Bill Gates and his energy company, TerraPower, have initiated a next-generation nuclear power project in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
The new plant, which broke ground last week, utilizes sodium cooling technology to enhance safety and efficiency. This marks the first effort in decades to incorporate advanced reactors into commercial power production in the U.S.
The project, which aims to start generating electricity by 2030, will replace the Naughton Power Plant that is scheduled to cease coal operations by 2026 and stop using natural gas a decade later.
Gates expressed confidence that the project will continue irrespective of political shifts in Washington, citing robust bipartisan support. Democrats appreciate the climate benefits, while Republicans focus on energy security and economic concerns. Gates emphasized the importance of U.S. leadership in nuclear technology, particularly to maintain economic competitiveness and manage sensitive materials.
Sourcing fuel initially posed a challenge due to reliance on Russian uranium, delaying the start date from 2028 to 2030. However, alternative suppliers from the U.K., South Africa, and future U.S. and Canadian mines have ensured the project’s viability.
Gates has committed significant financial resources to TerraPower, already investing over a billion dollars and pledging billions more. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the reactor’s innovative design uses liquid sodium as a coolant and molten salt for heat storage, intending to offer a competitive alternative to natural gas. Carbon-free nuclear power is increasingly recognized as vital for climate change mitigation, with global ambitions to expand nuclear capacity.
The project comparises of a 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can boost the system’s output to 500 MW of power, which is equivalent to the energy required to power around 400,000 homes. The energy storage capability allows the plant to integrate seamlessly with renewable resources and is the only advanced reactor design with this feature.
Bill Gates explained why the Natrium demonstration plant is far safer than any existing nuclear plant yesterday in his blog: “The Natrium plant uses liquid sodium, whose boiling point is more than 8 times higher than water’s, so it can absorb all the extra heat generated in the nuclear core. Unlike water, the sodium doesn’t need to be pumped, because as it gets hot, it rises, and as it rises, it cools off. Even if the plant loses power, the sodium just keeps absorbing heat without getting to a dangerous temperature that would cause a meltdown.”
