Hacker News with Generative AI: Nuclear Power

TVA submits first US BWRX-300 construction application (world-nuclear-news.org)
The Tennessee Valley Authority has submitted an application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a permit to build a GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy BWRX-300 small modular reactor at Clinch River.
Nuclear Energy, Energy, Nuclear Power, Technology, USA
4 points by mpweiher 2 days ago | 4 comments
Taiwan to ramp up gas imports after shuttering last nuclear plant (e360.yale.edu)
Having shut down its last remaining nuclear plant Saturday, Taiwan is working to secure new imports of natural gas.
Taiwan, Energy, Nuclear Power, Natural Gas
72 points by YaleE360 4 days ago | 69 comments
Germany drops opposition to nuclear power in rapprochement with France (ft.com)
Germany, Nuclear Power, Energy Policy, France, International Relations
49 points by chickenbig 4 days ago | 114 comments
AWS says Britain needs more nuclear power to feed AI datacenter surge (theregister.com)
The UK needs more nuclear energy generation just to power all the AI datacenters that are going to be built, according to the head of Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Nuclear Power, AI, Data Centers, Cloud Computing, Energy
11 points by rntn 7 days ago | 5 comments
Google inks deal to develop 1.8 GW of advanced nuclear power (techcrunch.com)
Google and nuclear site developer Elementl Power announced this week that they will work together on three sites for advanced nuclear reactors.
Google, Nuclear Power, Energy, Technology, Partnerships
4 points by mikece 14 days ago | 0 comments
Ontario set to begin construction of Canada's first mini nuclear power plant (cbc.ca)
Premier Doug Ford's government has given Ontario Power Generation the green light to start construction on Canada's first small modular reactor, a new nuclear energy technology to be built next door to the Darlington power plant.
Nuclear Power, Canada, Ontario, Renewable Energy
14 points by barbazoo 15 days ago | 8 comments
Trump admin says it wants a nuclear Renaissance. These actions suggest otherwise (grist.org)
In March, in a thunderous op-ed in Power Magazine, a trade publication covering the electricity industry, Republican senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee called for President Donald Trump to make some major institutional changes in the Tennessee Valley Authority, America’s biggest public utility.
Politics, Energy, Nuclear Power, United States
14 points by rntn 26 days ago | 3 comments
China's thorium survey finds 'endless energy source right under our feet' (scmp.com)
China could be sitting on top of enough thorium to power its energy needs almost forever, a national survey has revealed.
China, Thorium, Energy, Nuclear Power
12 points by eamag 27 days ago | 1 comments
The United States operates the largest nuclear power plant fleet (eia.gov)
In 2024, U.S. utilities operated 94 nuclear reactors with a total net generating capacity of nearly 97 gigawatts (GW), the largest commercial nuclear power generation fleet in the world.
Nuclear Power, Energy, United States
5 points by toomuchtodo 29 days ago | 1 comments
Advantages and Challenges of Nuclear-Powered Data Centers (energy.gov)
Nuclear power has the potential to be a great partner for data centers but there are some hurdles to clear.
Nuclear Power, Data Centers, Energy, Sustainability, Challenges
3 points by mpweiher 39 days ago | 0 comments
An unused nuclear power plant became home to a world-class acoustics lab (theverge.com)
These scientists have taken extreme measures to get away from noise.
Science, Nuclear Power, Acoustics
64 points by Tomte 45 days ago | 14 comments
Nuclear power is officially a clean energy source in Colorado (coloradosun.com)
Nuclear power — an innovative source of fossil-free power potential, or a radioactive risk that threatens public health and the environment, depending on whom you ask — is back on the table in Colorado.
Nuclear Power, Energy, Colorado, Environment
35 points by mooreds 52 days ago | 30 comments
China aims to Xinghuo, first fusion-fission power plant, running by 2030 (scmp.com)
China is poised to start building the world’s first fusion-fission hybrid power plant, with the goal of generating 100 megawatts of continuous electricity and connecting to the grid by the end of the decade.
China, Energy, Fusion, Nuclear Power, Science
8 points by chriscappuccio 57 days ago | 2 comments
China unveils nuclear-powered battery with millennium-long lifespan (ess-news.com)
Chinese researchers have developed a carbon-14 (C-14) nuclear battery encased in silicon carbide semiconductor material, marking a major achievement in the nuclear battery technology.
Nuclear Power, Technology, China, Batteries, Science
6 points by gnabgib 71 days ago | 2 comments
Amazon, Meta, Google sign pledge to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050 (theregister.com)
A group of large-scale energy users including Amazon, Meta, and Google has thrown its weight behind efforts to ramp up global nuclear capacity – aiming to triple it by 2050 – to meet increasing energy demands.
Energy, Nuclear Power, Climate Change, Technology
8 points by rntn 72 days ago | 1 comments
Core Power plans mass production of floating nuclear power plants (world-nuclear-news.org)
Core Power of the UK has announced that it will develop a "US-anchored" maritime civil nuclear programme that will "bring floating nuclear power to market by the mid-2030s".
