What just happened? Bill Gates and TerraPower management have begun constructing a new nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, a town with around 2,400 residents that could host a revolution in how the US (and possibly the world) generates energy from nuclear fission.
The company applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in March for a construction permit to build the reactor, hoping to operate the plant as a proper commercial venture once the NRC officially approves the nuclear part of the project.
The new site isn't far from a polluting plant owned by PacifiCorp, which plans to stop burning coal in 2026 and natural gas in 2036. The utility hopes to source some of the greenhouse-free energy required by its customers from the new plant.
In Wyoming, TerraPower is building the first reactor based on its innovative "Natrium" design. The Natrium reactor uses molten sodium as an energy storage system instead of water. Molten sodium can absorb large amounts of heat, providing a much more efficient and secure way to generate and manage energy from nuclear fission.
The Natrium reactor uses nuclear fuel enriched with a higher percentage of the uranium-235 isotope than conventional plants, which, according to researchers, could be used to build nuclear weapons. However, the risk is currently considered small because low-enriched uranium is still rare. According to NRC spokesman Scott Burnell, the agency is "confident" that TerraPower will be able to comply with its requirements for security and public safety.
The new Wyoming plant is a 345-megawatt reactor that can generate up to 500 megawatts at its peak, enough to power up to 400,000 homes. TerraPower will initially use the reactor to provide electricity but is already planning for a future where Natrium reactors can supply heat for industrial plants.
According to PacifiCorp CEO Cindy Crane, TerraPower is building something new in a "challenging yet exciting time" in the energy industry. There's a need for reliable and affordable energy that must be met, and Natrium reactors could be the answer the utility company is looking for.
Gates said he was proud to have helped develop the "most advanced nuclear project" in the world. The Microsoft co-founder believes that Natrium "will power the future" of the US and the world.