Charles Ellinas’ Post

UK to boost domestic production of high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) as part of the UK’s efforts to deliver up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050:- https://lnkd.in/efVQFEwt

Best invest in Building Fusion power, space, and maritime propulsion systems and industry, You talk about Nuclear (meaning Fission) and fail to discuss fusion. https://lnkd.in/ge_aeX7M The nuclear fission industry is, ignorant of what's happening around you. Pull your uranium heads out, start adjusting your industry to fusion energy and start preparing to enter the commercially growing fusion energy industry. As it dawns on Earth like the sun. Great Headline Guardian on Nuclear fission. https://lnkd.in/g8sMZtpR Fission is moving towards obsolescence at an accelerated pace, as it is "out of step, out of time, out of place," and merely a temporary industry globally. https://lnkd.in/gbd_mZqk Commercial fusion electrical generation is a promising innovative sustainable and clean energy method. By 2028, Helion is expected to start producing electricity from its first fusion commercial power plant, which will provide electricity to Microsoft. The plant will produce at least 50 MWe after an initial ramp-up period. https://lnkd.in/gY9J3MQY Now see what is happening in the Fusion industry in the world. https://lnkd.in/g9hMBD7a As fission trebles, fuel shortage is increasingly real, read below. https://lnkd.in/gze5rwpr

HALEU and AUKUS as posted by StarCore Nuclear The growth of nuclear power is a key factor to achieve the goal of moving away from the use of fossil fuels that governments have set for themselves. Securing supplies of enriched uranium fuel is one of the challenges that developers of SMRs will have to overcome to bring their designs to market. Many SMR’s, particularly the Gen IV designs, require a High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU). HALEU fuel is typically enriched above 5% and less than 20% U235. HALEU fuel will make for smaller designs, longer cycles and increased efficiency which in turn will deliver more power with a higher power to weight ratio. Russia has been a major supplier of HALEU. A recent bill passed by the US Congress bans importation of enriched uranium from Russia. That is due to come into effect by August 11 2024. Russia produces nearly half of the world’s enriched uranium with Europe, Japan and China each supplying a smaller proportion. The bill, with bipartisan support, puts further pressure on the expanding gap between HALEU supply and demand suppliers of new nuclear power in North America. Terrapower has said that it will delay the opening of its development in Wyoming by at least two years, at least in part, due to its decision not to use Russian enriched uranium fuel. To ensure that countries can move to higher energy density fuels and thereby secure the economic and health benefits that reliable electricity supply brings, some are opting to boost production of HALEU fuels. These moves will underpin the critical supply of these fuels as SMR developments move forward. Even in the light of the demand gap for the fuel, the licensing, building, operation and securing of such facilities require significant investment. The IAEA says that European companies could start producing HALEU within 5 years and plans for expanding French capacity and new facilities in the United Kingdom and the USA are under consideration. The NRC issued a manufacturing license to Centrus in the US, who produced the first samples for analysis in November 2023. While those advances of Centrus and the intention of the UK and others to supply HALEU are encouraging, the supply is likely to lag the overall needs of the market. It is essential therefore, that regulatory authorities, together with current and potential industry suppliers better align current production plans with emerging demand. This area of fuel supply will certainly be of interest to SMR developers like StarCore as these supply  expansions will be critical to maintaining its current determined schedule.   The AUKUS agreement will put more nuclear submarines into service and put additional pressure on the HALEU supply chain. Perhaps a major U supplier liker Australia could be encouraged to contribute to the manufacture of the fuel for its own submarines? Time to get on board Australia. see: https://lnkd.in/gzzwnupN

https://lnkd.in/dxNX7MPS Poland’s energy mix was virtually 100% coal 20 years ago. Coal use today is approximately 70% and aims to be 28% by 2040. Poland has large-scale plans to develop nuclear energy capacity. The first nuclear power plant has received environmental approval. Construction is due to begin in 2026 and going on-grid by 2033. It is the first of six, planned, pressurised water reactors using Westinghouse AP1000 technology with subsequent reactors due for completion every 2-3 years. Poland’s decision to embrace nuclear is in stark contrast to neighbouring Germany’s decision to close its last three nuclear power stations in April 2023 after six decades of using nuclear technology. #energysecurity

Zimbabwe Independent: The case for nuclear energy Learn more Zimbabwe Independent here:

Nuclear fusion is not included in the NZE due to significant uncertainty about its technical and economic feasibility.  Seems IEA feels fusion is a non-event. The IAEA, on the other hand, has two separate events, one for Fission and another for Fusion. The agencies are having a Dr Jekyll, and Mr Hyde period, it seems. https://lnkd.in/eU7kDTkx https://lnkd.in/gSfgqGA8 https://lnkd.in/g-fcZjzk https://lnkd.in/gM-BP7yG

Some 95%-97% of used nuclear fuel could be recycled to be used at power plants. The Rokkasho facility would allow reprocessing of fuel from 40 reactors of 1 gigawatt (GW) capacity each, or 40 GW of nuclear power annually. #itsonlywasteifyouwasteit

You can say what you like about the politics but these small scale nuclear reactors are a great technical solution for many countries that have shortfalls in generation capacity. For example, in Sierra Leone they currently have a Turkish ship moored in Freetown docks burning diesel to provide power. This temporary solution has a very high unit cost compared to nuclear. A small nuclear reactor can be much cheaper and more environmentally friendly. With the transition to a low carbon economy there will be an increasing need for short to medium term options to fill the energy shortages left by quitting coal or mismanagement

The potential of nuclear power in Africa - Namibia Economist: The potential of nuclear power in Africa  Namibia Economist