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Macron: France will build new nuclear energy reactors
PARIS, Nov 9 (Reuters) - France will build new nuclear reactors to help the country lessen its dependence on foreign countries for its energy supplies, meet global warming targets and keep prices under control, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/macron-says-france-will-build-more-nuclear-energy-reactors-2021-11-09/
With concerns over purchasing power topping opinion polls five months before the presidential election, at a time of soaring energy prices, Macron said the decision to go for new reactors was essential to keep prices "reasonable."
"We are going, for the first time in decades, to relaunch the construction of nuclear reactors in our country and continue to develop renewable energies," Macron said in a televised address to the nation.
This was meant "to guarantee France's energy independence, to guarantee our country's electricity supply and achieve our objectives, in particular carbon neutrality in 2050," he said.
As Europe grapples with steep increases in energy prices, France is taking a different path from neighbours like Germany.
Germany responded to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan by accelerating its national exit scheme for reactors.
Macron gave no details, but his government is expected to announce the construction of up to six new pressurised-water reactors within the coming weeks.
Previously, the government had said it would not launch any new third-generation EPR reactor projects until state-owned EDF's (EDF.PA) much-delayed EPR nuclear power plant in Flamanville, northwestern France, is completed.
But French media in October reported that the impact of Europe's gas crisis on energy prices, and the knock-on effect on household spending power, had accelerated Paris's decision to commit to the EPR technology.
Greenpeace criticised Tuesday's announcement, saying the plan to build new reactors was "disconnected from reality," pointing to the problems with the Flamanville project, which has suffered a decade of delays and huge cost overruns.
Early in his mandate, Macron pledged to reduce nuclear's contribution to France's energy mix to 50% from 75% by 2035.
And they continue protecting their patents: awesome. They know this is a cut-throat crowd, pirates willing to steal their LTBRs truth and wealth.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightbridge-receives-notice-allowance-key-130000775.html
Study: Continued operation of Diablo Canyon
Delaying the retirement of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power would reduce California's power sector carbon emissions, reduce reliance on gas, save billions in power system costs and bolster system reliability, according to a new report by authors from Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and LucidCatalyst. The plant could further increase its value to the state by providing multiple services including desalination and hydrogen production.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Study-assesses-potential-value-of-continued-operat
The report can be downloaded here:
https://energy.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj9971/f/diablocanyonnuclearplant_report_11.02.21.pdf
Multiple benefits
Diablo Canyon could be a "powerful driver of desalination to serve urban, industrial, and agricultural users," the study found. A desalination plant situated adjacent to Diablo Canyon would be able to augment fresh water supplies to the state as a whole and to critically under-served or overdrafted regions, at lower costs than existing or proposed desalination plants, while meeting environmental standards protecting marine life.
California "will likely need hundreds of millions of kilograms of hydrogen-based, zero-carbon fuels" annually to achieve a zero-carbon economy, the authors note. "The preliminary analysis here suggests that, with heat-assisted electrolysis, Diablo Canyon could produce 110 million kilograms of hydrogen annually at a cost of $2.01-2.46/kg. This is up to half less than the range of current costs of hydrogen produced from solar or wind power, while utilizing a small fraction of the space required for those other generation sources."
Hydrogen production at the Diablo Canyon site would also likely be cost-competitive with the hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture, which is today's least expensive form of zero-carbon hydrogen production, they add.
The analysis also considered the potential to "repurpose" the nuclear plant to provide grid electricity, desalinated water, and hydrogen at the same time, and concluded that the production of these three products could "substantially increase" the value of Diablo Canyon by an amount equivalent to USD70/MWh, or even higher. "In a polygeneration configuration, the electricity output of Diablo Canyon plant could be directed to provide varying amounts of electricity to the power grid, desalination or hydrogen production, respectively, to maximise revenue, provide grid reliability, or meet other objectives, as needed," the report notes.
Repurposing the plant would not be without "many and considerable" challenges, including at the reinitiating the federal plant relicensing process. Chief among the challenges at the state level would be the need to obtain approval of a newly engineered water intake system as well as other approvals needed for the construction and operation of desalination and hydrogen production facilities, and supporting infrastructure. Stakeholders would need to be re-engaged, and "there will also likely be opposition in principle among some to the use of nuclear energy in any form, for any purpose," they note.
"While these challenges are substantial, so are the potential gains," they say. "This preliminary analysis is intended to allow policymakers and the public to consider weighing the benefits and tradeoffs associated with maintaining or rededicating Diablo Canyon in light of other new and urgent challenges that face California."
They conclude: "This study was not intended to be and should not be considered to be a definitive analysis of those benefits and tradeoffs. That will require further investigation. But the authors submit that the conclusions of this report present sufficient grounds for further study and debate by setting forth a prima facie case for extending the operations of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant."
