David Shum, PhD

GA Power just brought online our 4th new #nuclear reactor (aka clean energy) so I like to run the air conditioner with our windows open ♻️👈🤡 Fact✅: Nuclear energy is sometimes referred to as a #cleanenergy technology as it produces nearly zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas #emissions. Fact✅: Unlike many renewable energy sources, power from nuclear energy can be generated 24 hours a day and isn’t dependent on the weather, like #windenergy and solar power tend to be. The power of the atom has been at the heart of electricity generation for more than half a century. Nuclear power stations use a miniscule amount of fuel to generate the same amount of #electricity that a coal or gas power station would. For example, 1 kg of uranium contains the same amount of energy as 2.7 million kg of coal, so nuclear fueld is considered to be a reliable source of energy for decades to come. Nuke vs Solar... Nuclear has a capacity factor of close to 100% because it typically produces as much generation as possible during every hour of the year. #Solarpower, on the other hand, can only produce electricity when the sun is out. This means that over the course of the year, #solar power plants will produce their maximum amount of generation in just 17-20% total hours, on average.☀️👈🤡 The US is the world's largest producer of #nuclearpower, generating more than 30% of the world’s total nuclear capacity. There are 93 operational reactors across 55 nuclear power plants in the country, offering a combined generational capacity of 95.4GW -- making up 20% of the electricity mix. As the UK and US aim for #netzero by 2050, the mix of electricity generation will change. Nuclear energy is likely to play a role globally in helping nuclear-capable nations achieve these goals. In the #UK, the construction of Hinkley Point C in Somerset has marked the current government’s intention to have nuclear as a pillar of its energy mix. Sizewell C – a sister plant to the active B station – is currently under consultation, with a proposed generation of 3.2GW. As of 2021 in the US, there are plans to ‘uprate’ existing reactors to increase their generation capacity, while two new reactors at Plant Vogtle in #Georgia, came online in 2023 and both #3 and #4 are fully operational in 2014. The future may also see the introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are smaller version of nuclear power plants, similar to those that power nuclear submarines and ships. While SMRs’ power output is substantially less than a full-scale nuclear power station (they generate as little as a 1/5 of current-generation reactors), they can be more easily manufactured and transported to where they’re needed, before being dismantled and returned at the end of their operating life. SMRs also have safety benefits as they’re inherently simpler than large reactors and rely, primarily, on passive systems to shut down instead of human intervention. Nuclear for the win ⚛️👈🏆

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A really important piece of work that needs to be read by those in the gas distribution world and the use of that network for hydrogen distribution. So refreshing to see peer reviewed publications in this space. #hydrogen #gas #network

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Here is what happens when actual Science and the Laws of Thermodynamics are hijacked by the so-called "Renewable Energy" industry, in order to shill for industrial scale Solar Power Panel installations. Perversion of actual Science. I laughed repeatedly while reading this "Renewable Energy Science" paper. Solar Power Panels are : ⚫ *toxic*, ⚫ last no more than a couple decades at best before needing to be removed and then replaced by even *more* toxic solar power panels, and ⚫ are *not* recyclable. So how exactly are Solar Power Panels considered "renewable" or "green" or "clean energy" or "environmentally friendly" ? P.S. please keep the comments clean here. Many people seem to blow an emotional gasket when I openly disagree with their precious Renewable Energy *Feelings* by providing some basic facts (see my bullet points above) and asking them to actually think for themselves. A bit of Critical Thinking would be useful here. ⚫ Just my opinion; as always, you are free to disagree. =============================== "Physical Limits of Solar Energy Conversion in the Earth System" Introduction Renewable energy provides a sustainable form of energy generation which is not associated with the emission of greenhouse gases. It thereby forms a critical component to avoid greenhouse-induced global climate change and to avoid the consequences of depleting fossil fuel resources. Among the different forms of renewable energy, solar energy is seen as the most abundant source of renewable energy. Its potential is often described as being so huge that it is not a limiting factor in meeting human energy demands within this century. The deployment of solar energy technology, mostly in form of photovoltaic electricity generation, is rapidly growing, so that solar energy already contributes a sizable percentage to electricity generation in some industrialized countries. ⚫  Yet, as with any other resource on the planet,  ⚫  the generation of renewable energy by the Earth system is limited,  ⚫  and so is the potential of using solar radiation as an energy resource. [...] Summary and Conclusions We have provided estimates of the theoretical potentials of the different ways in which solar radiation can be used to generate renewable energy. [...] ⚫ In conclusion, solar energy provides by far the greatest potential for renewable energy in the Earth system. The reason is simple and rooted deeply in the physics of energy conversion. Thermodynamics, particularly the second law, tells us that any energy conversion is associated with inevitable losses. Applied to renewable energy, this implies that the most direct use of the largest forcing of the Earth system, that is, solar radiation, is associated with the greatest magnitude and the least conversion losses, yielding the greatest potential. Solar energy is therefore sure to play a central role in future energy supply based on renewable energy."

