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While the west struggles to deliver nuclear plants and dreams about novel reactor technologies China is deploying it all: large LWR, SMR and MSR/HTGR. World Nuclear Association China lead Francois Morin joins me to catch us up on recent developments and trends. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org Chapters: 00:00:00 - Is China the Future of Nuclear Energy? | Francois Morin on Decouple 00:03:35 - Drivers of China's Nuclear Energy Growth & Coal Consumption Trends 00:07:22 - China's Renewable Energy Boom: Solar, Wind, and Hydropower Capacity 00:11:23 - Geographic Distribution of Nuclear Power in China & Provincial Reliance 00:13:53 - China's Energy Security Concerns & Dependence on Oil and Gas Imports 00:16:16 - China's Emerging Role as a Nuclear Exporter: Challenges and Opportunities 00:22:26 - Geopolitical Factors Influencing China's Energy Strategy & Alliances 00:24:02 - Addressing Public Concerns and the Future of Inland Nuclear Plants in China 00:29:36 - China's Diverse Nuclear Reactor Technologies & the Rise of Hualong One 00:34:11 - Comparing EPR and AP1000 Nuclear Reactors in China: Costs and Construction Times 00:43:44 - Understanding Nuclear Construction Challenges & the Limits of Modularity 00:54:10 - Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in China: Use Cases and Design Diversity 00:59:12 - Addressing Safety Concerns and Emergency Planning Zones for SMRs 01:01:03 - Exploring the Rationale for China's SMR Strategy & Remote Applications 01:04:19 - High-Temperature Gas Reactors & Molten Salt Reactors in China's Nuclear Future 01:06:34 - Impact of Export Controls on China's Nuclear Technology and Hualong One 01:07:50 - Lessons from Japan's Rapid Nuclear Deployment & China's Supply Chain Capacity 01:10:59 - Optimizing China's Nuclear Sector: Collaboration and Regulatory Oversight 01:13:59 - Uranium Fuel Constraints & Long-Term Prospects for China's Nuclear Expansion

In the early days of nuclear power uranium was thought to be a critically rare mineral. Nuclear engineers sought to solve this problem with a special type of reactor that produced more fissile material than they consume. Nick Touran joins me to discuss and explore the long term sustainability of nuclear power. 0:00 - Introduction: Nuclear Historian Nick Touran Returns to Decouple 0:48 - The History of Breeder Reactors: From Uranium Scarcity to Abundance 3:13 - How Breeder Reactors Work: Harnessing the Power of Uranium-238 & Thorium 6:56 - Minimizing Nuclear Waste: Breeder Reactors and the Circular Economy 11:06 - The Challenges of Reprocessing Spent Nuclear Fuel: Proliferation Concerns & Economic Barriers 16:01 - The Rise & Fall of Breeder Reactor Programs: From Clinch River to Superphénix 22:03 - Technical Hurdles & Operational Experience: Sodium Fast Reactors & Beyond 33:35 - The Long Road to Commercial Viability: Lessons from Candu & Advanced Reactors 42:05 - Innovation & Investment: Who Will Fund the Future of Breeder Reactors? 50:02 - The Future of Breeder Reactors: Sustainability, Economics & Global Energy Security 54:32 - Fueling a Nuclear Future: Insights from the Net-Zero Nuclear Summit 57:01 - Conclusion: The Importance of Breeder Reactor Development Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