Funding for the project came from the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab, the MIT Center for Advanced Nuclear Energy, the Rothrock Family Fund, the Pritzker Innovation Fund, The Rodel Foundation, Ross Koningstein, and Zachary Bogue & Matt Ocko.
Diablo Canyon's two pressurised water reactors are owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
Fair enough. It's a pleasure "talking" with someone for whom "agree to disagree" even exists. That alone gets us most of the way toward once again having a reasonably functional society where well-intentioned people can work together to solve real problems.
Such as the price of gas going up and OPEC voting not to bring prices down:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-weighs-response-opec-rebuff-104656928.html
Go LTBR, capable of bringing a more sane energy into the world.
This next-generation nuclear power plant is pitched for Washington state. Can it ‘change the world’?
RICHLAND — Near the Columbia River, Clay Sell hopes to launch a new era of nuclear power with four small reactors, each stocked with billiard ball-sized “pebbles” packed full of uranium fuel.
Chief executive officer of Maryland-based X-energy, Sell aims to bring the project online by 2028 as part of a broader attempt to develop safer, more flexible reactors to redefine the nation’s energy future.
These efforts have gained support in the nation’s capital where many Democrats eager to make progress on climate change have joined with Republicans to funnel money into development. The federal Energy Department has received $160 million to help fund X-energy, and the infrastructure bill that cleared Congress on Friday ups that amount to cover almost half the projected $2.2 billion cost of the Washington reactor project.
“We believe what starts here in Washington is going to change the world,” Sell said to public-utility officials gathered Oct. 28 in Kennewick.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/this-next-generation-nuclear-power-plant-is-pitched-for-washington-state-can-it-change-the-world/
Let's agree to disagree...
Greenwald is now as much of a "journalist" as Tucker Carlson.
https://reclaimthenet.org/glenn-greenwald-reflects-on-leaving-the-intercept-over-censorship/
Where does journalism end and political propaganda start?
J. Goebbels, the FSB and Rupert Murdoch might hold the answer to that riddle.
And "Yes"... Substack is where he truly belongs today.
I agree on that 100%.
Just my two cents...
End of story.
Here we will disagree. Greenwald co-founded The Intercept and resigned in 2020 because his writing had been changed prior to publication. As a supposed forum for "independent journalists," he called foul and quit. My understanding is that the Intercept, founded as a beacon of free speech, also succumbed to what became known as trump derangement syndrome. Clearly, the larger press lost its way, but The Intercept was supposed to allow independence. Greenwald had written a story critical of some of the dems bad behaviors. As a consequence, he got slapped--and edited--by colleagues and the Intercept's funder. The Intercept is subsidized journalism (it was seen as a charity), but it had promised each journalist true independence. Greenwald's piece was not allowed and so he quit. He wasn't a trump supporter, just wrote about the dems messing with reality and this led to The Intercept breaching the sacrosanct rule of independent journalism. Greenwald resigned rather than rewrite his piece and now writes at Substack where he's on his own.
I don't agree with everything he says or writes, but he was willing to call BS on both the dems--when they deserved it--and The Intercept for breaking their own free speech rule.
We are once again learning the lesson that free speech is not as simple as it seems. But it's still the right thing to do. Just my 2cents.
From today's press release. Not sure, but can companies, or countries, pay to experiment with LTBR fuel? Or must all such research be done in laboratory settings?
If a company does research using LTBR fuels, what safeguards are there they won't steal/reverse engineer the tech in order to design a few version?
What are the rules? It seems to me, LTBR is at risk of such shenanigan's. Seems like that's what happened with Framatome.
Thoughts?
INTERCEPT didn't screw up, Greenwald did.
https://theintercept.com/2020/10/29/glenn-greenwald-resigns-the-intercept/
It's always becomes a problem when a person thinks he's "God"
And what I've read and saw from him recently is more comparable to the ramblings of a disgruntled idiot.
He came to fame with the "Edward Snowden" story and that fame must have messed with his brain.
Sad truth....
Awesome. The Intercept is okay, but I think they messed up when they attempted to cancel founder Glenn Greenwald, not allowing him to write independently. Still, Ryan Grimm from Rising, I think, still writes for Intercept.
Rising also did a few about this hilarious or sad story: amateur stock traders who follow congress in order to trade like they do. Apparently, Nancy Pelosi could be a professional, given her uncanny ability to buy or sell at exactly the right moment:
https://housestockwatcher.com/summary_by_rep
The truth is out there, you just need to know where to look.
Thanks for the link. Looks like "Rising" is worth watching.
Already bookmarked...
And as they mentioned..."THE INTERCEPT" is also my recommendation for you.
Excellent investigative journalism.
