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01 / 05
Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming Hits Key Milestone

New Atlas | Energy Production

Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor in Wyoming Hits Key Milestone

“In Kemmerer, Wyoming, the Naughton Power Plant has been burning coal to provide electricity since the 1960s. But in September 2019, it was announced that the plant would be shut down by 2025 due to issues with operating efficiency and compliance with environmental regulations. Yet unlike other towns where coal plants get shuttered, Kemmerer won’t simply fade from the map. Instead, it is the site where Natrium, America’s first coal-to-nuclear project, is taking place…

TerraPower broke ground on Natrium in June of last year and, this week, the company announced that it received approval from the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council (ISC) for the first of the Natrium plants, known as Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1. According to the company, this makes them the first developer to receive a state permit for an advanced nuclear project in US history…

The ISC permit will only cover the development of the non-nuclear components of Natrium. The subsequent permit for the nuclear tech will need to come from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That body accepted TerraPower’s application last summer, so it might be some time until the project can move onto the nuts-and-bolts phase. Still, if the application gets approved as anticipated, it seems that reactor construction could begin in 2026.”

From New Atlas.

pv magazine | Energy Production

India Adds Record 24.5 GW of Solar in 2024

“India added 24.5 GW of solar and 3.4 GW of wind capacity in 2024, doubling solar installations and increasing wind capacity by 21% from 2023, according to JMK Research & Analytics. These additions brought India’s total renewable energy capacity to 209.44 GW, with solar accounting for 47% of the total.

The nation’s 24.5 GW of solar capacity additions included 18.5 GW of utility-scale PV, 4.59 GW of rooftop systems, and 1.48 GW of off-grid installations.”

From pv magazine.

Bloomberg | Energy Prices

French Power at Record Discount to Germany on Cheap Nuclear

“French year-ahead power prices traded at a record discount to those in Germany, underlining France’s strong nuclear generation and its neighbor’s continued reliance on gas.

French power futures for 2026 are about 27% cheaper than the equivalent contract in Germany, according to data from European Energy Exchange. Nuclear power output in France reached its highest level since 2019 this month, pushing down futures to a three-year low.

While the energy transition may potentially bring lower long-term costs across Europe, the intermittency of solar and wind power means countries are facing short-term price spikes. France has smoothed those out with its nuclear fleet, but Germany is relying on more expensive gas and coal-fired stations after shutting its last atomic plant in 2023.”

From Bloomberg.

World Bank | Adoption of Technology

Senegal Closing on Universal Electricity Access

“Khady’s story reflects Senegal’s broader journey toward universal electricity access. The country has made significant strides, with a national access rate of 84% according to government sources. This progress has transformed millions of lives, yet the journey is far from over. While urban areas enjoy near-universal access, over 30 % of rural communities remain disconnected from the grid.”

From World Bank.

Ember | Energy Production

Turkey Doubles Solar Capacity

“Türkiye’s solar energy capacity doubled from 9.7 GW in July 2022 to exceed 19 GW by the end of 2024. By August 2024, the country had already exceeded the 18 GW target set for 2025 in the National Energy Plan (NEP) by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR). Achieving this target 1.5 years ahead of schedule underscores Türkiye’s strong commitment to solar energy and signals the need for more ambitious future targets.

Unlicensed plants, primarily built for self-consumption, accounted for 90% of new installations in the past four years.”

From Ember.