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While Wyoming is a demonstration plant, it is a demonstration plant of exactly the reactor they plan to build in series. And they have received NRC approval.
by mpweiher 4mo ago
While Wyoming is a demonstration plant, it is a demonstration plant of exactly the reactor they plan to build in series.
And they have received NRC approval.
https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-the-nrc-issues-construction-permit-for-terrapowers-natrium-reactor https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-the-nrc-issues-con...
So not sure what additional regulatory hurdles you see. Can you enlighten us?
- capnrefsmmat 4mo agoFrom your link, > TerraPower must still complete construction, submit an operating license application, and satisfy all applicable safety and regulatory requirements before loading fuel and beginning operations.
- nine_k 4mo agoBasically the built plant must pass a rigorous inspection before starting operations. But for that the plant needs to be built!
- bronson 4mo agoAnd built well, which has been a source of big delays in the past.
- devmor 4mo agoAnd I’m sure no corners will be cut!
- preisschild 4mo agoMany times the reason for this was that the regulations changed during the build necessitating parts to be rebuilt
- bronson 4mo agoSounds like people building it found a way to cheap out that was technically within regulation.
- AngryData 4mo agoI mean that doesn't sound like very big hurdles. It is an inspection of a completed reactor to make sure it wasn't managed and built like trash. Every factory and business and powerplant is subject to an inspection before it can operate. Even most residentual homes require an inspection before people can live in it.
- lazide 4mo agoIt is what typically all reactors get stuck on for years - or often decades.
- mpweiher 4mo agoI doubt it. There used to be separate construction and operating permits, and sometimes you got the building permit, built the plant and then never got the operating license. This has now been streamlined with a combined construction/operating license. If you built what you promised to build, you get to operate it.
- devmor 4mo agoCan you give an example of a plant that has been built under this streamlined process and what kind of timeline it had? The only recent nuclear buildouts that I personally have knowledge of are expansions to existing plants and thus have a lower barrier to get going.
- lazide 4mo agoSince it was just released, that’s pretty hard to do eh? I’m familiar with the reactors built on other previous ‘expedited’ processes that ended up being anything but fast. We’ll see how it goes eh?
- devmor 4mo agoIf it was just released, then your claims about it are entirely hypothetical and best-case-scenario. Of course we have to "see how it goes" - there's no merit but hopefulness to your stance...
- Danox 4mo agoIt will be quietly canceled in about two years….
- chermi 4mo agoThat's the permit/approval for the pilot/test, right? There are about a million approvals they need to get through. Are they using the DoE fast tracking method?
- thinkcontext 4mo agoIs it not possible that they build the first one and things don't go smoothly and they need to make some adjustments for subsequent builds?
- TiredOfLife 4mo agoThey must investigate how it affects the whales. But won't be told which whales and where
- krferriter 4mo agoThat's just federal permission saying they're allowed to even proceed with the process. Nuclear projects cannot begin at all unless they get federal permission. Now that they have permission to do a project related to nuclear energy, I think they will still need to go through all the normal design, planning, permitting processes at federal/state/local levels. Unless they're building on federal land that is exempt from state/local oversight.