Bill Gates Company Builds Nuclear Power Plant Using Salt

TerraPower, a startup founded by Bill Gates in 2008, has obtained approval to build a nuclear power plant using salt cooling systems. According to IFL Science, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted TerraPower permission to construct a commercial nuclear reactor in Wyoming—the first permit issued in the past eight years.

In 2024, TerraPower applied for a permit to build a nuclear reactor utilising a sodium cooling system with a capacity of 345 megawatts. The reactor, named Natrium, employs low-enriched uranium fuel (containing 5-20 per cent uranium) connected to a salt storage system with a capacity of 1 gigawatt hour.

TerraPower is investing an estimated US$4 billion in the Natrium project, with the target operational date set for 2030.

Natrium differs from existing nuclear power plants operating in the United States because of its salt cooling system. Conventional nuclear plants typically use pressurised water reactors, where water functions as both a coolant and neutron moderator. High-pressure water absorbs heat from nuclear fission reactions up to 300 degrees Celsius. After use, the water contaminated with nuclear material is stored in specialised facilities.

Beyond the risk of nuclear waste leakage, water cooling systems also accelerate metal corrosion. Corroded metal is difficult to repair due to the high pressure involved.

Natrium will instead use liquid metal to absorb heat. Liquid metal has a boiling point eight times higher than water, enabling it to absorb significantly more heat. Salt is then used to cool the liquid metal temperature, allowing it to be continuously reused, unlike water which must be pumped out.