Chris - Like China X-Energy hit the ground running with the help of tech transfer from Germany. They hired a substantial portion of the HTGR technical team when South Africa put that project into a long hiatus.
X-Energy may not have much construction experience, but Dow is the licensee and will be the power plant constructor. X-Energy is the technology supplier.
X-Energy received a $1 B addition to its cash war chest. That’s a powerful development tool.
You’re correct in pointing to the importance of the refueling system. It’s an area worth watching.
So 11 billion is an immodest amount of money to develop a new reactor? I get you are doubtful, doubtful, wary. But what are you writing this for? Investor protection? You believe that 13 years is super fast for a reactor development? Much of the reactor can be tested without turning it on. If allowed to turn on, a reactor can be built and destroyed after a year. Then reconstructed. It is a carefull “stewardship” of resources that prevents this, not something inherently dangerous. With enough resources a space-X approach is possible.
Chris - Like China X-Energy hit the ground running with the help of tech transfer from Germany. They hired a substantial portion of the HTGR technical team when South Africa put that project into a long hiatus.
X-Energy may not have much construction experience, but Dow is the licensee and will be the power plant constructor. X-Energy is the technology supplier.
X-Energy received a $1 B addition to its cash war chest. That’s a powerful development tool.
You’re correct in pointing to the importance of the refueling system. It’s an area worth watching.
So 11 billion is an immodest amount of money to develop a new reactor? I get you are doubtful, doubtful, wary. But what are you writing this for? Investor protection? You believe that 13 years is super fast for a reactor development? Much of the reactor can be tested without turning it on. If allowed to turn on, a reactor can be built and destroyed after a year. Then reconstructed. It is a carefull “stewardship” of resources that prevents this, not something inherently dangerous. With enough resources a space-X approach is possible.
This is a great deep dive on the category error of “Space X-ing” nuclear. https://whatisnuclear.com/news/2025-02-25-a-nuclear-startup-will-probably-not-be-the-next-spacex.html
I think that TRISO will not be the biggest technical hurdle, good luck containing the helium pressurized to about 6 MPa (about 60 atmospheres).
https://info.ornl.gov/sites/publications/Files/Pub196359.pdf
Titans of Nuclear had an episode about helium cooled reactors.
Nuclear Technology Series: High Temperature Gas Reactors
https://www.lastenergy.com/titansofnuclear/miniseries