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Researchers at Cornell University have engineered a nanoporous material that adsorbs #CO2 at twice the capacity of traditional activated carbons, and captures 99% of its total capacity in 120 seconds. Furthermore, the sorbents surface area is an unprecedented 4,800 square meters per gram. If you have a ACS Nano subscription, read "Ultrahigh Surface Area Nanoporous Carbons Synthesized via Hypergolic and Activation Reactions for Enhanced CO2 Capacity and Volumetric Energy Density" here: https://lnkd.in/dGXhgscN #decarbonization #decarbonisation #carbon #carboncapture #ccs #ccus #carbonremoval https://lnkd.in/dU2Z62Jk

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☢️The nuclear power market makes up ~10% of global electricity, about $350-400 billion annually and 32% of zero-carbon electricity generation across ~440 operating reactors worldwide. So SMRs have a large market to sell into, but the bull case for SMRs is not to replace existing nuclear, it’s to massively grow that 10% of global electricity. The IAEA projects that nuclear power capacity could double by 2050 in scenarios focused on meeting climate goals, with the majority of that coming from SMRs. But datacentres are a totally new customer outside of those forecasts. Things are bout to change… #nuclear #energy

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Non-Tesla automakers will be pressured by investors to scale back EV plans further. #renewables #power #energy #wind #offshore #onshore #solar #hydropower #floating #nuclear #geothermal #efficiency #transition #susteinability #circular #economy #esg #clean #decarbonization #electrification #climate #hydrogen #mobility #greensteel #ammonia #transportation #storage #fuelcell #smartgrid #der #powersystem #generation #transmission #distribution #electricity #machines #drives #sensors #iot #education #engineering #innovation #entrepreneurship #creativity #technology #digitalization #cybersecurtity #metering

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Yes, many plants will not be built, for three key reasons: costs (especially energy cost); financing; talent pool (know-how to achieve yields). However, the dismissal of NMC or NCA entirely for LFP is premature and incorrect, as these cathode materials are closing the gap with LFP in terms of $/Ah (which is the metric that count), and both Korean and Chinese suppliers of these cathode materials are ramping up. An example: EcoPro, a company based in Cheongju, South Korea, signed a contract with Samsung SDI for the supply of cathode active materials worth 43.8 trillion won (equivalent to 30.9 billion euros). The supply agreement is valid from 2024 to 2028, according to a company report published after the close of trading in Seoul. Since further details have not been revealed, the volume of the agreed delivery is still unclear. The EcoPro cathode for Samsung is based on a nickel-cobalt-aluminium chemistry (NCA) and is to be used for batteries with high nickel content. The cathodes from EcoPro are supplied to Samsung SDI plants worldwide. Samsung is planning two battery factories with Stellantis in Kokomo in the US state of Indiana. A battery cell plant in Hungary is already in operation.

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Confucius famously said ‘the beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name’ and this is particularly true of chemistry. Loose definitions and vague terminology are a recipe for confusion and misunderstanding and unfortunately, this is exactly what happened with secondary bonding interactions. First discovered in 1912, hydrogen bonds became an absolute pillar of chemical research and it wasn't until the 1970s that evidence for analogous intermolecular bonds involving other groups began to emerge. However, the lack of clearly defined terminology for these new interactions quickly created confusion within the field as researchers misnamed or misclassified their bonds. By 2004, IUPAC had decided it was time to tackle this issue head on and for the last 20 years a global committee of researchers has been working to clarify the confusion once and for all. In my latest story with Chemistry World, the team explain the challenges and rewards of developing a standardised language for the chemistry community as a whole. https://lnkd.in/e5gYy8vu With thanks to Resnati Giuseppe, Pierangelo Metrangolo, Steve Scheiner, Anthony Legon, Antonio Frontera Beccaria, Gautam Desiraju, Anthony Cozzolino, Clay Harris, Emily Abbott, and ACS Publications #SecondaryBonding #HydrogenBond #HalogenBond #ChalcogenBond #PnictogenBond #Definitions

