Two groundbreaking projects, backed by Bill Gates-backed are set to propel the clean energy revolution. TerraPower, established by Gates in 2008, spearheads the development of an advanced nuclear power facility named ‘Natrium,’ slated for potential operation by 2030. In a recent blog post, the billionaire investor and Microsoft co-founder emphasised the need for a substantial nuclear investment, highlighting its unrivalled reliability and cleanliness among clean energy sources. Bill Gates’ advanced nuclear reactor company TerraPower is partnering with Warren Buffett’s PacifiCorp for this project.
Natrium employs liquid sodium as a coolant instead of traditional water, effectively mitigating nuclear energy challenges. This innovation significantly reduces the risk of explosions and ensures continuous cooling, even during power outages. Moreover, the plant’s design incorporates cutting-edge energy storage technology, seamlessly integrating with existing power systems.
The construction of this facility is expected to bring around 1,600 job opportunities, fostering energy independence and a promising future, as Gates passionately expressed in his blog.
Electric Hydrogen – 1.2GW electrolyzer gigafactory
In a significant development, Electric Hydrogen (EH2), a start-up supported by Bill Gates, has unveiled its ambitious plans to establish a groundbreaking 1.2GW electrolyzer gigafactory in Devens, Massachusetts. With a vision to leverage economies of scale and a monumental “low-cost and efficient” 100MW electrolyzer, EH2 aims to reduce the cost of green hydrogen production dramatically. This revolutionary facility, purpose-built and unparalleled scale, is anticipated to deliver cost-effective systems and more affordable green hydrogen. EH2’s CEO, Raffi Garabedian, emphasized the company’s commitment to actualizing their plans, stating that EH2 possesses a backlog of customer orders and is swiftly progressing to manufacture and distribute the world’s most powerful electrolyzers.
Having secured an impressive $198 million in Series B funding, with notable investors including Amazon, Equinor, Rio Tinto, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, EH2 focuses on catering to challenging industries rather than sectors where electric alternatives are readily accessible, such as transportation or heating.
A press release from EH2 highlighted their technology’s potential to set a new industry standard for cost reduction, making green hydrogen more economical than fossil fuel alternatives. Green hydrogen, generated by separating water molecules using renewable electricity, is a rapidly expanding sector with immense potential to combat the global climate crisis.