Energy Impact Center

Last updated
Energy Impact Center
Formation2017;5 years ago (2017)
FounderBret Kugelmass
(Managing director)
Type Nonprofit
Purpose
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Website www.energyimpactcenter.org

The Energy Impact Center is an American research institute based in Washington, D.C. It primarily advocates for the expansion of nuclear power as a clean energy solution to climate change. The organization's research into nuclear power has led it to the development of projects like OPEN100, an open-source platform with blueprints for nuclear power plant design and construction. In 2020, the center spun out Last Energy, a commercial developer aimed at linking investors with agencies looking to build nuclear plants. The center is also responsible for the podcasts, Titans of Nuclear and Energy Impact. It was founded in 2017 by Bret Kugelmass.

Contents

History

The Energy Impact Center (EIC) was founded in Washington, D.C. by Bret Kugelmass in 2017. [1] The goal at the organization's outset was to advocate for an increase in nuclear power [2] to help reverse the effects of climate change by 2040. [3] In 2017, [2] Kugelmass began conducting interviews as head of EIC with experts in nuclear energy and related fields for a podcast called Titans of Nuclear. [4] The podcast debuted in January 2018. [5] Over the course of 2018 and 2019, Kugelmass and other members of the EIC team conducted around 1,500 interviews for the podcast [3] and visited over 100 nuclear sites to compile research about the feasibility of nuclear power expansion. [6]

In 2019, the center introduced the Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge, [7] a prize competition that asked university students to develop business proposals for mitigating the cost, duration, and risks of power plant construction and maintenance. [8] In February 2020, the EIC introduced two new entities: OPEN100 and Last Energy. [3] The former is an open-source platform that aims to ease the design and construction process of nuclear power plants by providing freely-available blueprints. [9] The latter is a for-profit startup that connects investors with agencies looking to develop nuclear power plants. Last Energy received $3 million in a funding round led by First Round Capital at the time of the announcement. [3]

In 2021, EIC introduced a second podcast called Energy Impact that focuses on a broader range of energy-related topics. [10] In July of that year, it was announced that Transcorp Energy in Nigeria had agreed to use EIC's OPEN100 model to construct the country's first nuclear power plants. [11]

Projects

OPEN100

OPEN100 is an open-source platform that publishes blueprints for the design and construction of nuclear power plants. [9] It also provides financing and maintenance details. [12] The initial OPEN100 plans introduced in February 2020 called for a 100-megawatt pressurized water reactor [1] that could be built in 18 months at a cost of $300 million (USD). [12] Regulatory restrictions could increase those numbers in practice. [1] OPEN100 was developed by EIC in partnership with the United States Department of Energy national laboratories [3] and other collaborators, including Framatome, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the U.K.'s National Nuclear Laboratory. [13] In July 2021, Nigeria's Transcorp Energy announced that it would develop nuclear power plants in the country using the OPEN100 model. [11]

Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge

The Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge is a prize competition that was initially envisioned as a series of ongoing contests to develop proposals for mitigating the cost, duration, and risks of nuclear power plant construction and maintenance. [8] The initial challenge, known as "Reimagining Nuclear Waste," took place at the University of Michigan in 2019 and 2020 and asked students to develop business proposals that offered new solutions for nuclear waste beyond indefinite storage. [14] The winning team was awarded $17,000 for its proposal. [8]

Podcasts

EIC produces two podcasts: Titans of Nuclear [2] and Energy Impact. [10] Titans of Nuclear was first launched in January 2018 [5] and generally features one-on-one discussions [15] with nuclear energy experts [2] from various political, scientific, technological, and business backgrounds. [3] The Energy Impact podcast was launched in March 2021 and features discussions on a broader range of energy-related topics. Both podcasts are primarily hosted by EIC managing director, Bret Kugelmass, but other EIC members serve as occasional co-hosts. [4] [10] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity generation</span> Process of generating electrical power

Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. For utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its delivery to end users or its storage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power</span> Power generated from nuclear reactions

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in some space probes such as Voyager 2. Generating electricity from fusion power remains the focus of international research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear energy policy</span>