As for Joe Manchin... here are some "snacks" for you to read:
https://theintercept.com/2021/09/03/joe-manchin-coal-fossil-fuels-pollution/
https://theintercept.com/2021/10/22/manchin-climate-fossil-fuel-subsidies-reconciliation/
https://theintercept.com/2021/10/31/joe-manchin-climate-crisis/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjb4g7/joe-manchin-drives-maserati
Enjoy!
Bill does have his moments. He walks the razors edge and I respect him for that.
Fast and furious, the truth is picking up steam. Watch quickly, the door to honesty won't be open long.
QUESTION: Why does Joe Manchin support nuclear energy?
A. Because he believes in the nuclear future.
B. Because he's a closet environmentalist who secretly wants to help America regain its place of trust in world politics.
C. Because he fears his family will lose their family fortunes built from coal mining.
D. All of the above.
I think there's only one right answer. What do you think?
Times up. Watch this video for the answer brought to you by real journalists, ones who actually investigate what is true, unlike the legacy journalists who have collectively decided to tell the American public how they are supposed to think; truth be damned..
New Rule: OK, Zoomer
Real Time with Bill Maher
Yes, yes, yes.... boom is here
Nice speech from Manchin and again... nothing really new.
Remarkably, even he realizes while we all dreaming of a cleaner planet and electric cars etc., use of fossil fuels and pollution has increased by 69% since the 1990's in the US alone.
Here is a much more important speech... at the UN 32 years ago:
Boom, boom Boominator, this congressional conversation happened yesterday.
Thanks for finding and posting this terrific article. Politically savvy, aware of nuclear's reputation and it even mentions the irony of every western nation shutting down nuke plants, not opening them as China seems to be doing. But there is so much left out of even this article.
Who maintains the big timetable which articles like this follow? I've never heard of these big plan before, but obviously, these plans have been going on and carried out for many years, even decades.
And yet again, the article includes the predictable NOT mentioning anything about HALEU or any of the new fuels. Meanwhile, LTBR continues to rack up patents. For what purpose?
Question: are these plants being built for new fuels or old fuels? If the latter, why?
Why not build using the safe fuels, the fuels which can't repeat 3 Mile Island?
China is betting the world on this decision. They are playing a big game and the world should, perhaps, tell them no loans unless they use HALEU.
Why would they not start using new fuels, at least in some plants. If it works as research seems to show, then use it for all. Use it for safety and environmental reasons.
Who is getting rich by not starting with HALEU fuels? It should be a scandal. Even this article speaks of the length of time nuke waste needs to sit perfectly for 100k years, or some such sci madness. That's bad design already.
But sanity will not be allowed. Too much money at stake. The old guard, and the new Chinese who will become the new old guard, will likely start with the old fuels. This new old guard will suck as many dollars as they can out of it before the new fuels are brought in to save the environmental day.
Instead of doing the environmentally right and smart thing from the beginning, they don't seem so inclined.
So, LTBR will be left hanging on the hook once again.Seems funny, LTBR will be the industry's ace in the hole. And they'll all look like heros while stretching out the time it takes to make the world a safer place.
And who can guarantee no accidents will happen while they wait to do the right and smart nuke thing?
At 19 million shares, lets hope we all live long enough to see the big pimple popping squeeze. But my inner cynic tells me the old nuclear guard are going to design around LTBRs patents, leaving enough crumbs to keep the lawyers at bay. In other words, business as usual.
China’s Climate Goals Hinge on a $440 Billion Nuclear Buildout
China is planning at least 150 new reactors in the next 15 years, more than the rest of the world has built in the past 35.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-11-02/china-climate-goals-hinge-on-440-billion-nuclear-power-plan-to-rival-u-s
'Evolution' in EU nuclear debate
03 November 2021
European industry body Foratom is hopeful that a new conversation around nuclear energy in light of the continent's gas crisis will bring the policy framework needed for it to make a major contribution to 2030 energy targets.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Evolution-in-EU-nuclear-debate
Speech: Let's ditch ideology
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Speech-Let-s-ditch-ideology
The video message can be seen here:
At #COP26 in Glasgow, I will come with a simple message: Nuclear is and will be part of the solution to our #climatecrisis. #Atoms4Climate pic.twitter.com/wFMXpWUe0I
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) October 27, 2021
G20 leaders reaffirm commitment to Paris Agreement
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/G20-leaders-reaffirm-commitment-to-Paris-Agreement
01 November 2021
The leaders of the G20, who met in Rome on 30-31 October, said they are committed to tackling the "critical and urgent threat" of climate change and to work collectively to achieve a successful COP26 climate change conference, which is now under way in Glasgow. They reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change and vowed to cooperate to reach net-zero emissions by around 2050.
That won't be an issue much longer...
The wind and solar pipe dream bubble will burst on its own.
