Over at Electric Air Mobility, we are actively monitoring advances in nuclear energy development, now in its fourth generation with promising benefits and very low proliferation likelihood.
Oklo‘s collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), underscores the importance of this development. The $5 million cost-share award from the ONWARDS Program (Optimizing Nuclear Waste and Advanced Reactor Disposal Systems) highlights the recognition of nuclear fuel recycling as a critical path to reducing high-level waste and advancing nuclear energy sustainability.
According to ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang, “… recycling is an important path to reduce high-level waste and advance nuclear energy with safe and sustainable domestic fuel stocks.” This milestone is a testament to the viability of economically efficient nuclear fuel recycling, bringing us a step closer to a more sustainable energy future.
Impactful Benefits: Cost Savings, Fuel Efficiency, and Waste Reduction
The implications of Oklo’s breakthrough are far-reaching. Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, highlights the expected cost savings of up to 80% on fuel costs, a significant boost to the company’s economic viability. Moreover, Oklo’s fast fission recycling technology can extract over 90% of the remaining potential energy from used fuel, showcasing an impressive enhancement in fuel efficiency.
This process not only creates alternative fuel sources but also significantly reduces high-level waste requiring permanent disposal. By utilizing this recycled fuel in its powerhouses, Oklo generates clean energy while contributing to a more sustainable nuclear energy landscape.
Strengthening Oklo’s Position in the Clean Energy Market
The successful demonstration of nuclear fuel recycling brings Oklo closer to its goal of deploying a commercial-scale domestic fuel recycling facility. This development strengthens the company’s business model and positions it at the forefront of the clean energy transition.
Oklo’s achievement underscores the potential for nuclear energy to play a pivotal role in a low-carbon future. With its advanced recycling technology, the company is well-positioned to lead the way in providing sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective nuclear power, offering a promising outlook for the industry and a positive impact on the environment.
The future of nuclear energy is finally moving towards smaller, safer, and with little to no proliferation. It also means the advanced air mobility (AAM) industry can look forward to when small modular reactors (SMR) and micro-reactors (MRs) can power vertiports and their surrounding energy-hungry systems. Oklo’s success makes Electric Air Mobility feel we are one step closer to a cleaner and more mobility sustainable world.