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Nuclear industry is experiencing a strong renewal over the last few years. This is pushed by a demand for stable non-fossil energy during the transition to other electricity sources (wind/solar/wave/...), especially from companies investing in AI (using clusters of 1,000s of GPU in parallel). This demand is coupled with the development of new designs beyond the traditional PWR/BWR: SMR, molten salt, high-temperature, etc. Under those circumstances, I believe the US-NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) will have a lot of work in the upcoming years, as they will have to review every new reactor design before they're approved. While this position is outside of my area of expertise (more engineeering and less mathematical), I think it should be an amazing opportunity for someone more qualified considering the present context. https://lnkd.in/geDzx7RN

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Comparing Green Hydrogen Production Methods: Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) vs. Alkaline, PEM, AEM 🟦 1) Alkaline Electrolyzers: Pros: - Alkaline hydrogen electrolyzers are mature; - Multi-MW stacks allow for large capacity; - Potential to use inexpensive materials. Cons: - Low power densities; - large footprint; - Lower gas purity; - slow cold start-up time. - Development status >1 GW deployed - Stack cost (2020 $/kW): 270 – 450 - Electrolyzer system cost with BoP (2020 $/kW): 800 – 1,500 - Degradation (% / 1000 hours): 0.13 - Electrolyte → Liquid: 25 – 40% KOH - Pressure (bar) < 30 bar 🟦 2) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEMs): - The PEM hydrogen electrolyzer enables compact systems with high power densities and has quick start-up and load-changing capabilities. - It uses expensive materials such as titanium and platinum group metals on the cell level. - Development status >100 MW deployed - Stack Cost: 400 – 870 - Electrolyzer system cost with BoP (2020 $/kW): 1,400 – 2,100 - Degradation (% / 1000 hours): 0.25 - Electrolyte → Solid: proton exchange membrane (Nafion) - Pressure (bar) < 80 🟦 3) Anion exchange membrane (AEM): - AEM hydrogen electrolyzers have compact designs and can operate at high pressures, but they have lower stack sizes and shorter lifespans compared to other types of electrolyzers. - Development status <10 MW deployed - Stack cost (2020 $/kW): 200 - Electrolyzer system cost with BoP (2020 $/kW): 3,333 - Degradation (% / 1000 hours): 0.4 - Electrolyte → Liquid-solid hybrid: 1% KOH/anion exchange membrane - Pressure (bar) < 35 🟦 4) Solid Oxide Hydrogen Electrolyzers: - The SOEC hydrogen electrolyzer has high efficiency due to fast kinetics and high conductivity at high temperatures. - It can leverage external heat sources for higher efficiencies. - The system can operate reversibly as fuel cells and electrolyzers and use inexpensive materials. - Development status >1 GW deployed (fuel cell) & <10 MW deployed (electrolyzer) - Stack cost (2020 $/kW): 250 – 2,000 - Electrolyzer system cost with BoP (2020 $/kW): 917 – 4,000 - Degradation (% / 1000 hours): 0.55-1 - Electrolyte → Solid: ceramic – zirconia or ceria-based - Pressure (bar) → 0 – 2 bar 🟦 5) 'SOEC Components' Energy Consumption of kWh/kgH₂: 1. Electric heating air → 1.8 2. Electric heating feed → 1.2 3. SOEC stack [DC] → 34.6 4. Hydrogen compressor → 2.2 5. Steam generation (if needed) → 7.9 6. Total LHV (steam import) → 39.8 7. Total HHV (internal steam generation) → 47.7 🟦 6) 'Stack' [DC] energy consumption [kWh/kg H₂]: Alkaline → 47 – 66 PEM → 47 – 66 AEM → 51.5 – 66 SOEC → 34 🟦 7) 'System' energy consumption (kWh/kg H₂) Alkaline → 50-78 PEM → 50-83 AEM → 40-80 SOEC→ 38 [with steam] / 48 [without steam] This post reflects my perspective and is for educational purposes only. 👇 What type of electrolyzers is recommended for small-scale projects?

