Week 32 of 2023

Three nuclear energy innovation news!

💡 Three nuclear energy innovation news this week!

🔦 Net energy gain in a fusion reaction achieved for the second time at the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US). The milestone was first achieved on the 5th of December, achieving an output of 3.15 MJ from an input of 2.05 MJ to the fuel target. Initial data from the second succesful test indicated an output greater than 3.5 MJ.

☄ Tractebel (BE) and First Light Fusion (UK) sign a framework agreement to jointly design the Machine 4 demonstrator. This research facility will be used to demonstrate net energy gain. Once operational, it will be the largest pulsed power driver in the world, at approximately 75 metres in diameter.

🤖 Nuclearn (US) raises a $2.5M Seed round led by AZ-VC with participation from Nucleation Capital. The startup was founded in 2020, with the objective to safely automate critical processes of the nuclear industry. The funds will be used to expand the company's reach within the North American nuclear power market.

👨‍🎓 Paper of the week: "A review of nuclear electric fission space reactor technologies for achieving high-power output and operating with HALEU fuel", Progress in Nuclear Energy (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2023.104815

👇 Did you spot anything else? Let me know!