Why Bill Gates’ Nuclear Reactor Cannot Compete with Russia
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Công ty TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, is seeking permission to build a new generation nuclear power plant in Wyoming, USA. The purpose of this project is to promote the technology in Europe, Africa, and Asia, while competing against rivals from Russia and China. Will this bold venture by the billionaire entrepreneur be successful?
According to Russia’s Sputnik news agency, TerraPower has joined the global nuclear energy market in order to compete with Russia and China. The company claims that their fast sodium-cooled reactor, named Natrium, is safer, cheaper, and more energy-efficient than water-cooled power plants.
The Natrium, belonging to the small modular reactor (SMR) group, is said to have the capability to produce 345 megawatts (MW), with the ability to increase to 500 MW in just over 5 hours if needed.
The Hurdles Facing TerraPower
However, according to Russian nuclear energy expert Alexey Anpilogov, the technology being utilized by TerraPower is not groundbreaking. The concept of using fast sodium-cooled reactors and low-enriched uranium-238 as fuel has been extensively researched by physicists at the Kurchatov Institute in the former Soviet Union since 1958.
Anpilogov remarked to Sputnik, “The TerraPower system uses liquid sodium as a coolant [without slowing down neutrons], as the important part is that uranium-238 needs fast neutrons to induce fission. However, this reactor poses nuclear safety concerns. During the fission process of uranium-238 in this reactor, more plutonium-239 is produced, and plutonium-239 is the best raw material for producing nuclear weapons.”
The fate of the plutonium produced from nuclear reactions, particularly if Bill Gates’ company provides this technology to third countries, remains unclear.
Anpilogov noted that nuclear nonproliferation concerns have plagued TerraPower for quite some time. He stated, “Even though TerraPower was established in 2008, nearly 16 years ago, it has not yet obtained the necessary permits to build a pilot test facility. I think nuclear security concerns, specifically the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, will be a “sword” hanging over Bill Gates’ project.”
The scientist pointed out that while the Soviet Union, and later Russia, has mastered the production and operation of sodium-cooled fast reactors, similar projects in Japan and France ultimately had to be shut down.
Anpilogov said, “Despite having good technical expertise and generally high production capabilities, the projects in France and Japan turned out to be unreliable. Meanwhile, Russia has developed a proven operational technology. Bill Gates has a very good idea. However, this idea still needs to be turned into a reality to achieve stability in all aspects,” Anpilogov added.
According to the Financial Times, TerraPower and other US energy companies are trying to catch up with their Russian and Chinese counterparts, who are already operating small modular reactors that are cost-effective in Pevek and Shidao Bay.
Russia’s Nuclear Reactor Technology
When it comes to fast sodium-cooled reactors, Anpilogov mentioned that this technology has been utilized in Russia’s high-power BN-type nuclear devices.
He specifically pointed to the BN-800 reactor currently operational at Unit 4 of the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant near Zarechny, Sverdlovsk region, Russia. The reactor has an electricity generation capacity of 880 MW.
“Russia has established clear procedures for managing BN-800, related to how the fuel and its byproducts are used, as BN-800 also produces weapons-grade plutonium, but it is consistently disposed of, along with the fuel of the same kind that is produced,” Anpilogov explained. “We don’t have any problems with the US, as some kind of external control force, or with the IAEA, the United Nations’ officially authorized agency overseeing non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,” he added.
Conquering the EU Energy Market
According to the Financial Times, TerraPower has received a $2 billion commitment from the US government to build a new nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque stated that the company will commence construction in June 2024. The new nuclear power plant is expected to start operations in 2030.
In December last year, TerraPower signed an agreement with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to provide Natrium reactors for the United Arab Emirates.
“Nuclear energy has excellent commercial properties, but it also has significant geopolitical implications. You have to look at the competition coming from China and Russia, countries that see Africa, Indonesia, and other places as the markets of the future,” Anpilogov commented.
He noted that the US is attempting to force Russia and European competitors out of the nuclear fuel market. Washington has compelled Europe to abandon the use of Russian nuclear fuel as part of its sanctions measures.
Furthermore, US energy companies are striving to increase their market share in the nuclear reactor construction market, despite the disadvantage they face against Russian and European manufacturers.
Anpilogov concluded that “the nuclear energy industry still carries high risks, which are not related to nuclear accidents, but rather the risks of ill-considered investments.”
Nhà máy điện hạt nhân của Bill Gates tại Kemmerer, Wyoming.
Image source: Business Today
