POWER journal’s web site will get hundreds of thousands of pageviews yearly. Wanting over the stats from 2023, the next 5 articles had been the most-viewed by our viewers, which incorporates many energy business professionals. Had been you among the many lots of of hundreds of readers of those tales?
5. Westinghouse Secures First Buyer for eVinci Nuclear Microreactor (Nov. 27, 2023)
Westinghouse’s first buyer for its eVinci microreactor—a flagship 5-MWe/13-MWth “nuclear battery”—is poised to be the Saskatchewan Analysis Council (SRC), Canada’s second-largest analysis and expertise group.
SRC—a Saskatchewan authorities Treasury Board Crown Company that serves as a business laboratory to offer analysis and growth (R&D) for Saskatchewan industries—mentioned it plans to pilot an eVinci microreactor by 2029. Nonetheless, that timeframe will probably be topic to licensing and regulatory necessities. The situation of the eVinci microreactor will probably be “decided because the undertaking progresses,” the provincial authorities mentioned.
To learn the total article, go to: https://www.powermag.com/westinghouse-secures-first-customer-for-evinci-nuclear-microreactor/.
4. Fusion Vitality Reaches Prime Time (Could 1, 2023)
For near a century, electrical energy technology from fusion remained the stuff of science fiction, little greater than a plot level that served to separate the current from the long run. All that got here to a dramatic finish over the previous three years, as a cascading sequence of scientific, technical, enterprise, and political developments yanked fusion out of the labs and onto the entrance pages.
A number of years in the past, POWER printed an in depth article on fusion (see “Fusion Vitality Is Coming, and Perhaps Before You Suppose” within the June 2020 challenge), which was well-received by our viewers. Since then, there have been many incremental advances, which reached a crucial mass in 2021 because the monetary and political institutions lastly started seeing fusion power as a worthy funding—not for the distant future however as one thing that could possibly be achieved inside the subsequent decade.
The article printed in Could 2023 offered an replace to the 2020 piece, together with particulars on key occasions because the authentic article’s launch. No single growth was thought of totally answerable for the dramatic shift in consideration towards fusion, however the entire gadgets touched on within the replace have contributed.
To learn the total article, go to: https://www.powermag.com/fusion-energy-reaches-prime-time/.
3. U.S. Air Drive Selects Quick Microreactor for Nuclear Energy Pilot (Aug. 31, 2023)
The U.S. Air Drive’s first nuclear microreactor deliberate for Eielson Air Drive Base in Alaska beneath a federal nuclear microreactor pilot program will probably be an Oklo liquid metal-cooled quick reactor.
The Protection of Logistics Company (DLA), performing on behalf of the Division of Air Drive (DAF), issued a Discover of Intent to Award (NOITA) that selects the Santa Clara, California–primarily based nuclear expertise agency’s Aurora Powerhouse for its Eielson Air Drive Base pilot and initiates an acquisition course of to doubtlessly award Oklo a 30-year, firm-fixed-price contract to pilot the superior nuclear power expertise.
Nonetheless, in September 2023, the Air Drive issued a Discover of Rescission “to offer additional consideration to the company’s duties” beneath the governmental acquisition guidelines. Oklo CEO Jacob DeWitte not too long ago instructed POWER that the motion doesn’t represent an outright “rescission of the contract as a result of there’s no contract but.” A part of the Discover of Intent award “is to kick off contract negotiations, and a part of that course of typically entails issues the place the Discover of Intent, due to federal acquisition guidelines and necessities, are withdrawn and up to date,” he mentioned.
To learn the total article, go to: https://www.powermag.com/u-s-air-force-selects-fast-microreactor-for-nuclear-power-pilot/.
2. TVA Head Needs Nothing to Do with Constructing One Reactor Until He Can Construct 20 (Could 17, 2023)
Constructing a nuclear energy plant is a troublesome job. It takes years of planning and generally greater than a decade to finish. The danger of schedule delays is nice, particularly on first-of-a-kind tasks, and the monetary implications of such setbacks can spoil an organization.
But, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA’s) president and CEO, Jeff Lyash, recommended the chance is value taking, that’s, if classes discovered from one undertaking will be parlayed into success in future tasks. That’s why TVA is finding out the addition of a small modular reactor (SMR) at its Clinch River web site. Lyash envisions utilizing that first unit as a template to finally make Clinch River a four-unit web site, after which replicating that design in no less than 4 different areas inside TVA’s service territory.
“I’ve mentioned very vocally, I [want] nothing to do with constructing one reactor, except I can construct 20—and 20 is the low estimate—and so, that is what Clinch River is about,” Lyash mentioned as a visitor on The POWER Podcast.
To learn the total article, go to: https://www.powermag.com/tva-head-wants-nothing-to-do-with-building-one-reactor-unless-he-can-build-20/.
1. America’s Most Highly effective Nuclear Reactor Makes a Landmark Revival (Nov. 1, 2023)
Entergy’s Grand Gulf 1, positioned in Port Gibson, Mississippi, is the most important single-unit nuclear energy plant within the U.S. It has thrived for 4 many years by cultivating a tradition of steady enchancment, attaining record-breaking efficiency milestones, and empowering its workforce. However the energy plant is, in lots of respects, a vastly totally different set up than when it first got here on-line in 1985.
The nuclear plant not too long ago revived its worth as a regional powerhouse by way of a renewed effort by visionary management targeted on a dedication to excellence. Grand Gulf’s outstanding efficiency was acknowledged by POWER with a High Plant award in 2023.
To learn the total article, go to: https://www.powermag.com/americas-most-powerful-nuclear-reactor-makes-a-landmark-revival/.
—POWER workers.