Another year has come and gone. It feels more difficult than ever to predict what the next year will bring for careers in any field. But when it comes to the power generation industry, there are consistent trends that continue to influence the industry’s shape. This article will highlight a few trends that will impact power generation in the new year.
More Flexible, Modular Reactors
Another flexible alternative is modular reactors, designed for smaller-scale energy production. These reactors offer the advantage of scalability, lower cost, and overall flexibility. They provide a simple and efficient design, modular components, and add further modules incrementally as energy demand increases. Where large plants are not needed (small communities in remote locations), there is a total lack of infrastructure or desire to support a large unit. That’s where these small nuclear reactors are a perfect fit.
New Designs that Solve Real-World Problems
Along with the structure and design of the next generation of nuclear reactors, industry leaders are thinking outside of the box regarding the look and functionality of reactors within a community. New reactors are designed with the community in mind rather than a looming plant off in the distance. For remote locations like those in rural Alaska, this addresses issues down the supply chain. From fuel delivery by tanker truck, plane, or barge, to simply needing to burn jet fuel to supply diesel fuel, new designs can help deliver power to those who need it most.
New designs can help solve complex challenges, such as burning fuel to keep the remainder warm enough to be pumped into an engine. These are real-world problems that communities worldwide deal with daily, and micro-reactors can actively solve many of these problems and help these communities flourish.
Growing Expansion of Next Gen Micro-Reactors
Fueling an electric generator is so expensive that some people spend half their income on energy in remote communities. Providing energy to the many remote communities is a top priority in states like Alaska. Micro-reactors would enable these communities to power their way of life at a lower cost while at the same time actively protecting the climate. For many communities in remote areas, burning fossil fuels is the only way to heat and light their homes and their lives. The alternative that micro-reactors provide could be a perfect solution.
Micro-reactors are smaller-sized units that are a better fit for dozens of remote communities and have off-grid capability that could solve the challenge of providing clean, affordable energy to these areas of the world. Incorporating micro-reactors into the design of transit centers, industrial neighborhoods, even remote arctic locations can completely change the way people interact with and experience nuclear power. By bringing them into the community, we take on a different appreciation for the existence of the reactors and the power and energy they bring to the community.
Build Your Career in 2022
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