Tag

Nuclear Energy

All articles tagged with #nuclear energy

politics6 hours ago•15 min saved

Private Firms Eye Surplus Plutonium as Fuel for Next-Gen Reactors

The Energy Department has chosen five private companies for advanced negotiations to repurpose surplus Cold War plutonium into fuel for next‑generation reactors, a move supporters say could unlock private funding and spur domestic nuclear innovation, while critics warn it could increase weapons-usable material and revisit a failed 2018 effort. Oklo will work with Newcleo; other participants include Exodys Energy, SHINE Technologies, Standard Nuclear, and Flibe Energy.

via Gizmodo|

#advanced-reactors #doe #nuclear-energy

politics1 day ago•183 min saved

Private firms eye weapons-grade plutonium to power next-gen reactors

The Energy Department has named five private companies, including Oklo, to begin negotiations under its Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program to repurpose weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for next-generation small modular reactors. The move could unlock private funding and expand domestic nuclear fuel supplies, but critics warn it raises proliferation risks and could set a precedent for civilian use of weapons-grade material; negotiations are not yet finalized.

via CNN|

#nuclear-energy #plutonium #politics

energy1 day ago•2 min saved

US to repurpose surplus plutonium as fuel for advanced reactors

The U.S. Department of Energy named five companies, including Oklo, to explore turning about 20 metric tonnes of surplus Cold War plutonium into fuel for advanced nuclear reactors, with Oklo planning a collaboration with Newcleo and other participants including Exodys Energy, SHINE Technologies, Standard Nuclear, and Flibe Energy. The move, intended to use weapons-usable material as bridge fuel and attract private funding while ensuring safety, has drawn proliferation concerns and political debate over its economics and defense implications.

via Al Jazeera|

#advanced-reactors #energy #nuclear-energy

energy13 days ago•4 min saved

DOE Grants $94M to Jumpstart U.S. Small Modular Reactor Projects

The Energy Department selected eight U.S. companies to receive over $94 million in cost-shared funding to accelerate near-term deployment of advanced Gen III+ small modular reactors, backing site selection/permits, supply-chain upgrades, and manufacturing capacity to position the United States for 2030s deployments under President Trump's nuclear-energy agenda.

via Department of Energy (.gov)|

#doe-funding #energy #gen-iii

world1 month ago•9 min saved

Ukraine’s Nuclear Plants Hold the Line as War Tests Safety and Power

Amid Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s three operating nuclear plants—Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi—continue powering the country yet face elevated danger from occupation and attacks; Rivne has tightened safety drills, Zaporizhzhia remains under occupier control, and repair work at Chornobyl’s New Safe Confinement is urgent, even as Ukraine pursues modernization with Western help.

via kyivindependent.com|

#chornobyl #nuclear-energy #ukraine

business2 months ago•4 min saved

X-energy plots IPO path to expand its small modular reactor push

Amazon-backed X-energy has filed a draft S-1 for an IPO, aiming to list in early summer to capitalize on rising demand for nuclear power driven by data centers and AI. The Texas-based SMR developer is building the Xe-100 helium-cooled reactor and has contracts with Centrica and Dow; it has NRC fuel-production licensing but not full NRC approval to build the reactor. Lead underwriters are JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies and Moelis. If successful, X-energy would join Nano Nuclear, NuScale and Oklo as publicly traded SMR players amid a broader wave of nuclear-tech listings.

via Financial Times|

#amazon #business #ipo

energy2 months ago•3 min saved

Oklo wins NRC license as it pushes toward 2028 commercial nuclear power

Oklo’s stock wavered after earnings, but the Santa Clara-based startup scored a key win when its Atomic Alchemy subsidiary secured the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license to handle, process, and distribute isotopes, creating a new revenue stream even as its advanced fast reactors await NRC approval and the company remains pre‑revenue. 2025 net loss rose to $105.7 million on $139.2 million in operating expenses, with $1.4 billion in cash and equivalents, and management signaled ongoing losses and higher investing outlays. Positive developments include a Department of Energy agreement to support its first reactor at Idaho National Laboratory and a Meta Platforms partnership to build a nuclear campus in Ohio, underscoring progress toward Oklo’s goal of commercially deploying power around 2028 despite regulatory and funding uncertainties.

