Hacker News with Generative AI: Nuclear Power

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 1 day 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 11 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 18 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 24 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 30 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 43 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 44 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 51 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 61 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 66 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 68 days ago | 8 comments
Ukraine says Russia drone attack hits Chernobyl nuclear plant (cnn.com)
Ukraine, Russia, Nuclear Power, War
22 points by dralley 70 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 71 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 71 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 74 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 77 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 84 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 95 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 108 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 110 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 114 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 116 days ago | 133 comments
China Hits EV Target 10 Years Early, Still Hasn't Reached 2020 Nuclear Target (cleantechnica.com)
On October 27th of 2020, the China Society of Automotive Engineers laid out a roadmap for how the country was going to achieve 50% of all cars sold in 2035 being fully electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen, with 95% of them of course being fully electric. Per projections from HSBC, UBS, Morningstar, and Wood Mackenzie, that’s actually going to happen in 2025, a full decade early, with of course hydrogen cars at perhaps 0.02%, approaching zero.
China, Electric Vehicles, Energy, Predictions, Nuclear Power
8 points by xbmcuser 119 days ago | 4 comments
France Links First New Nuclear Reactor to Grid Since 1999 (yahoo.com)
Electricite de France SA connected a new nuclear reactor to the French power grid for the first time in a quarter century on Saturday, adding low-carbon electricity supply at a time when a sputtering economy has made demand sluggish.
Nuclear Power, France, Energy, Economy
24 points by isaacfrond 124 days ago | 2 comments
Nuclear Power Plants Report Uptick in Drone Sightings (twz.com)
Drone reports filed by nuclear power plant operators for the entire year nearly doubled in just the week after Dec. 10.
Nuclear Power, Security, Drones
5 points by keepamovin 124 days ago | 0 comments
Shutting down nuclear plants is "total madness" (ans.org)
In a wide-ranging interview published by Business Insider on March 26, Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla and SpaceX, repeatedly referred to efforts to shut down nuclear power plants as “crazy” and “madness.”
Nuclear Power, Energy, Elon Musk, Politics
24 points by ivewonyoung 125 days ago | 12 comments
Swedish minister eyes energy crisis steps, blames German nuclear phase-out (euractiv.com)
"I'm furious with the Germans", Busch told Swedish broadcaster SVT.
Energy Crisis, Nuclear Power, Germany, Sweden, Politics
28 points by EvgeniyZh 131 days ago | 126 comments
Has nuclear power entered a new era of acceptance amid global warming? (latimes.com)
When Heather Hoff took a job at Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, she was skeptical of nuclear energy — so much so that she resolved to report anything questionable to the anti-nuclear group Mothers for Peace.
Nuclear Power, Climate Change, Environmentalism
4 points by PaulHoule 133 days ago | 3 comments
Ukraine's three nuclear power plants have restored electricity production (iaea.org)
Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) have largely restored their electricity production after sharply reducing output last week as a precautionary step due to renewed attacks on the country’s increasingly fragile energy grid, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
Ukraine, Nuclear Power, Energy, International Relations
223 points by mpweiher 141 days ago | 336 comments
Chinese pebble-bed nuclear reactor passes "meltdown" test (ans.org)
New testing done at China’s Shidaowan nuclear power plant has confirmed its ability to be naturally cooled down, an industry-first milestone for achieving commercial-scale inherent safety, according to researchers.
Nuclear Power, Safety, China, Technology
142 points by bilekas 147 days ago | 89 comments