Nuclear energy policy is a national and international policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclear energy and the nuclear fuel cycle, such as uranium mining, ore concentration, conversion, enrichment for nuclear fuel, generating electricity by nuclear power, storing and reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, and disposal of radioactive waste. Nuclear energy policies often include the regulation of energy use and standards relating to the nuclear fuel cycle. Other measures include efficiency standards, safety regulations, emission standards, fiscal policies, and legislation on energy trading, transport of nuclear waste and contaminated materials, and their storage. Governments might subsidize nuclear energy and arrange international treaties and trade agreements about the import and export of nuclear technology, electricity, nuclear waste, and uranium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in the United States</span> Power source providing US electricity

Nuclear power in the United States is provided by 92 commercial reactors with a net capacity of 94.7 gigawatts (GW), with 61 pressurized water reactors and 31 boiling water reactors. In 2019, they produced a total of 809.41 terawatt-hours of electricity, which accounted for 20% of the nation's total electric energy generation. In 2018, nuclear comprised nearly 50 percent of US emission-free energy generation.

Nuclear power in the United Kingdom generated 16.1% of the country's electricity in 2020. As of August 2022, the UK has 9 operational nuclear reactors at five locations, producing 5.9 GWe. It also has nuclear reprocessing plants at Sellafield and the Tails Management Facility (TMF) operated by Urenco in Capenhurst.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economics of nuclear power plants</span>

Nuclear power construction costs have varied significantly across the world and in time. Large and rapid increases in cost occurred during the 1970s, especially in the United States. Recent cost trends in countries such as Japan and Korea have been very different, including periods of stability and decline in costs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fossil fuel phase-out</span> Gradual reduction of fossil fuel use to zero

Fossil fuel phase-out is the gradual reduction of the use and production of fossil fuels to zero. It is part of the ongoing renewable energy transition. Current efforts in fossil fuel phase-out involve replacing fossil fuels with sustainable energy sources in sectors such as transport and heating. Alternatives to fossil fuels include electrification, green hydrogen and biofuel. Phase-out policies include both demand-side and supply-side constraints. Whereas demand-side approaches seek to reduce fossil-fuel consumption, supply-side initiatives seek to constraint production to accelerate the pace of energy transition and reduction in emissions.

Nuclear power in Taiwan accounts for 2,945 MWe of capacity by means of 2 active plants and 3 reactors. In 2015, before the closure of 3 reactors, they made up around 8.1% of its national primary energy consumption, and 19% of its electricity generation. The technology chosen for the reactors has been General Electric BWR technology for 2 plants and Westinghouse PWR technology for the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant. Construction of the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant using the ABWR design has encountered public opposition and a host of delays, and in April 2014 the government decided to suspend construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in Australia</span> Overview of nuclear power in Australia

The prospect of nuclear power in Australia has been a topic of public debate since the 1950s. Australia has one nuclear plant in Lucas Heights, Sydney, but is not used to produce nuclear power, but instead is used to produce medical radioisotopes. It also produces material or carries out analyses for the mining industry, for forensic purposes and for research. Australia hosts 33% of the world's uranium deposits and is the world's third largest producer of uranium after Kazakhstan and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power debate</span> Controversy over the use of nuclear power

The nuclear power debate is a long-running controversy about the risks and benefits of using nuclear reactors to generate electricity for civilian purposes. The debate about nuclear power peaked during the 1970s and 1980s, as more and more reactors were built and came online, and "reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies" in some countries. Thereafter, the nuclear industry created jobs, focused on safety, and public concerns mostly waned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear renaissance in the United States</span> Potential nuclear power industry revival in the U.S.

Between 2007 and 2009, 13 companies applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for construction and operating licenses to build 31 new nuclear power reactors in the United States. However, the case for widespread nuclear plant construction has been hampered due to inexpensive natural gas, slow electricity demand growth in a weak US economy, lack of financing, and safety concerns following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

The Netherlands' only commercial nuclear reactor is Borssele nuclear power plant, which became operational in 1973 and as of 2011 produces 485 MW and about 4% of the country's electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuclear power in Poland</span>

Poland currently operates a single research reactor, Maria. It has no operational nuclear reactors for power productions, but is intending to build some small modular reactors.

