Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has declared a massive financial infusion into TerraPower's nuclear projects, signaling a robust commitment to advancing this clean energy source.
What Happened: During an appearance on CBS's "Face the Nation," Gates detailed his deep financial involvement with TerraPower, a company he backs as the principal investor.
"I put in over a billion, and I'll put in billions more," he said.
Gates emphasized the need for new reactor designs that can seamlessly integrate with renewable energy, providing electricity when demand peaks. He underscored the high initial costs of the pioneering reactor in Wyoming, which could be around $10 billion, but also the potential for cost reduction through mass production and economies of scale.
The collaboration with the U.S. government is key, according to Gates, as it offers strategic advantages like energy security while mitigating financial risks for utility customers. Gates also mentioned ongoing talks with utilities to construct a fleet of reactors, with ambitions to create a substantial network of over 100 units.
"The demand for electricity in the United States for the first time in a long time is going to go up quite a bit. It's electric cars, buses. Some people use electric heat pumps in their homes and just in the last year, with these artificial intelligence breakthroughs, all the big AI companies are saying, okay, we need to build lots of data centers," Gates said.
"So, if we don't have nuclear to complement the wind and sun, the country will fall behind the demand for electricity."
Why It Matters: Gates has been a vocal advocate for nuclear energy, viewing it as a cornerstone for combating climate change and ensuring America's energy independence. Last year in May, Gates praised the potential of nuclear power on his blog, Gates Notes, following a visit to the site of the upcoming Natrium plant in Wyoming. This facility, designed by TerraPower, is expected to be operational by 2030 and is seen as a victory for local economies, energy independence, and environmental efforts. Gates' endorsement of nuclear technology aligns with his broader vision for a sustainable energy future.
In June, TerraPower began construction on an advanced nuclear power plant in Wyoming, marking a pivotal moment in power generation. This plant, which will use sodium cooling technology instead of traditional water cooling, represents a significant leap forward in safe, zero-carbon energy. Gates celebrated the commencement of construction as the culmination of nearly two decades of anticipation.
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
微軟聯合創始人比爾·蓋茨宣佈向TerraPower的核項目注入大量資金,這表明了對推進這種清潔能源的堅定承諾。
發生了什麼:在哥倫比亞廣播公司(CBS)的 “面對國家” 節目中露面時,蓋茨詳細介紹了他作爲主要投資者支持的TerraPower的深度財務參與。
他說:“我投入了超過十億美元,我還會再投入數十億美元。”
蓋茨強調需要新的反應堆設計,這些反應堆可以與可再生能源無縫集成,在需求達到峯值時提供電力。他強調了懷俄明州開創性反應堆的高初始成本,可能約爲100億美元,但也有可能通過批量生產和規模經濟降低成本。
蓋茨認爲,與美國政府的合作是關鍵,因爲它提供了能源安全等戰略優勢,同時降低了公用事業客戶的財務風險。蓋茨還提到,正在與公用事業公司進行談判,以建造一支反應堆艦隊,其目標是建立一個由100多個單元組成的龐大網絡。
“美國的電力需求將在很長一段時間內首次大幅上升。這是電動汽車,公共汽車。有些人在家裏使用電熱泵,就在去年,隨着這些人工智能的突破,所有的大型人工智能公司都在說,好吧,我們需要建造大量的數據中心,” 蓋茨說。
“因此,如果我們沒有核能來補充風能和太陽,該國將落後於電力需求。”
它爲何重要:蓋茨一直是核能的堅定倡導者,將其視爲應對氣候變化和確保美國能源獨立的基石。去年5月,蓋茨訪問了懷俄明州即將建成的Natrium核電廠的所在地後,在他的博客《蓋茨筆記》中讚揚了核電的潛力。該設施由TerraPower設計,預計將於2030年投入運營,被視爲當地經濟、能源獨立和環境努力的勝利。蓋茨對核技術的認可符合他對可持續能源未來的更廣泛願景。
6月,TerraPower開始在懷俄明州建造一座先進的核電站,這標誌着發電的關鍵時刻。該工廠將使用鈉冷卻技術代替傳統的水冷技術,代表着安全、零碳能源的重大飛躍。蓋茨慶祝施工的開工是近二十年來期待的高潮。
這個故事是使用 Benzinga Neuro 創作的,由 Pooja Rajkumari