And at that moment, even the most stalwart "greens" will realize that decarbonizing our energy grid is impossible without nuclear power.
Unless you get rid of 6 billion people and the rest starts picking berries in the woods again... lol
Just jesting. Once all of the HALEU info is put on the table, then there will come a time of battle between forces supporting nuclear power as legit and those which see nuclear forces as not legit. The latter group sees this as religious dogma. This debate hasn't even yet begun. Will the green forces truly recognize nuclear as part of their club?
Perhap not a galactic battle, , but could be.
Notice of Allowance for Key Patent in United States
https://www.ltbridge.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/340/lightbridge-receives-notice-of-allowance-for-key-patent-in
October 29, 2021
RESTON, Va., Oct. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, today announced that it received a Notice of Allowance for a key divisional patent from the United States Patent Office related to Lightbridge’s innovative metallic nuclear fuel assembly. The newly allowed patent is based on the 2015 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent application and broadens the company’s claims directed to a fuel assembly having a mixed grid pattern without specifying that the first grid pattern is rectangular or that the second grid pattern is triangular. The mixed grid arrangement enables Lightbridge’s metallic fuel rods to be retrofitted into an existing fuel assembly envelope of both existing and new-build reactors.
Seth Grae, President and CEO of Lightbridge commented: “This Notice of Allowance represents another important milestone for Lightbridge, strengthening our intellectual property portfolio that supports our strategy to commercialize Lightbridge Fuel™ in the United States. As governments recognize the importance of maintaining the existing nuclear fleet and innovating with advanced technologies to meet net-zero carbon targets, our technology could play a central role in this energy transition.”
Lightbridge Fuel has been designed to enhance the safety and economics of nuclear power for both existing and next-generation nuclear reactors. Lightbridge has patents pending in various countries around the world, including the United States, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Eurasia, and Australia, as well as additional patents pending in Europe and China.
Interesting political view...
What and where exactly is the "galactic battle"?
It's actually very simple. Two crooked senators blocking everything the rest of the party stands for.
If that's "traditional" in your galactic battle book... so be it.
Kyrsten Sinema is doing the bidding for big pharma and billionaires.
Joe Manchin is "killing" for the fossil fuel industry and the rest of the corporate crooks.
That's all...
What is "ideological" about asking for negotiating better drug prices or asking Bezos to pay his fair share of taxes?
But I guess the rest of the developed world is simply too stupid to understand.
Americans love to get f**ked over and pay twice as much for their medications than the rest and Bezos worked really hard...
So he can give "4 minute pony rides to space" for millionaires now. (Speaking of galactic...)
Making him pay the appropriate amount of taxes would probably lead straight to communism and kill the "American Dream". Right?
Jeeez.... no other words.
Question: Is there a drug abuse problem amongst the storm troopers on death star? LOL
A toast to the SP catching up-- maybe surpassing--it's pre RS price. Didn't know I'd be back in the black in this decade.
I think we're about to watch a galactic battle between the progressive ideologs and the traditional dems. One side seems clearly out of their freaking minds. The other side, sometimes, seems not far behind. Not exactly a vote of confidence. But that's what makes galactic wars interesting, right?
Bill Gates and Breakthrough Energy: Full Interview
Lightbridge fuel moves closer to irradiation testing
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Lightbridge-fuel-moves-closer-to-irradiation-testi
Lightbridge Ltd has completed work to design an experiment for the irradiation of samples of its metallic fuel material in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The work was carried out in collaboration with INL under the US Department of Energy's Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) voucher programme and marks a milestone towards testing of the material in the reactor.
The blue glow of Cerenkov radiation inside INL's ATR (Image: INL)
The scope of the work saw teams from Lightbridge and INL establish a test plan for the measurement of key thermophysical properties of Lightbridge Fuel material before and after irradiation in the ATR. INL has performed a detailed design and established the safety case needed for insertion of the experiment in the reactor, including the control of parameters such as sample enrichment, thermal-hydraulic capacity, maximum sample temperature, neutron fluence, and the physical location of test capsules within the ATR.
Lightbridge President and CEO Seth Grae said this "makes the design and safety case" for Lightbridge Fuel samples to be tested in the ATR. "I want to thank the teams at Lightbridge and Idaho National Lab for their collaborative efforts under the truly unprecedented conditions of a global pandemic to complete this important work. I also want to thank the Department of Energy and the GAIN program for their continued support of advanced nuclear technology research at Lightbridge," he said.
The next step will be to contract for the high-assay low-enriched uranium material and fabrication of the sample coupons for insertion into the ATR, the company said yesterday. "Lightbridge's goal is to have the experiment available for insertion into the ATR when its core internal change out maintenance outage is completed. The actual experiment insertion is subject to the final duration of the outage, the availability of testing positions in the ATR and INL's prior commitments for testing," it added.
