Moltex Energy calculated that abundant solar and wind energy will mean nuclear energy needs low capital and fixed operating costs to be profitable at 30-50% capacity factor in unsubsidized competition with fossil fuels. Radical innovation will slash costs of nuclear energy. SSR (Stable Salt Reactor) will meet the cost objective, comfortably, through intrinsic safety and simplicity.
From over 90 applications, New Brunswick Power selected the Moltex Stable Salt Reactor Wasteburner (SSR-W) as one of two reactors it intends to build at the Point Lepreau site. Moltex has completed the submission to Vendor Design Review phase 1 (VDR1) with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Moltex will soon move on to VDR2 and then to the application for the necessary licenses. Moltex is on track to having an operational reactor by 2030.
In November, 2020, Moltex Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NB Power and ARC Canada to work collaboratively to find synergies by establishing a small modular reactor vendor cluster in New Brunswick.
Moltex is developing a 300 MW reactor that is fueled by recycled nuclear waste, contributing to clean energy targets and reducing legacy waste. In tandem, it is developing energy storage technology so its reactor can be used as a 900 MW peaking plant, to complement intermittent renewable energy sources.
Static molten salts in fuel pins was rejected by ORNL because convection of fluids would be unreliable in an aircraft due to gravity’s impact on reactor being variable during flight.
Fast spectrum Wasteburner SSR-W:* Fueled by higher actinides from conventional oxide fuel* Chloride salt fuel* Output temperature 600°C* Patented exceptionally simple process (Waste to Stable Salts) to extract Pu/Am from spent CANDU fuel with only 0.38% Pu
SSR-W is expected to be piloted in New Brunswick, powered by “nuclear waste” / “spent fuel” from CANDU reactors.
SOURCES- Moltex Energy, Gordon Mcdowell youtube videoWritten By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com
