Bill Gates invests in nuclear energy.
The former Microsoft chief executive, who co-founded TerraPower, a company specializing in nuclear reactor design in 2006, announced that the company's first plant, costing four billion euros, will be created in Kemmerer, the country. of 2,500 inhabitants in the state of Wyoming by 2028.
Using Natrium technology (developed with Hitachi), it will provide 345 megawatts of electricity and have an estimated life of 60 years. A plan has also already been prepared to increase the energy capacity to 500 MW.
The site was chosen considering the low seismicity of the area, the non-opposition of the resident population and the closure in 2025 of an active coal plant in the area.
TerraPower's technology employs a sodium reactor that generates electricity immediately or that can be stored in thermal storage reserves for hours.
According to the company's press release, the construction and architecture of the reactor are simplified compared to the previous generation plants and bring lower operating costs.
Furthermore, the system is in line with the large-scale decarbonization objectives to combat climate change.
(Unioneonline / F)