Nuclear Power, Energy, Technology, Maritime
3 points by rbanffy 78 days ago | 1 comments
Floating nuclear power plants to be mass produced for US coastline (newatlas.com)
UK-based Core Power has announced that it plans to mass produce a fleet of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) using advanced reactor design and modular shipbuilding to be anchored off the US coast in about 10 years.
Nuclear Power, Energy, Technology, United States
8 points by zfg 88 days ago | 12 comments
Japan backs nuclear power in climate plan criticized as insufficient (japantimes.co.jp)
The government approved separate plans Tuesday to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in the fiscal year from April 2035 — and by 73% in fiscal 2040 — compared with 2013 levels, and have renewables and nuclear power generate half and 20% of the country’s electricity, respectively, by 2040.
Japan, Nuclear Power, Climate Change, Energy
5 points by mikhael 94 days ago | 0 comments
Starmer's nuclear reactors won't be small, cheap or popular (theguardian.com)
Labour’s plan for siting small nuclear reactor plants around the country (Keir Starmer unveils plan for large nuclear expansion across England and Wales, 6 February) feels almost like something Donald Trump would come up with.
Politics, Energy, Nuclear Power
7 points by dotcoma 95 days ago | 8 comments
Ukraine says Russia drone attack hits Chernobyl nuclear plant (cnn.com)
Ukraine, Russia, Nuclear Power, War
22 points by dralley 98 days ago | 1 comments
Russian Drone Damages Radiation Shield at Chernobyl, Ukraine Says (nytimes.com)
Russia’s military used a drone with a high-explosive warhead to hit the former Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine overnight, damaging the protective shelter that prevents radiation leaks, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said on Friday.
Ukraine, Russia, Nuclear Power, War, Chernobyl
22 points by haider0721128 98 days ago | 1 comments
Chernobyl reactor shield hit by Russian drone, Ukraine says (bbc.com)
A Russian drone attack has hit the radiation shelter over the damaged reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Ukraine, Russia, Nuclear Power, War, International Relations
13 points by nickcotter 98 days ago | 0 comments
Large Nuclear-Powered Subsonic Aircraft for Transoceanic Commerce (1971) [pdf] (nasa.gov)
Nuclear Power, Aviation, Transportation, Commerce, History
31 points by ipnon 102 days ago | 5 comments
Government rips up rules to fire-up nuclear power (gov.uk)
More nuclear power plants will be approved across England and Wales as the Prime Minister slashes red tape to get Britain building - as part of his Plan for Change.
Energy, Government, Nuclear Power, UK Policy
5 points by chickenbig 104 days ago | 0 comments
Aging reactors need a concrete solution (u-tokyo.ac.jp)
It’s been known for some time that radiation impacts the structural integrity of concrete. However, until now the details of this were unknown. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, can finally demonstrate what properties of concrete affect its structural characteristics under different neutron radiation loads. Their findings raise some concerns whilst reducing others; for example, quartz crystals in concrete can heal themselves, potentially allowing some reactors to run for longer than initially thought possible.
Nuclear Power, Materials Science, Engineering, Radiation
5 points by gnabgib 112 days ago | 1 comments
France's 2024 Power Grid Was 95% Fossil Free as Nuclear, Renewables Jumped (bloomberg.com)
France’s low-carbon electricity output surged to more than 95% of annual power production for the first time in 2024, as rising nuclear and hydro generation squeezed the use of fossil fuels.
France, Energy, Nuclear Power, Renewable Energy, Climate Change
10 points by toomuchtodo 123 days ago | 1 comments
The Egg, an at Home Nuclear Reactor (enron.com)
The heat-resistant casing is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, ensuring unmatched durability and safety. Designed for peak performance, it protects the reactor’s core while maintaining optimal thermal efficiency—even in the harshest conditions.
Nuclear Power, Engineering, Safety, DIY
90 points by veidelis 136 days ago | 49 comments
Constellation's Nuclear Plants to Provide Power for US Government Agencies (nucnet.org)
Power company Constellation, which operates the largest fleet of commercial nuclear power plants in the US, has been awarded more than $1bn (€970m) in combined contracts by the US General Services Administration (GSA) to supply power to more than 13 government agencies.
Energy, Government, Nuclear Power
20 points by mpweiher 137 days ago | 9 comments
Why Fukushima made me stop worrying and love nuclear power (2011) (theguardian.com)
You will not be surprised to hear that the events in Japan have changed my view of nuclear power. You will be surprised to hear how they have changed it. As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support the technology.
Nuclear Power, Japan, Fukushima Disaster, Energy, Opinion
4 points by mpweiher 141 days ago | 0 comments
China to Build Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor in 2025 (ieee.org)
After a half-century hiatus, thorium has returned to the front lines of nuclear power research as a source of fuel. In 2025, China plans to start building a demonstration thorium-based molten-salt reactor in the Gobi Desert.
Nuclear Power, China, Thorium, Energy
148 points by rbanffy 144 days ago | 133 comments