"This is low-enrichment uranium, which is not useful for making a bomb," said Carbon. "If terrorists wanted to get radioactive material they could get it elsewhere much easier." The concrete-sealed reactors may be safe from meltdowns, but they're not that effecient. Deal expects that power utilities can produce electricity for 20,000 homes for about ten cents per kilowatt hour for a minimum of eight years. That's about five times more expensive than electricity currently produced in the United States, which is one reason why these reactors will most likely not be found in this country. Nonetheless, Deal argues that's still a good amount of power, especially for an area that had little or none before. Even better is that each plant leaves behind a minimum of waste. "The waste from same amount of power generated from coal would fill ten football stadiums," said Deal. "We are making a football-sized piece of waste instead." To Carbon, the numbers sound right; a bit expensive, but if there is no other source for electricity, then worth it. And Hyperion isn't the only company looking to produce small nuclear power plants. Toshiba has been working on the technology for years as well. "I could see where there would be a great demand for these reactors from around the world," said Carbon. "But I won't get too excited until I start seeing dollar signs." Those signs could come within five years. Hyperion already has a six-year waiting list for the reactors. The first reactor will likely be delivered to a Czech company called TES and installed in Romania. But Deal claims that profiting by powering the developed world isn't the goal. "Money is not our motivation," said Deal. "Our first goal is to be humanitarians." Related Links: |
advertisement
Put Discovery News on Your Site!
|
-
our sites
-
video
mobile
-
shop
-
stay connected
-
corporate
