emergency—say, an earthquake cuts off all the electricity to the plant and you can’t keep pumping water—the core continues to make heat, raising the pressure and potentially causing an explosion.
But what if you could cool your reactor with something other than water?....
....MUCH MORE
December 2022
"Tech Billionaires Are Betting Big On Nuclear Power"
August 2019
Energy 2019: "Inside the lab where Bill Gates’ TerraPower is inventing the future of nuclear energy"
A major piece from Seattle's own GeekWire:
May 2008
Who says big ideas are rare? (Using Nuclear Waste)
August 2010
"How Moore’s Law Has Spoiled Us for The Energy Revolution"
December 2011
Bill Gates and China Aren't Building a Traveling Wave Nuclear Plant (yet)
November 2017
"Bill Gates and China partner on world-first nuclear technology"
This story slipped under the radar but may be important.
Plus, we've been following it for a decade and aren't quitters.
(I know, it's a fine line between perseverance and pig-headedness)
March 2019
10 Breakthrough Technologies 2019: Bill Gates at Technology Review
In some parts of this introduction Mr. Gates is talking his book so earnestly it is almost adorable.
That is the first and last time I will ever place 'Mr. Gates" and "adorable' in such close proximity.
"Bill Gates’ Children Mock Him With ‘Billionaire’ Song"
