Articles tagged with "nuclear-reactors"
Russia to use submarines with nuclear reactors to supply gas via Arctic
Russia is developing nuclear-powered submarines equipped with three Rhythm-200 nuclear reactors to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) in the Arctic. These submarines, designed by the Kurchatov Institute, aim to reduce transit times from 20 to 12 days by traveling at speeds of about 17 knots beneath the ice, enabling year-round gas transportation from Arctic terminals. The project is seen as a potential alternative to traditional surface LNG carriers and pipelines, with Russian officials and President Vladimir Putin endorsing its feasibility and efficiency. Despite the ambitious plans, analysts express skepticism about Russia's ability to deliver the submarines due to capacity constraints in nuclear submarine design and the impact of Western sanctions on investment and infrastructure development along the NSR. Significant upgrades to Arctic ports and related facilities are necessary for the route to become competitive. The Russian government plans to increase the Arctic Basin's port capacity by over 34 million tons by 2030, reflecting a broader
energynuclear-reactorsLNG-transportationArctic-shippingsubmarinesNorthern-Sea-Routemaritime-energy-transportStandard Nuclear emerges from the ashes of a failed startup
Standard Nuclear has launched with $42 million in funding to develop advanced nuclear fuel, building upon assets acquired from the bankruptcy of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) for $28 million. The new company’s CEO, Kurt Terrani, was formerly USNC’s vice president. The funding round was led by Decisive Point, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and others. Standard Nuclear has secured $100 million in non-binding fuel sales projected for 2027 and is collaborating with customers such as Nano Nuclear Energy and Radiant Industries. The company acknowledges that acquiring USNC’s assets accelerated its timeline. USNC had focused on commercializing TRISO fuel—uranium pellets coated with carbon- and ceramic-based layers—which is considered safer and more meltdown-resistant than traditional nuclear fuel, though it has not been widely used since its development in the 1950s. USNC’s history was marked by a broad and ambitious business model, including two reactor designs, nuclear propulsion, and spacecraft heating systems, but it was primarily funded by a single investor, Richard Hollis Helms, who invested over $100 million plus loans. Helms, a former CIA Arabist, founded USNC after retiring from intelligence work. Despite efforts to raise more capital in 2022, USNC struggled financially and declared bankruptcy in October 2024 amid mounting debts and payroll issues. Standard Nuclear, led by Decisive Point founder Thomas Hendrix, purchased USNC’s fuel-related assets in a bankruptcy auction completed in February 2025, establishing its operational base and continuing the development of TRISO fuel technology.
energynuclear-energyadvanced-nuclear-fuelTRISO-fuelstartup-fundingnuclear-materialsnuclear-reactors10 nuclear reactors to power 500,000 US homes with 1,000MW output
The article discusses Westinghouse’s plan to deploy 10 large-scale nuclear reactors in the US, each with a 1,000 MW output, aiming to power approximately 500,000 homes. This initiative aligns with former President Donald Trump’s executive orders issued in May 2023, which call for quadrupling US nuclear capacity by 2050 and initiating construction of 10 full-sized reactors by 2030. Westinghouse, leveraging its AP1000 pressurized water reactor design—already licensed and operational globally—is positioned as the primary candidate to fulfill this mandate. The company highlights its modular construction expertise, a stable supply chain, and lessons learned from previous projects, including the Vogtle site in Georgia and deployments in China, as key advantages. Discussions with the US Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office are ongoing to secure necessary financing. The estimated cost for building these reactors could reach $75 billion, excluding potential overruns, which remains a significant hurdle given the US utilities’ cautious stance after past cost escalations. Westinghouse faces limited competition in the large reactor market due to political and strategic factors sidelining foreign vendors and other domestic companies focusing on small modular reactors (SMRs). Meanwhile, SMR developers like NuScale and Holtec International are gaining attention by promoting smaller, modular units that can be co-located to match the output of large reactors with potentially lower costs and faster construction timelines. Despite the executive order’s emphasis on large reactors, SMRs are emerging as a competitive alternative in the evolving US nuclear energy landscape.
energynuclear-reactorsWestinghouseUS-energy-policymodular-constructionAP1000-reactornuclear-capacity-expansionNuclear reactors, semiconductors to get smarter with next-gen US plasma tech
energyplasma-technologynuclear-reactorssemiconductor-manufacturingcomputational-physicsindustrial-processessimulation-toolsNext-gen nuclear reactors rely on solar salts for better heat control
energynuclear-reactorsthermal-energy-storagemolten-saltsadvanced-materialsradiation-resistancereactor-safety