Using defence money on providing safer, cheaper and cleaner energy would benefit defence in the long term. Global warming will be a serious security threat with increased refugees, unstable governments and conflict over resources. Developing effective next generation nuclear technology can make the world a safer place. More countries can have energy independence. Or be energy exporters. Cheaper nuclear power could be used to create liquid fuels. Cheaper nuclear power can also provide energy for water desalination. Increasing food production. Reducing threats of drought. Spending a small percentage of military budgets could develop effective Gen 4 nuclear technology. Otherwise using money spent on subsidising the fossil fuel industry would also be of great benefit. The US gov spends billions on fuel subsidies each year..
The NRC is the problem. That and lack of money. People are still working in the fusion dream, and are actually making solar cells and windmills. Unless someone can design a cheap retrofit of salt into existing reactors, only a multi-billionaire or another country like China or India can make this happen. There are real challenges in liquid salts. Universities with nuclear programs should be solving these challenges.
What a great resource it is to have in Syd Ball, one of the original MSR engineers, out there promoting new nuclear.
Excellent presentation, Thank you very much.
Using defence money on providing safer, cheaper and cleaner energy would benefit defence in the long term. Global warming will be a serious security threat with increased refugees, unstable governments and conflict over resources. Developing effective next generation nuclear technology can make the world a safer place. More countries can have energy independence. Or be energy exporters. Cheaper nuclear power could be used to create liquid fuels. Cheaper nuclear power can also provide energy for water desalination. Increasing food production. Reducing threats of drought. Spending a small percentage of military budgets could develop effective Gen 4 nuclear technology. Otherwise using money spent on subsidising the fossil fuel industry would also be of great benefit. The US gov spends billions on fuel subsidies each year..
The NRC is the problem. That and lack of money. People are still working in the fusion dream, and are actually making solar cells and windmills. Unless someone can design a cheap retrofit of salt into existing reactors, only a multi-billionaire or another country like China or India can make this happen. There are real challenges in liquid salts. Universities with nuclear programs should be solving these challenges.