Craig Scroggie’s Post

The relatively unexpected and hard to measure exponential growth in demand for electricity, driven by AI and resultant data transport and storage requirements is further complicating and placing importantance in the energy transition. There are huge economic impacts and advantages from the additional productivity and benefits from AI though it is all dependent on being able to power it properly. It is a tightrope to get the balance right. Some interesting perspectives here.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could be a major contributor to the path to Net Zero. If the technology was supported and implemented as clean renewable energy - production volumes would increase and costs would fall. But as it stands now, SMRs remains a nascent technology and not ready for market. The attempts to build them to date have been largely unsuccessful, with the costs blowouts staggering. But the primary constraints to adoption are the major regulatory and community hurdles. The concept of nuclear energy disturbs people psychologically. This may make it a perennial non starter. But if we are serious about Net Zero targets, we need to have a conversation about the nuclear option.

Nuclear Expertise Applied to Battery Recycling🌀⚛️ France is tapping into its world-leading nuclear know-how for a key part of its energy transition - recycling materials from EV batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines.👍 Researchers at the French atomic energy commission facility in Marcoule are adapting nuclear waste recycling methods to recover metals. 🔋 Techniques include using robots to cut irradiated fuel rods and extract lithium, nickel, and cobalt. And applying supercritical water to break down composites.⬆️ This could help France and the EU become more self-sufficient in critical metals and reduce reliance on imports.🌍 It shows how nuclear expertise can enable sustainability, a circular economy, and the energy transition. The future is multi-faceted! 🔮 Stay informed, stay curious! 🌐📚 Science never ceases to amaze! 🌟✨ #circulareconomy #batteries #recycling Key institutions: - CEA French Atomic and Alternative Energy Commission - Richard Laucournet https://lnkd.in/gT2thzee

On #GlobalRecyclingDay, you might not be thinking of nuclear by-products. Here at newcleo, we’d like to change that.   ⚛️ newcleo’s Lead-Cooled Fast Reactors will run on recycled spent fuel from existing reactors. This MOX (Mixed Oxide) fuel, once used, can then be further ‘multi-recycled’: closing the nuclear fuel cycle, removing the need to mine fresh uranium, and greatly reducing the amount of stored nuclear waste. This is at the heart of newcleo’s technology and business model and will be a major step in improving the sustainability of the nuclear industry.   📃 In 2023, a publication from WePlanet reported that there is sufficient energy in what is today considered nuclear ‘waste’ to run Europe at current electrical power consumption for up to a thousand years.   ➡️ Our mid-term strategy is to establish MOX fuel manufacturing and recycling in developed countries, for cost effective, cleaner, and virtually inexhaustible production of low-carbon energy.   Recycling? It’s powerful stuff.   Find out more:   https://lnkd.in/eeZm-hhj #recycling #mox #energysupply #energysecurity #nuclear #nuclearenergy

Not only is this interesting as a pioneering #nuclear hydrogen project, but it will also be the first time #hydrogen will be used to replace fossil fuels in #asphalt production, reducing emissions by about 90%...

Interesting alternatives to SMRs. This will be especially useful for countries that wants to bring electrification to rural areas without the need to expand electrical grid (expensive - infrastructure and maintenance). Electrification is the most important element to bring modernity to any society and with our increased for electricity, will be the pillar of our societies continued evolution and progression. But what if I were to tell you that there are sustainable technologies out there that can create microgrid without the use of nuclear fuel? A technology that can effectively turn agricultural feedstock into a range of biofuels that can power urban and non-urban areas without the complication of grids and potential hazards of nuclear power? Sounds amazing, yes it is. I am looking for partners who share a very niche vision for what electrification and energy means to the world (or at least my region). Do drop me a note if you want to chat. #electrification #nanoSMRs #alternativeenergy #sustainableenergy #energytransition #biofuels #energygrid #energytransformation #feedstock

Is the future here with data centers generating their own nuclear power? Let's explore if we're prepared for this innovation in energy sustainability. DEAC European Data Center Operator DLC Data Logistics Center