The Grand Finale is here. We wrestle with the question of whether nuclear can find its groove and the positive learning rates that have eluded it so frequently. Vogtle unit 4 came in 40% cheaper than unit 3. Can those gains continue downwards? Is Vogtle 5 more likely to follow this cost reduction curve compared to a new AP1000 elsewhere? 0:00 - Intro: The Impact of Vogtle 3 & 4 on the Nuclear Industry 2:31 - Will the Next AP1000 Be Cheaper? Lessons Learned from Vogtle 8:42 - The AP1000 Supply Chain: Can it be Rebuilt? 12:15 - The Mesmer Plan vs. AP1000: Centralization and Standardization in Nuclear Construction 16:26 - Speeding Up Construction: The Efficiency of Modular Design and a Robust Supply Chain 19:36 - Design Stability: Are Chinese AP1000s Modified? 20:40 - The Counterintuitive Truth About SMRs and On-Site Labor Costs 28:26 - Learning Curves and Standardized Design: The Importance of Fleet Buildout 33:01 - Multi-Unit Sites: The Canadian Advantage and the Potential for Vogtle 5 36:57 - The Future of Nuclear in the US: One Design or Six? The Case for Standardization 41:29 - Regulatory Challenges to Standardization: The Historical Context and Part 52 47:11 - Fukushima and Design Changes: The Resilience of the AP1000 50:51 - The Aftermath of Vogtle: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward 56:43 - The Importance of Project Management Innovation in Nuclear Construction 59:36 - Developer-Based Project Delivery: Learning from the Gas Turbine Industry 1:06:21 - The "Sexiness" Factor: Why Reliability and Affordability Matter More Than Hype 1:08:18 - The Role of Big Tech in Decarbonization: Will They Invest in Nuclear? 1:09:15 - Conclusion: The Need for Action and Optimism for the Future of Nuclear Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Emmet Penney joins me to shoot the breeze and catch up on the whirlwind developments of the last few months. 0:00 - Emmett Penny Returns: Nuclear Barbarian on the Grid and Robert Bryce's Documentary 2:21 - Juice: Power, Politics, and the Grid - Robert Bryce's Documentary Explores U.S. Grid Challenges 4:48 - Indigenous Rights vs Green Energy: The Osage Tribe's Fight Against Wind Turbines 7:09 - Nuclear Energy in Ontario: Successes, Challenges, and the Need for Workforce Development 12:16 - Solving the Human Capital Problem: Skilled Trades vs Higher Education in the Nuclear Industry 19:51 - Optimism vs Pessimism: Assessing the Future of the U.S. Electrical Grid and Reliability Concerns 23:01 - Early Warning Signs of Grid Failure: Beyond Blackouts - Understanding Grid Fragility 26:46 - Winter Storm Elliot and the Vulnerability of Natural Gas Infrastructure 31:41 - Institutional Dysfunction: Why Are U.S. Energy Institutions Failing to Plan for the Future? 38:20 - Ontario's Pathways to Decarbonization: The Role of Nuclear, Hydrogen, and Fantasyland Thinking 46:47 - The Prospects for Nuclear Energy in the U.S.: Overcoming Challenges and Building Consensus 56:01 - FERC Order 88 and the Failure of Power Markets: The Need for New Solutions 59:35 - The Future of Wind and Solar: Integrating Renewables and Addressing Grid Reliability Concerns 1:01:15 - Behind-the-Meter Power: The Rise of Microreactors and Data Center Energy Demands Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Fan favourite, Mark Nelson, joins me for an update on California’s soaring electricity prices and worsening grid dysfunction. 0:00 - Intro & California's Rising Electricity Costs 17:28 - The Californication of the Grid: A Hybrid System's Challenges 29:36 - Policy Shifts: Saving Diablo Canyon & Cutting Rooftop Solar Subsidies 48:31 - California's Energy Geography: Hydropower, Imports & the Role of the Coast 59:06 - The Diablo Canyon Saga: Environmental Regulations & Political Maneuvering 1:01:11 - Net Energy Metering & the Rooftop Solar Conundrum 1:12:20 - Behind the Meter Costs: The Rise of Backup Power & Self-Reliance Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Dr. Chris Keefer tours the massive new plant in the United Arab Emirates, the most recent country to arrive at the global nuclear energy party. The facility, Barakah, alone will decarbonize 25% of the country's national electrical grid. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

Seaver Wang, oceanographer and co-director of climate and energy at the Breakthrough Institute joins me to unravel controversies surrounding deep sea mining for the polymetallic nodules of the abyssal plains. Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org

James Krellenstein joins me to explore the extraordinary power requirements of the AI revolution and how this demand for vast amounts of baseload generation will impact the nuclear sector. 0:00 Examining the Impact of AI on Energy and Society 3:10 - The Evolution of Computing Efficiency and Energy Consumption 9:20 - The Growing Energy Demand of AI and the Evolution of Computing Architecture 12:30 - The Current Landscape of Energy Consumption and Electrification 14:45 - The Shift Towards Electrification and Increasing Power Demand 18:00 - The Challenges and Realities of Electrification for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability 20:15 - The Intersection of Tech Wealth, Clean Energy Targets, and Nuclear Power 23:45 - Balancing Energy Consumption Between AI Training and Inference 26:45 - The Implications of Co-Locating AI Server Farms for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability 31:55 - The Future of Nuclear Power and its Role in Addressing Growing Energy Demands 33:00 - The Urgency of Nuclear Power Deployment for Meeting Growing Energy Demands 35:00 - Exploring Nuclear Power Reactor Design Challenges for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability 38:00 - Challenges and Limitations of Micro Reactors for Nuclear Power Deployment 41:25 - Addressing the Challenges of Micro Reactor Design and Economics 45:00 - Nuclear Power: Challenges in Economics, Waste Management, and Capacity Planning 49:00 - The Synergy Between Nuclear Power and Data Centers for Energy Efficiency 51:30 - Evaluating the Potential of Nuclear Power Expansion in Canada 53:00 - The Future of Nuclear Power in North America: Opportunities and Challenges 58:00 - Regulatory Challenges and the Need for NEPA Reform in Accelerating Nuclear Deployment 59:30 - The Role of Project Management in Nuclear Innovation and Deployment 1:01:10 - Enhancing Nuclear Project Management with AI and Robotics in Construction 1:04:18 - The Role of Automation and Skilled Trades in Nuclear Project Management 1:07:23 - Shifting Societal Perspectives on Labor and the Resurgence of Skilled Trades in Industrialization and Economic Development 1:10:27 - Revitalizing Industrial Workforce for Energy and Technology Development 1:13:28 - The Future of Nuclear Power: Religious Undertones, Economic Concerns, and Optimistic Outlook 1:16:32 - Seizing the Moment: Embracing the Optimism and Challenges of Nuclear Power Support Decouple on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/decouple Learn more about Decouple Media: https://www.decouplemedia.org