Hardware Podcasts

Will advanced reactors solve nuclear's problems?

Catalyst · 25 Feb 2022 · 1h 07m

What this episode covers

Jake DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, discusses the potential of advanced nuclear reactors to solve the cost, safety, and waste issues plaguing traditional nuclear power. He explains how Oklo’s microreactor technology leverages liquid metal cooling and fast neutron physics to create simpler, safer, and more scalable designs that can be manufactured like automobiles. DeWitte details the regulatory challenges faced by the industry, specifically the recent rejection of Oklo’s Aurora reactor application by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and argues for a paradigm shift in licensing to accommodate these new technologies. The conversation covers the economic benefits of modular manufacturing, new financing models like 'nuclear as a service,' and the role of advanced nuclear in industrial decarbonization and grid flexibility.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Oklo, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Energy Hub, Bloom Energy, Antenna Group, Nextracker
Products
Aurora

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