Technical Details
South Korean shipbuilding giant HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a framework agreement with US-based TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, to produce components for the innovative Natrium nuclear reactor. Following a joint year-long study on economic and technical feasibility, the Korean shipyard was chosen as the preferred supplier for manufacturing the reactor's protective shell systems.
Context and Background
The partnership will begin with the release of prototype equipment, followed by mass production for commercial power blocks. In parallel, the parties have signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to jointly design, supply, and construct (EPC) subsequent nuclear power plants.
Industry Impact
The Natrium technology is a fourth-generation reactor with a capacity of 345 MW on fast neutrons with a sodium coolant, equipped with a molten salt energy storage system (capable of temporarily increasing output to 500 MW to cover peak loads). The first such commercial nuclear power plant is currently under construction at the site of a former coal-fired power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, with a planned completion date of 2030.