via Barron's|

#atomic-alchemy #energy #meta-partnership

world2 months ago•8 min saved

Fifteen Years On, Fukushima Shows Mixed Recovery and Lingering Wounds

Fifteen years after the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown, the region shows a mixed recovery: some towns have rebuilt, others remain largely abandoned with ongoing cleanup, waste disposal, and monitoring. The 2011 quake and tsunami caused three reactor meltdowns, tens of thousands displaced and about 2,300 disaster-related deaths, and while Japan has reformed nuclear governance and enabled a few reactor restarts elsewhere, public concern remains. The 2023 treated wastewater release drew criticism from locals and the UN, and the area continues to grapple with radiation monitoring, resettlement, and long-term environmental and economic impacts.

via Business Insider|

#disaster #fukushima #japan

policy2 months ago•6 min saved

EU bets on small modular reactors to secure green power and industrial growth

The European Commission endorses deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) by the early 2030s as part of Europe’s aim for climate neutrality by 2050, with streamlined approval processes and a €200 million guarantee to attract private investment, hoping to supply low‑carbon electricity and heat for industry and enhance grid stability, while critics warn of costs, safety risks, and the unproven nature of SMRs.

via Euronews.com|

#decarbonisation #energy-security #eu-energy-policy

energy2 months ago•1 min saved

TerraPower earns go-ahead for Natrium reactor in Wyoming

TerraPower, the Gates-founded nuclear startup, has secured NRC approval to build the first commercial-scale advanced nuclear reactor in the US, the Natrium plant in Wyoming, slated for completion by 2030. The 345 MW design uses liquid sodium cooling and a molten-salt energy storage system to boost output to 500 MW as demand spikes, part of broader efforts to strengthen grids for AI data centers and climate goals.

via The Verge|

#bill-gates #energy #natrium

climate2 months ago•16 min saved

Gates-Backed Natrium Reactor Secures Construction Permit in Wyoming

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission unanimously approved TerraPower’s construction permit for the Natrium reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming—the first new U.S. commercial reactor in about a decade—clearing the way for construction of a 345‑MW, sodium‑cooled design with a molten‑salt battery. The plant is expected to come online around 2031, backed by Bill Gates and supported by the Energy Department for partial cost sharing, though it still faces licensing, fuel, and cost‑overrun challenges as regulators continue to oversee its safety and deployment.

via The New York Times|

#climate #natrium #nrc

world2 months ago•4 min saved

India-Canada strike long-term nuclear-energy deal and broader partnership

India and Canada announced a 10-year nuclear-energy deal alongside agreements on technology, minerals, space, defence and education, as Modi and Carney reset frayed ties. The leaders aim for a comprehensive economic pact by 2026 to push bilateral trade toward $50 billion, with Canada supplying uranium and collaborating on small modular reactors and advanced reactors, while both countries boost cooperation in AI, semiconductors, renewables and other strategic areas under a broader strategic energy partnership.

via BBC|

#canada #india #nuclear-energy

world3 months ago•6 min saved

Rubio backs Orban's bid in Budapest, citing close US-Hungary ties

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's bid for a fifth term during a Budapest visit, stressing a strong personal relationship with President Trump; the talks produced a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement that could include small modular reactors and U.S. fuel and storage tech, signaling deeper energy ties as Hungary heads toward the April elections.

via PBS|

#hungary #nuclear-energy #orban

world3 months ago•5 min saved

US-Hungary sign civil nuclear pact as Orbán deepens ties with Trump-era ally

The United States and Hungary formalized a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that will expand collaboration on civil nuclear energy, including small modular reactors and spent fuel management, with Hungary set to purchase U.S. nuclear fuel and Holtec International assisting on spent fuel; the pact diversifies Hungary’s energy away from Russia and strengthens U.S. influence in Europe ahead of elections, reflecting the close ties between Viktor Orbán and former President Donald Trump.

via CBS News|

#nuclear-energy #paks-nuclear-plant #small-modular-reactors

energy3 months ago•9 min saved

Argentina’s Nuclear Pivot Sparks Local Fallout and US-Linked Uranium Plans

Argentina’s Milei government is pushing a new nuclear strategy that restart uranium mining in Chubut, advance small modular reactors, and privatize part of the state utility, while courting uranium exports to the United States—a plan drawing ire from Indigenous communities, scientists, and environmentalists who warn it could undermine domestic energy needs, worsen environmental harm, and increase US influence in Patagonian resources.

via The Guardian|

#argentina #energy #nuclear-energy