The Reston, Virginia-based advanced nuclear fuel technology development company says its proprietary next-generation metallic nuclear fuel technology concept is significantly more economical and safer than traditional fuel. Earlier this year, it said it would prioritise developing the technology for fuel for future small modular reactors.
The GAIN initiative was launched in November 2015 by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to provide a way to fast-track nuclear innovation, providing stakeholders with a means of accessing DOE research and development infrastructure to help them meet the challenges of bringing new technologies towards engineering-scale demonstration.
The GAIN voucher awarded to Lightbridge in December 2019 valued the project at about USD846,000, with three-quarters of this amount funded by DOE for the scope performed by INL. The company has to date received two vouchers under the GAIN programme to support the development of its proprietary next-generation metallic fuel technology: a second voucher, awarded in March this year, is for a collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to demonstrate Lightbridge's nuclear fuel casting process using depleted uranium, which is a key step in the manufacture of the fuel. That project is valued at about USD664,000, with three-quarters of this amount funded by DOE for the scope performed by the laboratory.
Test reactors such as the ATR and the DOE's planned Versatile Test Reactor are crucial for the development of advanced nuclear fuel technologies and materials. ATR is a thermal neutron test reactor which first began operations in 1967. It operates at very low pressures and temperatures compared to a large commercial nuclear power plant, and its testing capabilities are used by the US military, federal, university and industry partners and customers.
Researched and written by World Nuclear News
US Air Force confirms site for first microreactor
The US Air Force has confirmed the Eielson base in Alaska as the facility planned to host its first small nuclear power plant. A microreactor of up to 5 MWe could be operational there as soon as 2027.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-Air-Force-confirms-site-for-first-microreactor
This is indeed good news....
This timing can't be coincidence, right?
The stars are lining up and LTBR is in the front seat of the bus moving toward HALEU fuel for the new generation of small reactors. HALEU removes the old fear, allowing this new generation of reactors to be located nearby.
Here's today's news from Idaho labs saying good things about LTBR fuel.
https://www.ltbridge.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/338/lightbridge-completes-work-under-u-s-department-of-energy
"October 21, 2021 8:00am EDT
Milestone Achievement Establishes Design and Safety Case for Testing in the Advanced Test Reactor
RESTON, Va., Oct. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, announced today that it has successfully completed work under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) voucher program to support development of Lightbridge Fuel, in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
The scope of the project included the design of an experiment for the irradiation of Lightbridge metallic fuel material samples in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at INL. Together, the Lightbridge and INL teams established the test plan for the measurement of key thermophysical properties of Lightbridge Fuel material both before and after irradiation in the ATR. From there, INL performed a detailed design and established the safety case needed for insertion of the experiment in the ATR. This included the control of parameters such as sample enrichment, thermal-hydraulic capacity, maximum sample temperature, neutron fluence, and the physical location of test capsules within the ATR.
The next step in the testing program is to contract for the high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) material and fabrication of the sample coupons for insertion into the ATR. Lightbridge’s goal is to have the experiment available for insertion into the ATR when its core internal change out maintenance outage is completed. The actual experiment insertion is subject to the final duration of the outage, the availability of testing positions in the ATR and INL's prior commitments for testing. Once the required burn up is achieved in the ATR, post-irradiation testing is planned.
Dr. Jess Gehin, chief scientist for the Nuclear Science and Technology directorate at INL commented, “As the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, INL is proud to work with private sector companies such as Lightbridge to further the DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. We look forward to the continued development of Lightbridge Fuel, along with opportunities to work together with Lightbridge in the future.”"
GEH, BWXT team up to support BWRX-300 deployment
20 October 2021
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and BWXT Canada have entered into a teaming agreement to cooperate on engineering and procurement to support the design, manufacturing and commercialisation of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The BWRX-300 is one of three SMR designs under consideration for deployment at Ontario Power Generation's (OPG's) Darlington site.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/GEH,-BWXT-team-up-to-support-BWRX-300-deployment
The BWRX-300 is a 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR with passive safety systems that leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's ESBWR boiling water reactor, which has been certified by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It is currently undergoing a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission pre-licensing Vendor Design Review, or VDR.
What’s really driving the energy crisis...
... and how cleantech fits in
BY: AMY HARDER
Much of the world is facing an energy crisis with skyrocketing prices of oil, natural gas and coal—or even worse, no fuel at all.
The crisis is stirring debate over this conventional wisdom: Higher prices of oil, natural gas and coal would push our society to adopt cleaner energy resources that have otherwise been too expensive.
This is generally true, but this energy crisis is not just about higher prices. It’s about higher prices in a volatile, sudden and unpredicted way brought on by a (mostly unpredicted) pandemic.
Let’s compare it to a diet.
