Unit 4 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in Russia will be completely switched to uranium-plutonium MOX fuel in 2022, marking an important step towards closing the nuclear fuel cycle, Russia’s Rosatom has announced. The 789 MWe BN-800 fast neutron reactor is currently fuelled by a ‘hybrid core’ – a mix of uranium and plutonium …
Three MIT teams to explore novel ways to reduce operations and maintenance costs of advanced nuclear reactors. Nuclear energy is a low-carbon energy source that is vital to decreasing carbon emissions. A critical factor in its continued viability as a future energy source is finding novel and innovative ways to improve operations and maintenance (O&M) …
Research reactors can be used for a variety of purposes, from training nuclear engineers and conducting scientific research, to producing radioisotopes and developing advanced materials. But before a country can embark on a new research reactor project, it must first have in place the proper infrastructure. “The IAEA provides guidance on issues in establishing and implementing …
Russia’s controversial floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, has been fully commissioned at a port in Siberia’s Far East, despite widespread environmental and safety concerns, the nuclear utility Rosenergoatom reported on Friday. In a statement, Andrei Petrov, the company’s head, said that that construction of the floating plant “could be considered complete,” and the Akademik …
Uranium mining hopefuls are fond of tables showing how many reactors are operating around the world and — even more exciting — how many are in construction, being planned or being thought about. The picture from the 2020 annual report of the Paris-based Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) reveals a situation where, yes, there are more …
RWT Growth and StarCore Nuclear Canada have announced a partnership to bring low cost, clean nuclear energy to remote locations and industries that rely on less environmentally friendly sources power, such as diesel generators. StarCore said the deal represents a benchmark investment both in terms of scale and innovation. StarCore Nuclear Canada utilises technology similar …
The Department of Energy (DoE) has started a new Office of Nuclear Energy project called the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). The $230 million program will give $160 million to scientists working on two reactor designs that “can be operational” in the very near future. The “Advanced” part of ARDP is an industry term for …
Some of what you’ve heard about nuclear waste is true. It really can take thousands of years to decay, and even the briefest exposure to the most dangerous kind can be lethal. But in my ten years working with and researching nuclear waste, I’ve also encountered a lot of nonsense. It’s simply not as bad as …
A nuclear reactor core is one of the most extreme human-made environments on the planet. These scientists just figured out how to print one. KURT TERRANI WANTS to accelerate the future of nuclear energy—so he’s turned to its past. Over the last year and a half, Terrani and a team of physicists, engineers, and computer scientists …
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy has published a detailed ‘Concept Note’ outlining its strategy on electrical generation to the year 2030. The document anticipates a sharp reduction in the country’s reliance on gas-fired power generation from the current 83% to 50%, and sets goals for new nuclear, solar and wind power production of 15%, 8% and …