Bill Gates‘ nuclear venture has kicked off construction in Wyoming with plans to transform the energy landscape. TerraPower, spearheaded by Gates, has officially started building an advanced nuclear facility in Kemmerer, taking over a closing coal mine in the town.
The project involves TerraPower’s Natrium reactor, for which a permit application was submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March, recently approved for review. The construction initiates with a focus on non-nuclear parts of the site.
Gates mentioned that this endeavor aims to revolutionize energy production, aiding the U.S. in achieving economic and climate ambitions by integrating more clean energy.
The Kemmerer town, home to approximately 2400 residents, was selected as the site for TerraPower’s advanced reactor last year.
Given that the nuclear plant is being established in a state renowned for coal production, there have been concerns about its ability to replace fossil-fuel-dependent energy. However, TerraPower believes it will have a positive impact on the region’s energy ecosystem.
The project, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, is expected to cost around $4 billion, with half of the funding coming from the government.
TerraPower has designed the plant to utilize liquid sodium for cooling turbines and has integrated an energy storage system using molten salt for enhanced efficiency and flexibility.
Bill Gates believes that TerraPower’s innovative nuclear energy will play a pivotal role in shaping the future energy landscape, not just in the U.S. but globally.
With operations targeted to begin by 2030 (originally planned for 2028 but delayed due to uranium supply concerns), this project is a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Furthermore, TerraPower has announced a collaborative project with Framatome North America to develop a low-enriched uranium high-assay metallization plant, aiming to bolster domestic uranium supply chains.
Stay tuned for more updates as this groundbreaking project unfolds!