Looking at the future energy consumption in the United States, it is clear we need to devise and quickly implement energy solutions we can count on. We must put together a plan that is not dependent on foreign oil and other foreign resources.
One thing to note is that Natural Gas is plentiful in the United States. There are still many untapped supplies for this valuable resource within our borders. Currently many automobiles can be retrofitted to use this resource. Much of the UPS delivery service fleet has already been converted and many bus systems have adopted using natural gas. New automobiles can be designed to use this resource as well without too much modification. Hydrogen cells can actually be produced using natural gas.
A solution to producing electricity that is available is Nuclear energy. There has not been a new Nuclear Reactor built within this country in well over 25 years. The technology currently in use is outdated and inefficient compared to the newer technology currently available. China has over 19 reactors currently being built with this newer technology. But building these behemoth reactors is quite costly, costing into the billions of dollars.
A big advance that has been in development for the past several years is what is termed a ‘mini reactor”. Several small reactor prototypes are pushing for attention as low-emission alternatives to fossil fuels. These small reactors can not address all the issues that stand in the way of more nuclear investment – but they do address one of the largest – the economic barrier.
Designed as modules, these mini reactors can power a small town of 8000 to 20,000 homes. A 10 megawatt reactor can power up to 8000 homes on its own and some of these new mini reactor modules are being design to produce up to 30 megawatts. These units can also be set up to include a system of add on modules which could be attractive to utilities that may be cash strapped. Bill Gates of Microsoft has even thrown his hat into this seeking a joint venture with Toshiba.
None of these new small reactors have been put into use as of now. There are currently 2 or 3 major players in the development of these modules. NuScale Power, Toshiba and Hyperion Power Generation are 3 of the top companies. NuScale is working on a design that is a light water reactor. Toshiba is working on a liquid-sodium cooled nuclear battery and Hyperion Power Generation is utilizing a design by Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist. These systems are relatively small scale, inexpensive and installed underground. A small town in Alaska is currently in discussions with Toshiba to become their first customer.
Hyperion Power Generation recently announced that it has taken its first orders and plans to start mass production within a few years. Hyperion is reported to have more than 100 orders for its modules. Apparently the first order came from a Czech infrastructure company called TES, which specializes in water plants and power plants. TES ordered six modules and optioned another 12, with the first planned to be located in Romania.
Hyperion MPRs (Multi Purpose Reactors) are not light water reactors. They a design that is simple, can be transported as a single unit, and it is a “closed” fuel system where the reactors are factory fueled, shipped out to the site, and then returned to the factory for refueling. MPRs have a small energy output of under 50 megawatts electricity per unit. Hyperion Power’s Mini Power Reactor, is a liquid metal-cooled fast reactor, and offers unique safety features and efficiency. Housed in a permanently sealed container just 1.5 meters wide by 2.5 meters tall, the size of a hot tub, it can be transported by truck, rail or ship. The unit meets all the non-proliferation criteria of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.
If regulators in the United states ever get on board, some of these designs can win approval and certification within 5 years. I for one believe this is one technology we can not let slip through our fingers. We are falling behind in this country with many of these technological advances. This technology can not be ignored and the approval and certification process should be sped up. This is an efficient and cost effective short term idea that can be implemented fairly quickly and be a solution to add power to our electrical grid.
I want to urge our government and President Obama to move on this quickly and not bog this down with politics or in some congressional committee. We need to start solving some of our energy concerns now to preserve our future. This my friends is my explosion of thought!
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