Exploring the Future of Nuclear Power: Innovations, Opportunities, and Challenges Ahead

The spotlight on advanced reactors shines brightly in the US. Several companies are nearing breakthroughs in their technologies.

Kairos Power is working on reactors cooled by molten salt, particularly a special type called Flibe. In late 2023, they received a permit from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to start building their first demonstration reactor. A second permit is expected by late 2024. They aim to finish the first facility by 2027.

Another key player is TerraPower, also based in the US. Their Natrium reactor uses liquid sodium for cooling. TerraPower is doing things a bit differently by splitting the construction into two parts: nuclear and non-nuclear. In June 2024, they started building part of the site, but they still need the NRC’s go-ahead to begin the nuclear section, which they hope to kick off by 2026.

The US Department of Defense is also diving into advanced reactors. They’re working on a small project called Project Pele, which is a portable microreactor made by BWXT Advanced Technologies. Assembly will start soon, with plans to move it to the Idaho National Lab by 2026.

But advanced reactors aren’t just a US endeavor. China is rapidly constructing traditional reactors while making strides in advanced technologies too. They’re particularly focused on high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. According to Lorenzo Vergari, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, these reactors use helium as a coolant and can reach temperatures over 1,500 °C, which is significantly higher than many other designs.

China’s first commercial demonstration of this kind started operating in late 2023, and there are more large reactors using this technology in the planning or construction stages.