Currently, Turkey has no operating commercial nuclear reactors. However, four VVER-1200 reactors at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, are currently under construction and expected to come online in 2023. The nuclear power debate has a long history, with the 2018 construction start in Mersin Province being the sixth major attempt to build a nuclear power plant since 1960. Nuclear power has been criticised as very expensive to taxpayers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant</span> Nuclear power plant under construction in Turkey

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is the only large nuclear power plant in Turkey and is under construction at Akkuyu, in Büyükeceli, Mersin Province. It is expected to generate around 10% of the country's electricity when completed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant</span>

The Jinshan Nuclear Power Plant or Chin Shan Nuclear Power Plant (金山核能發電廠), First Nuclear Power Plant, is a nuclear power plant being definitely shutdown in Shimen District, New Taipei, Taiwan. Commissioned in 1978, the plant was Taiwan's first and smallest nuclear power plant.

<i>Titans of Nuclear</i> Science podcast

Titans of Nuclear is an interview podcast developed by the Energy Impact Center. Each episode features interviews led by Bret Kugelmass. Other hosts include Jadwiga Najder, Olubunmi Olajide, and Naomi Senehi. Guests generally include nuclear energy experts who come from various political, scientific, and business backgrounds. The one-on-one discussions typically revolve around nuclear energy and related topics including political policy, climate change, and nuclear medicine.

OPEN100 is a project that publishes open-source blueprints to build nuclear power plants. Its stated goal is to reduce the cost and duration of nuclear reactor construction and increase the nuclear power supply 100-fold by 2040 to aid in the decarbonization of the global economy. It was developed by Bret Kugelmass and the Energy Impact Center, a non-profit organization founded by Kugelmass that advocates for clean energy solutions to climate change.

Last Energy is an American commercial developer of nuclear power plants, established in 2020 by Bret Kugelmass, who is also the founder of the Energy Impact Center, an American research institute.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Delbert, Caroline (March 3, 2020). "Coming Soon: Open-Source Blueprints for a Tiny Nuclear Reactor". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Menser, Paul (February 7, 2018). "Silicon Valley Startup Pro Shifts Focus To Nuclear Energy". Idaho National Laboratory. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Takahashi, Dean (February 25, 2020). "Last Energy raises $3 million to fight climate change with nuclear energy". VentureBeat. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Scoles, Sarah (February 20, 2020). "The Tech Entrepreneur Who Thinks He Can Reverse Climate Change With Nuclear Power". OneZero. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Looming Closure of Davis-Besse, Perry Puts Focus on Advocacy for Future of Nuclear Energy in Ohio and the Nation". Neutron Bytes. January 27, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  6. ↑ Siegel, Josh; Siciliano, John (April 16, 2019). "Daily on Energy: Former drone CEO wants a crack at curbing climate change with nuclear". Washington Examiner. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Slagter, Martin (November 22, 2019). "Contest asks UM students to re-imagine nuclear waste to reverse climate change". MLive. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Proctor, Darrell (February 25, 2020). "Tech Guru's Plan—Fight Climate Change with Nuclear Power". Power Magazine. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "Michelle Brechtelsbauer". Titans of Nuclear. April 12, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Onu, Emele (July 1, 2021). "Transcorp Energy Plans Nigeria's First Nuclear Power Plants". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "有人在网上开源了核电站设计图：投资3亿美元，18个月能建一座小核电站". Sina (in Chinese). March 7, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  12. ↑ "More organisations participate in OPEN100 project". World Nuclear News. October 2, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  13. ↑ Krempa, Brooke (October 7, 2019). "Nuclear Energy Grand Challenge: Reimagining Nuclear Waste". University of Michigan. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ "DOE's GAIN initiative receives Trailblazer award from U.S. Nuclear Industry Council". Post Register. January 31, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ "NE Graduate Austin Lo featured in the Titans of Nuclear Podcast". University of California at Berkeley. August 23, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
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