Bill Gates-backed TerraPower seeks UK approval for nuclear reactor design

TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates and a nuclear innovation firm, submitted its first design of a new reactor type, as well as an energy storage system, to the British regulatory authorities for approval.

TerraPower stated that the application to the UK Generic Design Assessment process (GDA) marks the first regulatory steps towards the deployment of its Natrium technology on a global marketplace.

TerraPower's President and CEO, Chris Levesque said: "We are looking forward to working closely with the UK Government as we go through the review process."

It added that the company was looking for sites in the UK to build its Natrium reactor, in collaboration with U.S.-based engineering firm KBR.

TERRAPOWER DESIGN CAN HELP UK DECARBONISATION Efforts

TerraPower's design could be of great significance to the UK, which is looking to increase nuclear power in both large-scale and small modular reactors as part of its drive to decarbonise their energy system, while also meeting growing demand.

This effort could be hindered by concerns about financing, political opposition and technical difficulties.

TerraPower, founded by Gates and co-founded with Gates billionaire, has met all regulatory requirements for the United States where the first Natrium Plant is currently being built.

The company claims that its design includes a 345-megawatt-rated fast reactor cooled by sodium, and an energy storage system based on molten-salt, which can boost output up to 500-megawatts for over five-and-a-half hours when required.

It added that this allows seamless integration with renewable energy sources. Nora Buli, reporting from Oslo; Bernadettebaum, editing.

(source: Reuters)