Coal, Energy and Sodium

The world’s only coal-to-nuclear reactor plant just broke ground in Wyoming

Baua Electric

JUNE 11, 2024

It’s being constructed near the retiring coal-fired Naughton power plant and is the world’s only coal-to-nuclear project under development. TerraPower, which will employ between 200 and 250 people at the Natrium facility, wants to hire the 110 former coal workers to tap into their transferrable skills. Get started here.

Wyoming

Wyoming Coal Sodium Molten Salt

Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

Cars That Think

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

On a planet aspiring to become carbon neutral, the once-stalwart coal power plant is an emerging anachronism. It is true that, in much of the developing world, coal-fired capacity continues to grow. But in every corner of the globe, political and financial pressures are mounting to bury coal in the past.

Coal

Coal Convert Power Powered

ARPA-E awards $42M to 12 projects for advanced EV batteries; EVs4ALL program

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 11, 2023

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award $42 million to 12 projects to strengthen the domestic supply chain for advanced batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs). The EVs4ALL program is managed by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Award amount: $3,198,085). Award amount: $2,120,120).

Li-ion

Li-ion Batteries Battery Sodium

Study finds high sodium bicarbonate concentrations in water from coal-bed natural gas production harms aquatic life; water treatment can mitigate effects

Green Car Congress

JUNE 14, 2012

Produced water from coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) production may contain sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) at concentrations that can harm aquatic life, according to a new study by the US Geological Survey; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; the Bureau of Land Management and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Sodium

Sodium Water Coal Montana

TerraPower closes $750M fundraise; SK invests $250M

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 16, 2022

SK Group is among South Korea’s largest energy providers and the second-largest conglomerate. This fundraise enhances TerraPower’s work in advanced nuclear energy technologies and nuclear medicine. The fundraise was co-led by SK Inc. and SK Innovation (collectively, SK) and TerraPower’s founder Bill Gates. SK invested $250 million.

Molten Salt

Molten Salt Wyoming Sodium Energy Storage

Natrium reactor demonstration project slated for Wyoming

Green Car Congress

JUNE 4, 2021

TerraPower and PacifiCorp announced efforts to advance a Natrium reactor demonstration project at a retiring coal plant in Wyoming. The Natrium technology has a 345MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt-based integrated energy storage system that will provide clean, flexible energy and stability for the grid.

Wyoming

Wyoming Molten Salt Coal Sodium

Ganfeng Lithium’s Ma Hong Factory adding 50,000 tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annual production capacity; 81,000t total capacity

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 16, 2021

The plant uses natural gas instead of coal as the main energy source; realizes 100% recycling and recycling of condensed water; encourages the utilization of by-products, and transports products such as calcium silicate slag, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate slag, etc. produced during the production process.

Production

Production Sodium Batteries Battery

GE Durathon batteries successfully power underground mining scoop

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 12, 2013

In trials, GE’s sodium metal halide Durathon batteries ( earlier post ) have successfully powered GE Mining’s Scoop, an underground vehicle that transports mining materials, at Coal River Energy, LLC in Alum Creek, West Virginia. Sodium-metal halide cell basic chemistry. Click to enlarge.

Lead Acid

Lead Acid Power Powered Sodium

Stanford study quantifies energetic costs of grid-scale energy storage over time; current batteries the worst performers; the need to improve cycle life by 3-10x

Green Car Congress

MARCH 10, 2013

A plot of ESOI for 7 potential grid-scale energy storage technologies. Benson from Stanford University and Stanford’s Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) has quantified the energetic costs of 7 different grid-scale energy storage technologies over time. Credit: Barnhart and Benson, 2013. Click to enlarge.

Energy Storage

Energy Storage Grid Cost Of Energy

DOE Awarding $620M for Smart Grid Demonstration and Energy Storage Projects

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 25, 2009

The US Department of Energy is awarding $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems. The selected projects include advanced battery systems (including flow batteries), flywheels, and compressed air energy systems. Pecan Street Project (TX).

Energy Storage

Energy Storage Grid Energy Wind

China’s New Breeder Reactors May Produce More Than Just Watts

Cars That Think

DECEMBER 28, 2022

Fast neutrons—that is, ones with 1 megaelectron-volt or more of kinetic energy—split the plutonium atoms, releasing secondary neutrons that are captured by the U-238 and convert some of that U-238 into plutonium. Liquid sodium is used as a coolant because it does not slow down neutrons as much as water does.

Russia

Russia China United States United Kingdom

US DOE Issues Request for Information on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Market Development; Reports to Congress on Program

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2009

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on potential early markets and deployment opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cells. Integrated renewable hydrogen systems and public-private community-based partnerships. transit buses or other heavy duty vehicles). Report to Congress.

Congress

Congress Hydrogen Market Fuel

ARPA-E Awards $151M to 37 Projects for Transformative Energy Research

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 26, 2009

The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 37 energy research projects for $151 million in funding through the recently formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The projects selected are grouped into 10 areas: Energy Storage (6 projects). Biomass Energy (5 projects). ENERGY STORAGE.

Energy

Energy Grant Low Cost Li-ion

Electric Scooter vs Petrol Scooter : Huge benefits for India

Plug In India

APRIL 14, 2021

Many of you write to us about the long tailpipe of electric vehicles and coal is major source of electricity generated in India. Studies from independent scientists tell us that even if 100% of Electricity is generated from coal, EV’s emit 50% lesser carbon gases due to the efficiency of the electric motor.

Petrol

Petrol India Electric Electrical

EV Driven

The world’s only coal-to-nuclear reactor plant just broke ground in Wyoming

Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

ARPA-E awards $42M to 12 projects for advanced EV batteries; EVs4ALL program

Study finds high sodium bicarbonate concentrations in water from coal-bed natural gas production harms aquatic life; water treatment can mitigate effects

TerraPower closes $750M fundraise; SK invests $250M

Natrium reactor demonstration project slated for Wyoming

Ganfeng Lithium’s Ma Hong Factory adding 50,000 tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annual production capacity; 81,000t total capacity

GE Durathon batteries successfully power underground mining scoop

Stanford study quantifies energetic costs of grid-scale energy storage over time; current batteries the worst performers; the need to improve cycle life by 3-10x

DOE Awarding $620M for Smart Grid Demonstration and Energy Storage Projects

China’s New Breeder Reactors May Produce More Than Just Watts

US DOE Issues Request for Information on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Market Development; Reports to Congress on Program

ARPA-E Awards $151M to 37 Projects for Transformative Energy Research

Electric Scooter vs Petrol Scooter : Huge benefits for India

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