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I love it when a plan comes together... Last week Drs. William Horak, Christian Vandervort, and Colin Gore from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ARPA-E traveled to Czero for a project update/demonstration of the INTEGRATE project where Czero is collaborating with project partners Nexceris and Brayton Energy. Scott Swartz of Nexceris and Jim Kesseli, from Brayton Energy also made the trek to see the fruits of their labor at our prototype manufacturing & test site in Fort Collins. This ARPAe INTEGRATE project aims to demonstrate 70% efficiency converting natural gas to electricity based on LHV. This project is a fun one for sure. It operates at 850+ °C, has cutting edge Solid Oxide Fuel Cells from Nexceris, a custom gas turbine & combustor from Brayton Energy, and some very challenging integration and operation details that Czero took on. During ARPAe’s visit the project team demonstrated the SOFCs producing power from simulated natural gas reformate, with the gas turbine integration on track for a successful full system demonstration in December 2024. Czero engineers Nick Echter and Michael Sprengel have done an amazing job spearheading this project and keeping it on track. The Czero team provided full system integration services extending from dynamic modeling, architecture selection, detailed design, controls integration, procurement, build and test. As part of the analysis led design process, Czero used MathWorks Simulink to simulate the system using our custom-made multi-species/multi-phase blockset. This blockset allowed us to create a dynamic model from first principals for the entire process including the chemistry in the fuel cells, reformers, and combustors, the mechanical dynamics of the turbine and generators, flows through the turbine and compressors as well as heat transfer in the recuperator. These models were invaluable for working through many possible architectures in effort to find the best design that balanced system performance, complexity, cost, controllability, fault tolerance and safety. https://lnkd.in/gD5MUdcb We also used Simulink to develop our real time control system and created a Model in the Loop test (MIL) to test the control code against the plant model. Testing of the control code against the plant model began almost a year before we tested against real hardware and was invaluable in derisking and accelerating the pace of system deployment. https://lnkd.in/gDg__xja. We have had the great fortune to be part of many ARAP-E projects and thank all of those involved for the opportunity to do so and the funding the Department of Energy provides for these great research projects. More information on this project, including process animations, can be found on our website: https://lnkd.in/gtj6gF2u

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While at NREL, I had the opportunity to work on an exciting hydrogen energy storage technology called FLASH. Hydrogen as an energy carrier is remarkably energy dense on a per-kg basis, but isn’t great volumetrically: compressed hydrogen tanks take up a lot of space and bring other safety and operation concerns. Chemical hydrogen storage, where the H2 is locked away in the bonds of a solid or liquid carrier material, is one way to make hydrogen easier to transport and use. Many chemical storage strategies offer relatively slow release of hydrogen. This is where FLASH comes in. Developed in the Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC) at NREL, FLASH takes an established system for chemical hydrogen storage (metal borohydrides) and uses an additive (hydrazinium monohalide) to provoke dramatically faster release at low temperatures of less than 100 °C (NaBH4, by comparison, requires over 500 °C on its own). These properties have made FLASH promising for demanding energy storage applications including drones. However, as chemists know, a very fast reaction is often one that is difficult to reverse. The downside of FLASH’s impressive (and controllable) H2 release is that the FLASH compounds cannot be regenerated with fresh H2 the same way that other chemical storage systems can (e.g., by flowing H2 over the compounds at elevated temperature to recharge them). Researchers in HyMARC have long suspected that the best way to regenerate FLASH is through electrochemical means. In our new paper, NREL researchers have finally made progress in understanding the electrochemical behavior of the FLASH compounds. These results will inform future efforts to make a reversible FLASH system. Check it out! Great work Jiahe Xu, Noemi Leick, Bennett Addison, Kelly Prochaska, Steven Christensen, Tom Gennett, Paul F. Ndione, and James L. Young! Also thanks to Lucy Metzroth and Nicholas Strange who worked on prior iterations of this electrochemical and mechanistic investigation! https://lnkd.in/e-PNh5Q8

