The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a permit for a new type of nuclear reactor that uses molten salt to cool the core.
The NRC has issued a permit to Kairos Power for the Hermes Test Reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The reactor will not generate electricity, and it is smaller than conventional ones.
The NRC issued the first building permit for a reactor that uses a cooling method other than water. The United States Atomic Energy Commission (the predecessor of the NRC) licensed different designs.
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Kairos Power has been working on a high-temperature, fluoride-cooled reactor. The Department of Energy has funded California. The NRC stated that the 35-megawatt reactor would test the use of molten sodium as a cooling agent and the type of nuclear fuel.
Kairos Power wants to create a version that is larger for commercial electricity, which could be used as early as 2030. The company says that the construction permit represents a major step in its efforts to provide clean, safe, and reliable energy at an affordable price.
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At this year’s U.N. Climate talks, the global nuclear industry launched a campaign to encourage nations to commit to triple their atomic energy by 2050. The United States, United Arab Emirates, and more than 20 other countries have signed up, including the United States.
The NRC certified a small nuclear modular reactor design that can be used anywhere in the United States. It is a light water reactor from Oregon-based NuScale.
Kairos Power chose a different strategy and requested permission from the NRC to build the test reactor at only the Oak Ridge location. It still requires an operating license. It also applied for a construction permit at Oak Ridge for a bigger version, a demonstration plant with two units.
Next year, the NRC expects at least two additional applications for construction permits to be submitted by companies that are working on advanced designs or small modular reactors.
Solar and wind energy are cited as alternatives to reduce carbon emissions.
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Kelly Mangold, RCLCO Real Estate Consulting, added: “The increased number of starts in this month indicates that builders anticipate positive conditions for the next year once these homes are available to buyers.”
Bright MLS’s Chief Economist Lisa Sturtevant commented on Wednesday’s report. “While new construction won’t immediately solve the supply issue in the housing markets, the recovery of the homebuilding industry is important for meeting the country’s housing requirements and easing affordability challenges for potential home buyers.”
Kelly Mangold of RCLCO Real Estate Consulting said, “Demand from millennials for homes is high. However as boomers enter their retirement years they are often moving and have significant home equity.”