Brad Plumer of The New York Times reports that TerraPower has broken ground on an advanced nuclear reactor.
- Bill Gates-backed TerraPower has broken ground on its advanced nuclear power plant called Natrium on the site of a retiring coal plant.
- Natrium is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that can store energy and quickly scale up output to meet the needs of the grid.
- With construction underway, TerraPower must now receive a permit (a process that takes two years or more) from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before it can begin operating.
“TerraPower’s design has another unique feature. Most reactors can’t easily adjust their power output, making it hard to mesh with fluctuating wind and solar farms. TerraPower’s reactor will have a molten salt battery that allows the plant to ramp up or down as needed.”
Read the full article here.
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