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Can Nuclear Batteries Be Economically Competitive in Large Markets?

Author

Listed:
  • Jacopo Buongiorno

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Ben Carmichael

    (Southern Company, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA)

  • Bradley Dunkin

    (Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, Portland, OR 97086, USA)

  • John Parsons

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Dirk Smit

    (Shell Global Solutions B.V., Grasweg 31, 1031 HW Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

We introduce the concept of the nuclear battery, a standardized, factory-fabricated, road transportable, plug-and-play micro-reactor. Nuclear batteries have the potential to provide on-demand, carbon-free, economic, resilient, and safe energy for distributed heat and electricity applications in every sector of the economy. The cost targets for nuclear batteries in these markets are 20–50 USD/MWh t (6–15 USD/MMBTU) and 70–115 USD/MWh e for heat and electricity, respectively. We present a parametric study of the nuclear battery’s levelized cost of heat and electricity, suggesting that those cost targets are within reach. The cost of heat and electricity from nuclear batteries is expected to depend strongly on core power rating, fuel enrichment, fuel burnup, size of the onsite staff, fabrication costs and financing. Notional examples of cheap and expensive nuclear battery designs are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacopo Buongiorno & Ben Carmichael & Bradley Dunkin & John Parsons & Dirk Smit, 2021. "Can Nuclear Batteries Be Economically Competitive in Large Markets?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:14:p:4385-:d:598020
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Forsberg, Charles & Foss, Andrew W., 2023. "Fission battery markets and economic requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    2. Pham, An T. & Lovdal, Larson & Zhang, Tianyi & Craig, Michael T., 2022. "A techno-economic analysis of distributed energy resources versus wholesale electricity purchases for fueling decarbonized heavy duty vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    3. Antonello, Federico & Buongiorno, Jacopo & Zio, Enrico, 2022. "A methodology to perform dynamic risk assessment using system theory and modeling and simulation: Application to nuclear batteries," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    4. Zhou, Yuekuan & Zheng, Siqian & Hensen, Jan L.M., 2024. "Machine learning-based digital district heating/cooling with renewable integrations and advanced low-carbon transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    5. Sungwook Choi & In Woo Son & Jeong Ik Lee, 2023. "Comparative Performance Evaluation of Gas Brayton Cycle for Micro–Nuclear Reactors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-27, February.

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