You could lose weight by suddenly stopping eating altogether. However, such a decision wouldn’t end well. You’d die if you stuck with it long enough. More likely, you’d eventually binge eat and counteract any weight you lost. That’s a volatile situation.
Instead, you should gradually eat fewer calories and healthier food. You should lose weight over months and years, not days and weeks.
The same goes for our energy system (except on even longer time horizons).
The global economic shutdowns caused by the pandemic last year were the equivalent of a starvation diet. Everything, including fossil-fuel production, ground to a halt.
Now, as the economy roars back, everything—including fossil-fuel production—is out of whack. We’re in the part of the analogy where we’re overeating. It’s not going well.
Several factors are driving the current energy crisis. Here’s three: the way electricity markets pricing energy, a more global market for natural gas and the variability of offshore wind power.
This last dynamic is one of the few direct connections between renewable energy and this current crisis (and it’s not the main factor). Our clean-energy transition has likely made this crisis worse, but it would have happened regardless because of the pandemic.
The crisis is unfolding at different intensities across the globe. It’s particularly acute in Europe, where German lawmakers are cutting a renewable-energy fee to ease the burden of higher energy bills. China and India are scrambling to handle fuel shortages and subsequent high prices.
Frans Timmermans, the European Union’s climate chief, recently said that about a fifth of the spike in energy prices on that continent are likely due to climate policies.
American households are projected to pay more for heating this winter, too, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said last week. U.S. gasoline prices are up more than a dollar from this time last year.
While it’s less bad in the U.S. than elsewhere, it’s still entering the political debate. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) cited the energy crisis as reason to not pursue big climate policy in ongoing congressional negotiations.
This crisis is likely to get worse before it gets better. But it eventually will get better, and prices will fall from their current highs. That’s because almost everything happening was not by policy design but by the knock-on effects of the pandemic.
Consumer sentiment about cars is a clear example of this dynamic. Car buyers make minor, short-term shifts in shopping habits to more fuel-efficient cars when gasoline prices are high. Once prices ease, consumers revert to earlier choices.
"Economics and history suggest only sustained higher fuel prices would move the needle in terms of a permanent shift toward more efficient vehicles," said Bob McNally, president of consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group. "Any sustained higher prices would require taxes. But the political will to impose higher fuel taxes remains low."
This crisis is mostly about things other than the energy transition, but the energy transition may well be the lead cause of volatility in the future if we’re not intentional about investments, the International Energy Agency said in its flagship annual report released last week.
The IEA is warning of a potential imbalance between the amount of investment going into oil and gas resources and the demand for these fuels in the future. If the demand doesn’t drop, but the investment into those resources does, that raises "the risks of higher and more volatile prices," the IEA wrote in its report.
As recently as 2018, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said more investment in oil and gas was needed to fix supply and demand imbalances.
The world’s zeitgeist has changed since then: Governments, finance leaders and activists all agree the world must tackle climate change.
Last week, Birol instead implored the world to invest more in cleantech—not oil and gas—to fix the imbalance and ensure this crisis doesn’t derail the energy transition. Birol joins Timmermans, the EU climate leader, who has said similar things.
Seaborg floating nuclear reactors use super-safe molten salt fuel
https://newatlas.com/energy/seaborg-floating-nuclear-reactor-barge/
Copenhagen startup Seaborg Technologies has raised an eight-figure sum of Euros to start building a fascinating new type of cheap, portable, flexible and super-safe nuclear reactor. The size of a shipping container, these Compact Molten Salt Reactors will be rapidly mass-manufactured in their thousands, then placed on floating barges to be deployed worldwide – on timelines that will smash paradigms in the energy industry.
https://www.seaborg.com/
Radiant aims to replace diesel generators with nuclear reactors
https://newatlas.com/energy/radiant-portable-advanced-nuclear/
Radiant says its fuel "does not melt down, and withstands higher temperatures when compared to traditional nuclear fuels." Using helium as the coolant "greatly reduces corrosion, boiling and contamination risks," and the company says it's received provisional patents for ideas it's developed around refueling the reactors and efficiently transporting heat out of the reactor core.
RADIANT Website:
https://www.radiantnuclear.com/
Yes. Thus article shows us the bright colors of irony. While interesting, the best line is at the very bottom of page, way after the end of the article itself.
Quote: "We are entirely self funded by individual contributions."
Hilarious
Zion Lights & Emergency Reactor
https://www.emergencyreactor.org/
We need to have a serious conversation.
We are losing the battle to address the climate emergency.
AMEN
Irony is everywhere. China is having blackouts and so they're limiting hours of electricity. The consequence: they're ratcheting up coal plants.
Hasn't Seth Grae identified LTBR as a temporary fix to this crisis? Isn't this the LTNR thesis?