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Will the U.S. favor pink hydrogen moving forward? Now being nuclear friendly, I think it's very likely. But first, what is pink hydrogen - and why is it relevant? Pink hydrogen is hydrogen produced via electrolysis (like green H2), but powered by nuclear energy. In other words, pink H2 harnesses steady, low-carbon nuclear electricity to split H2O into H2 and O2. As advanced reactors and small modular nuclear designs progress, the U.S. will tap this technology for a reliable, carbon-free hydrogen supply. With the renewed interest in nuclear, pink hydrogen may soon be the go-to hydrogen choice. My view? It will be crucial, alongside natural (white) hydrogen, as a low cost is as important as low-carbon. Furthermore, without the nuclear paranoia, the barriers we previously had to develop pink H2 are now gone. The next year is going to be very interesting for the energy transition in the US - that's for sure. How do YOU feel about pink hydrogen?

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Why is the Aalo-1 reactor design so great? How is it that Aalo-1 can have such an inherently safe, strong fuel temperature negative feedback coefficient? Learn about the cell effect, the warm neutron effect, and more in the latest Aalo Atomics blog post, by Gavin Ridley! https://lnkd.in/gYsmkw8N

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While Maine Yankee’s 20 years of spent nuclear fuel takes up a small, secured storage site, the waste footprint of a coal plant generating an equivalent amount of power tells a different story. A coal plant producing 119 billion kWh over two decades would generate millions of tons of CO2, contributing significantly to atmospheric pollution and climate change. On top of that, coal plants produce vast amounts of ash waste—often stored in large, open-air ponds or landfills. This ash can contain heavy metals and other toxic substances, posing long-term environmental and health risks if not carefully managed. In contrast, nuclear energy offers a compact waste profile with spent fuel securely contained, reducing the need for sprawling waste sites and limiting environmental impact.

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🔍 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗩𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝘁 🌍 As global interest in nuclear power rekindles, especially with advancements like the U.S.'s first advanced non-light water reactor in Wyoming, a crucial question emerges: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱? In the U.S., the cost of building conventional nuclear reactors has surged to more than $𝟲,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁 💸. Meanwhile, South Korea has managed to keep costs closer to $𝟮,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘁𝘁 💡. Countries like China, France, and the UAE fall somewhere in between. This wide range in costs raises important questions about the factors driving these differences. South Korea's approach, which involves treating the manufacture and regulation of reactors similarly to large aircraft 🛫, offers valuable insights. By emphasizing modularity, smaller reactors, passive safety features, and more efficient construction methods, they’ve driven down costs significantly 📉. However, these approaches aren't without challenges. For example, changing regulations in the U.S. could help, but it’s not a silver bullet 🛠️. So, how can other countries adapt these strategies without compromising safety or stalling progress? The debate around nuclear energy is often polarized ⚖️, with pro- and anti-nuclear voices clashing without finding common ground. But perhaps the answer lies somewhere in between—where we rethink regulations, embrace innovative construction techniques, and make nuclear power a more viable, affordable option globally 🌱. 💡 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: As we stand on the brink of a potential nuclear renaissance, it’s time for policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to unite 🤝. Let’s learn from global best practices and commit to making nuclear power an affordable, safe energy source for the future. 💬 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄! Enjoyed this? ♻️ Repost if you find it useful ✚ Follow me, hit the 🔔 icon. You'll get notified on my next post.

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The agency is required by law to finalize a more flexible, technology-neutral rule for advanced nuclear reactors by the end of 2027. #renewables #power #energy #wind #offshore #onshore #solar #hydropower #floating #nuclear #geothermal #efficiency #transition #susteinability #circular #economy #esg #clean #decarbonization #electrification #climate #hydrogen #mobility #greensteel #ammonia #transportation #storage #fuelcell #smartgrid #der #powersystem #generation #transmission #distribution #electricity #machines #drives #sensors #iot #education #engineering #innovation #entrepreneurship #creativity #technology #digitalization #cybersecurtity #metering

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FERC Throws Curveball at Nuclear Energy, Suggesting Microreactors May Be the Better Approach https://lnkd.in/eEGkfGVT #Nuclear #Microreactors #Electricity #Wind #Solar #BigTech #TalenEnergy #FERC

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