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Burying nuclear reactors might make them cleaner and cheaper

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A California-based nuclear startup, Deep Fission, is proposing a radical new approach to clean energy: burying nuclear reactors one mile underground
The concept, developed by CEO Elizabeth Muller, involves placing small reactors deep within boreholes and flooding them with water
This method could dramatically lower costs, simplify safety, and manage nuclear waste more efficiently

🔭 The context: Traditional nuclear reactors are large, expensive, and require extensive safety infrastructure
Deep Fission’s concept builds on the increasing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), with the added innovation of deep geological installation
By leveraging existing drilling technology from the oil and gas industry, the firm aims to bypass above-ground risks and permit hurdles, offering a potentially faster and more affordable deployment model

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: If successful, Deep Fission’s model could help revive nuclear power as a viable clean energy source, especially in hard-to-decarbonise sectors
Subsurface deployment mitigates many public concerns around radiation and accidents, while reducing land use and operational emissions
It could also simplify waste containment by keeping radioactive material isolated at depth. However, long-term geotechnical risks and regulatory challenges remain to be addressed

⏭️ What's next: Deep Fission plans to test a prototype reactor within the next few years, likely in a geologically stable desert region in the U.S. If successful, it could attract government and private investment, with potential for global deployment
The firm must navigate nuclear regulatory frameworks and demonstrate consistent performance under deep-earth conditions — a crucial step before commercial scale-up

💬 One quote: “This could fundamentally change how we think about nuclear power — making it safer, cleaner, and cheaper,” — Elizabeth Muller, CEO of Deep Fission

📈 One stat: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that advanced reactors like SMRs could reduce nuclear construction costs by up to 60%, a figure potentially increased further by Deep Fission’s underground model

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance of nuclear energy firms like Fortum, Constellation Energy, and EDF

Click for more news covering the latest on nuclear energy and sustainable business

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illuminem's editorial team, providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day. Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

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