Neither renewable energies nor nuclear energy. For Bill Gates, the solution is natrium

Neither renewable energies nor nuclear energy.  For Bill Gates, the solution is natrium

Not everyone has inspiration, but the truth is that it is a must in the tech world. If some favor renewable energy and others nuclear, Bill Gates points to Natrium. Have you ever heard of him? Come meet!


The solution to clean, safe and cheap energy is this technology that Bill Gates has been working on for several years. At least, from your point of view. It is a sodium nuclear reactor project, promoted by his company, TerraPower. For the businessman it is synonym for the future: "The most advanced nuclear energy in the world."

a natrium It is basically a reactor using a sodium fluoride salt core. A salt-based nuclear power plant allows it to operate at higher temperatures than the nuclear power plants we are used to.

Moreover, it differs because instead of using water to control the nuclear reaction, it uses liquid sodium, a substance capable of absorbing up to eight times more heat than water.

If there are countries that don't get enough sunshine, or don't have enough wind, to adequately function as renewables, they all include sodium. It is said to be the fourth most abundant element on our planet, as well as the most common alkali metal.

Although it would need some uranium, the fact that the reactor relies on a simple substance like salt makes the project promising. Besides, energy can also be stored.

Bill Gates's Natrium focuses not only on the reactor, but also on an energy storage system that relies on molten salts.

according to TerraPowerIt will be its first plant of 345 MW and will provide capacity up to 500 MW, for more than 5 and a half hours, when needed, with GWh storage range. This is enough to provide 400,000 homes.

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Production should start already this year, at the first reactor natriuminstalled in Wyoming, in the USA.

By Andrea Hargraves

"Wannabe internet buff. Future teen idol. Hardcore zombie guru. Gamer. Avid creator. Entrepreneur. Bacon ninja."