Bill Gates’ sodium-based nuclear power reactor, Natrium, is scheduled to be located in Wyoming by 2028. It would replace part of the traditional coal-fired power industry in the area.
Bill Gates commitment to “sustainable” nuclear energy with his project Natrium. The innovative reactor design, planned for 2028, uses a sodium fluoride salt core and a molten salt storage tank to adjust power production according to demand.
According to Bill Gates: “Nuclear energy is the energy source with the most potential that we have today.”. His Natrium project is a response to this approach, seeking overcome the challenges of renewable energy sources and provide a sustainable solution and confiable.
the reactor employs liquid sodium as a coolant, taking advantage of its abundance as the fourth most common substance on Earth. This feature allows the energy generated to be stored, solving the storage challenge associated with renewable energy today.
The US Department of Energy has awarded TerraPower, Bill Gates’s company, a Seed funding of $80 million to demonstrate feasibility of Natrium technology, with the possibility of obtaining additional financing in the coming years.
Planned in Wyoming, and scheduled for 2028, the reactor will be located in a traditionally coal-producing region to meet part of the energy demand and demonstrate its viability as a sustainable energy source.
Criticism for the use of uranium as fuel
It is important to note that the reactor Natrium still requires a small amount of uranium for fuelraising questions about environmental impact and continued reliance on nuclear resources.
The project has received criticism and alternative approaches. Some argue that wind and solar power are cheaper, quicker to implement, and safer than traditional nuclear power plants.
Despite this, defenders of the Natrium project maintain that advanced reactors, such as Natrium, can complement intermittent sources of renewable energyproviding a reliable and carbon-free source of energy.