Bill Gates, Toshiba to develop small nuclear reactor

TerraPower, principally owned by Bill Gates, is investigating ways to improve emission-free energy supplies using small nuclear reactors

A team of experts from the two companies would develop a compact next-generation reactor that can operate for up to 100 years without refueling to provide emission-free energy, according to Japanese business daily The Nikkei.

The advantage of small reactors over current reactors at mega power plants is that they could be introduced by cities or states or in developing countries more easily.

The joint development would focus on the Traveling-Wave Reactor (TWR), which consumes depleted uranium as fuel. Current light-water reactors require refueling every few years.

"Toshiba has entered into preliminary talks with TerraPower," said Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Ohmori. "We are looking into the possibility of working together."

"TerraPower is developing a small nuclear reactor and Toshiba is developing a different kind of small reactor. They were interested in Toshiba's technology and aiming at practical realisation" of small reactors, Ohmori said.

The project would be financed by Gates' personal wealth. His investment might reach several billion dollars, The Nikkei wrote.