Why isn't HALEU being discussed as such a solution, even a 20-50 year solution, where LTBR fuel can quickly adapt old reactors to burning LTBR fuel as the newer [Gates] reactors are being built?
This is a good article about HALEU. But I don't understand why it avoids mentioning Lightbridge and its many patents. Seems like bringing Lightbridge in would encourage conversation.
Diving into hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power
Exclusive interview with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, diving deep into hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power.
https://go.breakthroughenergy.org/social/3cec07e9ba5f5bb252d13f5f431e4bbb.272
Carbon emissions spiking despite clean energy surge
https://www.axios.com/carbon-emissions-spiking-clean-energy-surge-05d32eef-1c9d-4bcb-bc48-c8c4a3757ac4.html
Surprise, surprise....
Global energy crisis could dim climate hopes
https://www.axios.com/energy-crisis-europe-india-china-coal-climate-change-c488a770-e16a-4d16-9824-6acdc9c8bd8b.html
And the guys in charge are still propagating the myth of eternal growth.
Welcome to the "Planet Of The Humans"
https://archive.org/details/planet-of-the-humans
The vast majority, left & right, is clueless anyway....
Btw.... is the new "iPhone X40" with 10 cameras already in development??? lol
Well... as Albert Einstein rightfully stated
Human stupidity really is infinite...
Best quote from The Atlantic article you linked to about current energy missteps.
".... there is still a global pandemic happening. But it has been intensified by stupid geopolitical decisions and poor planning."
Nuclear reactors of the future have a fuel problem
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/nuclear-reactors-of-the-future-have-a-fuel-problem/604707/
Agreed....
I think both, Gates and the DOE are on he same page now.
Over the next 5 years a lot will change for the better on nuclear power and HALEU.
TerraPower / Company Announces Plans For Commercial Haleu Production
https://www.nucnet.org/news/company-announces-plans-for-commercial-haleu-production-9-3-2020
It's all about the political will to get it done. Nothing else.
If nuclear power actually makes it over the finish line it will be due to one thing only: HALEU fuel.
The Energy Crunch, in Six Paragraphs
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2021/10/the-energy-crunch-reveals-natural-gass-importance/620369/
Exactly, the French learned their lesson a long time ago:
Never rely on other nations and become a sucker to fluctuating coal, oil & gas prices.
On top of that... what's actually "green" about natural gas??? lol
People want to curb carbon emissions and proposing more Wind- and Solar plants, which are basically disguised natural gas plants.
These so called "Greens" are delusional, to put it mildly.
Nuclear Power doesn't need any fossil fuel backup plants.
Except the rarely used emergency diesel generators for emergency cooling.
And even they will be eliminated in new nuclear plants, which rely on passive cooling systems in case of an emergency.
Now, that's what I call "zero emissions" & green :)
France is on the right track... 100%
Vive la France. Say what you will about the French, but they know how to keep their electricity humming by being responsible for their nuclear industry. Their comfort and success regarding things nuclear may end up a model to the world. It would make some sense if they decide to be the first country to embrace the new, safer HALEU nuclear fuels.
France's $35B innovation plan includes nuclear reactor funds
PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday unveiled a 5-year, 30 billion-euro ($35 billion) investment plan for developing innovative technology and industrial activity, including building small nuclear reactors, electric cars and greener airplanes.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/France-s-35B-innovation-plan-includes-nuclear-16526575.php
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Lightbridge Corporation is a nuclear energy pioneer developing proliferation resistant fuel technology and offering integrated advisory services for existing and emerging nuclear programs. The Company's mission is to establish a new standard in global nuclear power generation based on a core philosophy of transparency, non-proliferation, safety and operational excellence.
In 1992 Lightbridge Corporation was formed to develop and deploy nuclear fuel designs developed by Dr. Alvin Radkowsky, one of the founding fathers of the U.S. nuclear industry and one of the industry’s most respected nuclear engineers. Dr. Radkowsky, formerly head of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program, was a key member of the design team that built Shippingport, the world’s first first full-scale commercial nuclear power plant, and supervised more nuclear fuel core designs that were implemented and successfully operated than any other nuclear engineer in the history of the industry. A true pioneer, Dr. Radkowsky also sought to sever the link between nuclear weapons and nuclear power, and he developed thorium-based nuclear designs which would not produce weapons suitable plutonium in nuclear spent fuel.
To help realize Radkowsky's vision, Lightbridge Corporation went to Russia in 1994 and collaborated with nuclear scientists and engineers at the prestigious "Kurchatov Institute" research center. Since the original invention by Dr. Radkowsky, the technology initially underwent extensive scientific development and evaluation, and has now for over four years-been in the engineering development phase, including technology scale-up in a live research reactor. The company is now focused on advanced testing and commercialization of the technology.
