January 7th, 2009 7:19am PST
Environmentally Friendly Nuclear Power?
Posted By Elizabeth Cutright
Can it be true? Could nuclear power be harnessed for small-scale, onsite power systems? And could these small nuclear generators actually be good for the environment? That’s the stand taken by Hyperion Power Generation Inc., which has developed a “garden shed–sized nuclear reactor that can produce enough heat to generate 25 MW of electricity for up to 10 years.” The details of the project are detailed nicely in the January 5 issue of TheStar.com in an article by energy reporter Tyler Hamilton, entitled “Is small the Future of nuclear power generation?”
Onsite nuclear power is certainly an intriguing possibility. Hyperion calls their product a “nuclear battery,” and they plan to sell 4000 by 2025. At the moment, they are intent on wooing oil-sands developers, who currently rely on electricity and steam but could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions by switching to onsite nuclear power. The idea is to use a relatively “clean” energy (nuclear) to replace “dirty” energy installations (i.e. coal, gas, and electricity supplied from a traditional grid).
If this still sounds over the top, it’s important to note that Hyperion is not alone – several other companies in North America are developing similar products, including NuScale, Adams Atomic Engines, and any US firm that develops the Liftr, or liquid fluoride thorium reactor.
So what do you think? Does nuclear power deserve a spot at the distributed energy table?
January 7th, 2009 7:19am PST
Environmentally Friendly Nuclear Power?
Posted By Elizabeth Cutright
Can it be true? Could nuclear power be harnessed for small-scale, onsite power systems? And could these small nuclear generators actually be good for the environment? That’s the stand taken by Hyperion Power Generation Inc., which has developed a “garden shed–sized nuclear reactor that can produce enough heat to generate 25 MW of electricity for up to 10 years.” The details of the project are detailed nicely in the January 5 issue of TheStar.com in an article by energy reporter Tyler Hamilton, entitled “Is small the Future of nuclear power generation?”
Onsite nuclear power is certainly an intriguing possibility. Hyperion calls their product a “nuclear battery,” and they plan to sell 4000 by 2025. At the moment, they are intent on wooing oil-sands developers, who currently rely on electricity and steam but could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions by switching to onsite nuclear power. The idea is to use a relatively “clean” energy (nuclear) to replace “dirty” energy installations (i.e. coal, gas, and electricity supplied from a traditional grid).
If this still sounds over the top, it’s important to note that Hyperion is not alone – several other companies in North America are developing similar products, including NuScale, Adams Atomic Engines, and any US firm that develops the Liftr, or liquid fluoride thorium reactor.
So what do you think? Does nuclear power deserve a spot at the distributed energy table?