Small-Scale Nuclear Vendors Answer Fairbanks’ Questions

The Fairbanks community had a chance to hear about new small-scale nuclear technology Thursday, Oct. 13. Representatives from five vendors in Fairbanks for a site visit to Eielson Air Force Base answered questions during a community forum at the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center.

Over 100 people attended the event in person, and there were more than 150 views on the YouTube livestream of the meeting hosted by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power and the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation. Attendees to both formats submitted written questions, which were framed and asked by moderator Gwen Holdmann, UAF associate vice chancellor of research, innovation and industry partnerships.

Fuel, its management and transportation were common themes in questions, as well as the meaning of “walk-away safe.”  The term, used by all the vendors, refers to the fact that the small amount of fuel present and the reactor designs make it impossible to have a catastrophic failure like those seen in legacy reactors. Other questions centered on economics, efficiency and workforce development.

If you missed the forum, watch it now at https://youtu.be/UyDawqD_eUk?t=1202.  

For more information on small-scale nuclear reactor potential in Alaska, please visit http://acep.uaf.edu/nuclear.