On December 4, 2023, TerraPower LLC, the advanced nuclear reactor company owned by Bill Gates, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) signed an agreement to study the feasibility of developing advanced reactors in the UAE and beyond.
Expanding Nuclear Power Capacity in the UAE
This agreement is part of the UAE’s efforts to expand its nuclear capacity, with more than 20 countries committing at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai to double nuclear output in this decade to combat climate change.
Advanced Reactors and Their Potential Role
Advanced reactors are designed to be smaller, easier to build, and more dynamic than traditional plants, with some considered a vital complement to intermittent energy sources such as rapidly expanding wind and solar power.
Uses of Advanced Nuclear Reactors
According to the cooperation agreement between TerraPower and the UAE, the uses of advanced nuclear reactors will be explored, including grid energy storage and providing the necessary energy for hydrogen production, as well as reducing carbon emissions in coal, steel, and aluminum plants.
Challenges of Advanced Reactors
One of the potential challenges is that TerraPower’s Natrium reactors require a fuel called HALEU, the primary producer of which is currently Russia. TerraPower’s Wyoming project has faced delays due to concerns about HALEU supplies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the company has assured that it expects the United States to be able to produce the fuel in the next decade.
Expanding HALEU Production in the United States
The United States is seeking to start local HALEU production and has signed an agreement with a company called Centrus to develop a project for that purpose.
Additionally, other agreements are being signed and investigations in energy, environment, and other businesses around the world are underway.
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