Lightbridge Corporation's development and testing has followed standard industry protocols and is embarking on the next phase accelerating activities leading to the demonstration of Lightbridge Corporation's fuel technology in lead-test assemblies for use in a full-size commercial reactor - the final technology development phase before commercial deployment into multiple power plants.
Lightbridge Corporation's nuclear fuel designs are protected by U.S. patents and their foreign equivalent in several countries. We are continuously analyzing new intellectual property as it comes out of our research and development activities to ensure all inventions are protected either through patents or trade secrets. The Company is currently implementing a program to expand the patent portfolio.
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8300 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800
McLean, VA 22102 USA
Tel. +1.703.918.4904
Fax +1.703.935.1490
Board of Directors | Management Team | |
VICTOR ALESSI DANIEL MAGRAW, JR. KATHLEEN TOWNSEND SETH GRAE AMBASSADOR THOMAS GRAHAM, JR. | SETH GRAE President, Chief Executive Officer, Member of the Board of Directors AMBASSADOR THOMAS GRAHAM, JR. Executive Chairman of the Board ANDREY MUSHAKOV Executive Vice President / International Nuclear Operations JAMES D. GUERRA Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Executive Vice President JESSE FUNCHES Nuclear Regulartory Expert JON JOHNSON Senior Vice President, Nuclear Regulartory Expert JAMES MALONE Chief Nuclear Fuel Development Officer DR. ALEXEI MOROZOV Managng Director of Russian Brance Office |
Technical Advisory BoardThe Technical Advisory Board (TAB) is comprised of internationally recognized engineering experts with extensive experience in advanced nuclear fuel design and development, advanced reactor design, and nuclear fuel economics. The members are also recognized for leading research and design engineering projects at major U.S. nuclear, defense and aerospace companies. The TAB leverages this experience to assist us in further developing and deploying of our nuclear fuel designs. | International Advisory BoardThe International Advisory Board (IAB) is comprised of prominent and influential individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including business, government, energy, and academia. The IAB members serve as strategic advisors as the Company expands its international reach. | |
Ernie H. Kennedy
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George D. Crowley, Jr. |
Original co-founders of Thorium Power, Inc. in 1992
Dr. Alvin Radkowsky, inventor of Thorium Power's original fuel design and a pioneer nuclear scientist, initiated and supervised more nuclear core designs which were actually built and successfully operated than any other nuclear engineer in history. He was a member of the prestigious US National Academy of Engineering and a fellow of both the American Physical Society and American Nuclear Society. At the end of 2001, Dr. Radkowsky was awarded the Alvin M. Weinberg Medal for outstanding international technical and policy leadership in nuclear science and technology. It was given to him as recognition for his "seminal contributions and innovations in the engineering development of nuclear power."
Dr. Radkowsky was the original Chief Scientist for the US Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program directed by the late Admiral H.G. Rickover. Dr. Radkowsky headed the design teams for the US Navy's nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and other surface ships. He also headed the design team for the first commercial nuclear power plant, in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.
He received a special award from the Secretary of the Navy for an invention that increased the endurance of the Nautilus submarine prototype from a few weeks to many years. This invention has been declassified and is used in virtually all commercial reactors.
Alvin Radkowsky received his Master's Degree at George Washington University under Professor Edward Teller, and his Ph.D at Catholic University of America under Professor Karl F. Herzfeld.
Dr. Radkowsky passed away on February 17, 2002.
Joel B. Grae has built his career around starting high- technology companies and building them to the point of commercialization. He co-founded Thorium Power with Alvin Radkowsky. He has also acted as attorney and business consultant to foreign multinational consortiums and companies.
Mr. Grae has sponsored biotech research at major universities, including Yale, Cornell and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He founded MelaRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as a privately-held company to support research at Yale and was its Vice President of Technology from 1992 until MelaRx merged with Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly OncoRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) in 1995. Vion is now a publicly traded company.
Mr. Grae is a graduate of New York University School of Law and is a member of the New York Bar.
Points of Contact
Peter Charles
Director of Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
+1.703.918.4932
ir@thoriumpower.com
PR/Media Contact:
David Bassiouni, Jr.
Weber Shandwick
tel. +1.917.403.1136
dbassiouni@webershandwick.com
Investor Relations Contact:
David Waldman
Crescendo Communications
tel. +1.212.671.1021
dwaldman@crescendo-ir.com
Lightbridge Corporation's Investor Relations Compehensive Home Page
Overview
Lightbridge Corporation is a nuclear energy pioneer and the leading developer of thorium-based nuclear fuel designs. The Company’s technologies include nuclear fuel designs optimized to address key concerns about traditional nuclear power, including nuclear proliferation and nuclear waste.
http://ir.ltbridge.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=121550&p=irol-irhome
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