The US Department of Energy (DOE) has approved cost-shared funding to accelerate the final stage of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE). The work by Southern Company, Idaho National Laboratory and Core Power will advance understanding of molten salt reactor technology and inform future reactor development.
It is designed to become the world’s first fast-spectrum molten chloride salt reactor experiment to reach criticality, marking a historic step in the development of advanced nuclear technology. The experiment is expected to generate critical data on the behaviour of the fuel, reactor operation and performance, providing the scientific and engineering foundation needed to support future reactor design, licensing pathways and commercial deployment.
By reducing technical risk and expanding industry understanding of fast-spectrum molten salt systems, MCRE is expected to accelerate innovation across a range of reactor developers. MCRE is expected to achieve first criticality as early as 2027.
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From models to real-world operation
Jess Gehin, associate laboratory director for Nuclear Science & Technology at Idaho National Laboratory: ‘MCRE will be the world’s first fast-spectrum molten chloride reactor to achieve criticality. It will provide direct measurements of how this novel reactor behaves during sustained fission, data that until now, has come from models alone. Enhancing those models with real-world operating evidence will reduce uncertainty for future reactor designers and regulators.’
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Powering large commercial ships
Fast-spectrum molten salt reactors have the potential to transform far more than electricity generation. From powering industrial processes and producing life-saving medical isotopes to enabling future maritime propulsion and extracting additional value from used nuclear fuel, the technology could unlock a new generation of nuclear energy applications.
‘Core Power’s role in this partnership is to help translate advanced reactor technology into deployable industrial systems and unique delivery mechanisms needed to realize the potential of this technology,’ says Mikal Bøe, CEO of Core Power. ‘Merging the pathway of novel nuclear fuel cycle development that MCRE represents with Core Power’s pathway of maritime nuclear development, creates unique opportunities to deliver an ultimately sustainable nuclear fuel solution to new markets. One such market is civil maritime nuclear propulsion of large commercial ships, where an enduring, zero-emission power source can transform the way global trade is transported at sea.’
Picture ChatGPT.
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