Startup Deep Fission proposes burying nuclear reactors a mile underground to replace containment domes
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@autonocion
Summary
Deep Fission, a Berkeley-based startup now trading on Nasdaq, proposes burying a full pressurized water reactor a mile underground in a 30-inch borehole. The surrounding rock and water pressure would replace the need for a steel containment vessel and concrete dome. Each hole would generate 15 megawatts, with 100 holes on one site producing 1.5 gigawatts. The approach aims to drastically reduce nuclear plant costs and construction timelines by leveraging deep-earth pressure and geology as natural containment.
Source
bskyStartup Deep Fission proposes burying nuclear reactors a mile underground to replace containment domesautonocion.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledThe big concrete dome is the part of a nuclear plant almost anyone can draw from memory. It is there for a reason.
Deep Fission, a Berkeley startup that began trading on Nasdaq this month, thinks it can get rid of both.
Not by shrinking the reactor, the way most of the industry is trying to, but by burying it.
The plan is to lower a full pressurized water reactor about a mile underground, down a borehole roughly 30 inches wide.
One hole would make 15 megawatts; 100 on one site would add up to 1.5 gigawatts.
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