Now that we're halfway through 2024 (crazy 🤯), how are we stacking up against our climate predictions?? To kick off the year, Energy Impact Partners, one of the top venture capital firms in climate tech, put out their 2024 predictions. Now that we are halfway through, here's deep dive based on them to see how we are tracking 🤔. 6 Predictions 👇🏽: 1️⃣ Will conflict between the US and China derail the energy transition? ❌ In May, the Biden Administration announced tariffs on many sectors, including electric vehicles, critical minerals, solar cells, and batters. This has major implications on reshoring manufacturing, which has been a priority of the Biden Administration in the clean energy transition, but it's too early to tell the outcome. 2️⃣ Are the conditions finally right to accelerate nuclear development? And if so, will any startups begin to achieve lift off? ✅ Even more recently, in June, US Congress passed the ADVANCE Act -> creating incentives for US development of more advanced nuclear reactors. Startups are gaining momentum, like TerraPower who plans to build their first reactor in Wyoming in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). 3️⃣ Are the stars finally aligned for big, interregional transmission projects? ✅ In April, a huge new rule was passed "slashing" the time it takes to review transmission projects, aimed at cutting it in half and bringing on 2000 Megawatts onto the grid. ALSO, an FOAK agreement between northeast states called the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission was announced earlier THIS month to create strategic plans on how to promote interregional transmission projects. 4️⃣ Just how big will data center demand get? (especially from Generative AI…) ✅ The answer is...VERY BIG. Data center power demand is expected to increase by 160% by 2030. The growth in AI adoption is pushing data centers' global power consumption from 1-2% of overall power currently to an estimated 3-4% by 2030. 5️⃣ Will better measurement and validation approaches emerge to increase transparency and trust in the market? ❌ It's hard to say, as there continues to be date on the best measurement and verification standards. The ISO - International Organization for Standardization is developing another net zero standard, but it's reported that it will take another 1-1.5 years for this make an impact (s.o. Matthias Muehlbauer for posting about this). 6️⃣ Policy support for trade in hydrogen (+ derivatives) and mega-project development ✅ We've seen robust support in 2024 - the Biden-Harris Administration has allocated $750 million to support hydrogen projects, with significant investments aiming to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen, and major projects like H2 Green Steel’s €6.5 billion plant further demonstrate the substantial investment in the sector (RMI). Shoutout to the Energy Impact Partners team for these great predictions 👏🏽 (🔗 in comments). #predictions #energy #climate

Honda-backed Israeli startup to use nuclear fusion to power EVs, NT-Tao plans demonstration facilities by 2029, commercialization in the 2030s https://lnkd.in/gM4h_4J3 A nuclear fusion startup backed by Honda Motor plans to use mini fusion power generation facilities as charging stations for electric vehicles, signaling how development of the long-hoped-for energy source is accelerating. Israeli startup NT-Tao will manufacture demonstration facilities by 2029 and aims to commercialize them in the 2030s. The fusion power generation facilities are to have an output of 10,000 to 20,000 kilowatts. Each is to be sized to fit into a cargo container, making it easy to install even in remote areas off the power grid. Princeton University in the U.S. is cooperating, and the Israeli government is also providing financial support. Nuclear fusion aims to artificially reproduce the same reactions inside the sun. It does not emit greenhouse gases. In 2022, a U.S. national laboratory succeeded for the first time in extracting more energy than was put into its fusion reactor. Honda, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and other parties have invested in NT-Tao, which has so far raised $28 million. Honda is considering using fusion power generation for EV charging stations, and NT-Tao's facilities would make it possible to charge 1,000 vehicles at the same time. Other ideas include installing the mini power stations at data centers and factories. According to NT-Tao CEO Oded Gour-Lavie, the estimated investment for a 20,000-kilowatt power generation facility would be $70 million to $100 million. Generation costs are assumed to be 6 cents to 13 cents per kilowatt hour. EVs do not emit greenhouse gases when they run. On the other hand, it is difficult to provide a stable supply of electricity using only weather-dependent solar and wind power. #NuclearFusion #EVs #HondaMotor #FusionPower #ElectricVehicles #EVChargingStations #HydrogenEconomy #FuelCell #FuelCellVehicles #Automakers #HydrogenPoweredCars #HondaMotor #FuelCell #Decarbonization #HeavyTrucks #Cargo #Japan #ZeroEmission #NextGenerationFuel #RenewableEnergyAgency #Decarbonize #RenewableEnergy #ClimateChange #Renewable #Launch #Investor #funding #startup #Investment #Insight #Technology #Research #TechNews #IndustryNews #MarketResearach #RenubResearch