Construction of the world's first commercial nuclear reactor, Natrium, has started in Wyoming. The project is being implemented by TerraPower, a company founded by Bill Gates. Construction financing was provided through a new investment round, in which TerraPower raised $650 million. Investors include Bill Gates himself, HD Hyundai, and NVentures, the venture capital arm of Nvidia that first invested in the energy sector.
The project is supported by the US Department of Energy, which, according to preliminary data, can finance up to half of the total costs. According to previously published estimates, the total cost of construction may reach $4 billion. TerraPower expects to complete construction of the reactor within three years of the start of construction work.
The power plant will produce 345 megawatts of electricity. Natrium occupies an intermediate position between large conventional reactors and small modular installations. The design uses technology with molten sodium as a heat carrier. A special feature of the project is the heat storage system: excess sodium is stored in tanks and used to generate energy during peak demand periods. This solution allows the reactor to maintain stable power and respond flexibly to load fluctuations.
The power grid is capable of providing up to 500 megawatts of power for more than five hours, which makes it possible to compensate for the instability of solar and wind power generation. The company expects to receive final licenses for the construction and operation of the reactor within a year.
Previously, TerraPower was developing a different type of reactor, but due to technical and regulatory difficulties, it focused its efforts on the Natrium project. The implementation of the Wyoming project is seen as a key step in the development of new nuclear power technologies aimed at providing sustainable and flexible energy sources for the future US power grid.
