As the world continues to grapple with the challenges posed by climate change, nuclear energy is increasingly being recognized as a vital component of a sustainable and low-carbon future. Electric Air Mobility has been keeping tabs on the advances in nuclear technology harnessing this energy in new and innovative ways. We feel the potential of small nuclear reactors (SMR), particularly molten salt rectors (MSR) will play a crucial role in powering advanced electric mobility systems.
The role of nuclear power in sustainable energy systems
At the recent Nuclear Energy Summit hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Brussels, experts highlighted the important role that nuclear energy can play in improving the security and sustainability of energy systems around the world. According to Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, nuclear energy is a crucial complement to renewables such as solar and wind in the agency’s net zero pathway and a tentatively great addition to future mobility hubs, such that of vertiports in advanced air mobility (AAM). He noted further that without nuclear energy, reaching net zero emissions would be nearly impossible.
“If we want to reach net zero, without having any nuclear, it is impossible,” Dr Birol said. Yet challenges for the sector also lie ahead – from construction and financing risks to competition from natural gas, the supply of which is set to rise substantially from the middle of this decade as new liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity comes online, he noted.
Construction and financing risks are the biggest roadblocks and why competition from natural gas, and public perception still sway energy companies to take more traditional routes despite environmental consequences. However, the global nuclear power generation forecast points to an all-time high by 2025, according to the IEA’s recent Electricity 2024 report.
Will Nuclear Energy Play a Role in Advanced Electric Mobility?
The answer is a resounding yes, particularly when it comes to small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors. At Electric Air Mobility, we are watching companies like Copenhagen Atomics, NuScale, Westinghouse Electric, BWXT Technologies, and Kairos Power all working on developing innovative nuclear technologies that are compact, scalable, and suitable for powering future vertiports and vertihubs.
Copenhagen Atomics focuses on developing thorium MSR technology to generate cost-effective green energy in a standard 40-foot shipping container. NuScale is developing an SMR design that simplifies traditional reactor vessels, steam generators, pressurizers, and containment into a single, factory-fabricated unit. Westinghouse Electric’s transportable eVinci™ micro reactor, meanwhile, offers a nuclear battery providing 5 MW and up to 13 MW of heat from its 15 MW solid thermal core.
BWXT Technologies has been selected by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Strategic Capabilities Office to manufacture a full-scale mobile microreactor prototype, and Kairos Power is betting on high-temperature molten salt reactors to provide competitive, reliable, and responsible nuclear energy.
As these technologies continue to advance and become more widely available, they have the potential to revolutionize the way we think about energy production and consumption. Whether it’s powering electric vehicles, vertiports, or entire cities, nuclear energy is poised to play a critical role in creating a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for all.
Global nuclear power generation is forecast to rise to an all-time high by 2025, according to our recent Electricity 2024 report, as nuclear output in France climbs, several plants in Japan come back online, and new reactors begin commercial operations in many markets, including China, India, Korea, and Europe.
Together with strong growth in renewables, this is expected to reduce the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation. By 2026, low-emissions sources are expected to account for almost half of the world’s electricity generation, up from a share of just under 40% in 2023.
Further reading: https://www.iea.org/reports/nuclear-power-and-secure-energy-transitions
[…] Among the array of renewable energy solutions, the resurgence of nuclear energy, specifically Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Micro Reactors (MRs), is showing amazing potential. These compact nuclear reactors offer […]